Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-17


President johnson and the Ne
Rroes-Me Makes IN speech TO
Them.
washington Correspondence New York Herald
- May llth.l
President johnson to-day gave an audi
ence to number of colored men. Ibey
were introduced by the Rev. e. turner, u.
D., the President of the National Theolog-
ical Institute tor Colored Ministers, the
center of whose operations Is the city OF
Washington. He said. In the course Of his
address, that some of them were members
of the Institute and pastors OF churches'
while others had been preaching TO their
own people In different ntsectionsof virginia,
coming in contact probably with colored
population of not less than two hundred
thousand or three hundred thousand souls,
thus exertng healthful influence OH their
social and moral condition. He gave to the
President copy of the resolutions passed
by them with reference to the ASSASSINATION
of President Lincoln, and expressive OF
their gratitude for the emancipation proc
lamation and their loyalty to the constitute
ed authorities, &c. L4 :,
President johnson, in response, remarked
that it was scarcely necessary for him TO re-
peat what his course had been In relation
the reach of information had already been
made acquainted with 1t. 1t was known
that he was born and raised In q slave State
and had owned slaves. Yet he, had never
sold one, and they had all gone free. There
was difference in the responsibility when
persons residing in the slave States had to
take on the subject Of emancipation from
those who reside out of them. lt was very
easy for men who lived beyond their borders
to get up sympathy and talk about the con-
dition of colored persons, when they knew
nothing about it. Their great sympathy
was not reduced to practice. 1t was known
that there were men in the South, notwlth-
standing the two classes once occupied the
positions of master and servant, VINO 1eil
deep interest in their welfare, and who did
much to ameliorate the condition of the
colored men. He repeated, 1t would pc
unnecessary for him TO make speech on
the subject of emancipation. for WHICH he
had met with taunts aud frowns and jibes,
and incurred all the dangers to property,
life and limb. He claimed nomerit for this,
because he was only carrying out the prin-
ciples he maintained, namely, that man
could not hold property in man. And ne
was the first who stood in slave communi-
tyahd announced the fact'that the slaves OF
the State of Tennessee had as much right to
be free as those who claimed them as
their property. When the tyrants
rod lis bent and the yoke broken, the
passing from one extreme to the other-Tfrom
bondage to freedom-is difficult; and in this
transition state some think they have moth
ing to do tut fall back on the Government
for support in order that they may he taken
care OF in idleness and debauchery. There
was one idea which those whom he address,
ed ought to inculcate. namely, that freedom
simply means liberty to work and enjoy the
product of q mans own toll, aud how much
he may put into his stomach and on his
back. He meant this in its most extensive
sense. Gentlemen in Congress, and the
people of the North and South, talk about
Brigham Young and debauchery of various,
kinds existing among the Mormons; but it
was known that four millions of people
within the limits of the South have always
been in open and notorious concubinage.
The correction of these things is necessary
in commencing reform in social condi-
tions, and in this there must be the force OF
example. He would do all in his power to
secure their protection and to ameliorate
their condition. He trusted in God that the
time may come when all the colored people
would be gathered together in one country
best adapted to their condition, If 1t should
appear they could not get along together
with the whites. He expressed hopes that
the efforts for their social and moral i'm
provement would be successful, and in this
he promised his cooperation, and in con-
clusion thanked his audience for their man
ifestations of Kindness and the evidences of
their friendshiD h.E 30