The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-04-26
TELEGRAPHIC.
Speech by President johnson.

WASHINGTON, April 20.-Two regiments
of coiored troops, varieus associations, and
citizens of color, numbering several thous-
and, celebrated yesterday, the emancipation
of slaves in the District of Columbia. They
proceeded to the Executive Mansion where
President johnson thus addressed them:
MY COLORED FRIENDS: ! have nothing
more to say to you on the present occasion,
than to thank you for the compliment you
have paid me, in presenting yourselves be-
fore me on this, your day of celebration. i
come forward for the purpose of indicating
my appreciation and manifesting my appre-
citation of the respect thus offered or confer
red. thank you for the compliment, and
mean what say; and will remark, in this
connection, that the time will come. and that
before great while, when the cOlOred peo-
pie of the United States will find out who
have selected them as a hobby and a pre-
tence, by which they can be successful in
obtaining and maintaining power, and who
have been their truest friends and wanted
them to participate in and enjoy the bless
ings of freedom. The time will come when
it will be made known who contributed as
much as any other man, and who, with
out being considered eg0tistical / may
say, contributed more in procuring the
great national guarantee of the abolition of
slavery in all the States by the ratification
of the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, and giving a national
guarantee that slavery should no longer be
permitted to exist or be re-established in
any State in the jurisdiction of the United
States l know how easy it is to cater to
the prejutlices and how easy it is to excite
the feelings of prejudice and unkindness. l
care not for that. / have been engaged i'll
the work in which my all has been staked.
l was not engaged in it as hobby, nor did
l ride the cOlOred man for the sake OF getting
power What did, / did for the purpose of
establishing the great principle of freedom
and. thank God, / feel and know it to be so,
that my efforts have contributed as much,
if not more, in accomplishing this great ma
tional guarantee than those of any other
living man in the United States. (enthu-
siastic applause.) 1t is very easy for col
Ored men to have pretended friends en-
scOnced in high places and far removed
from danger, whose eyes have only abb
stractedly gazed on freedom, who have
never exposed their limbs or property, and
who never contributed a six-penee in
the furtheranee of the great cause, while an
other perilled his all, and put at hazard
everything sacred and dear to man, and
those he had raised and who live with him,
and, now enjoy his prosperity with his con-
sent, and receive his aid and assistance.
Yet some others who have done moth
ing, are considered. the great defenders
my colOred friends, here to-day, that the
time will come, and it is not far distant,
when it will be proved who are your best
friends. My friendship, as far as it has
gone, is not for place or power, for / had
these already. 1t has been a principle with
me, and l thank God the great principle
has been established that whenever a being
in the language of distinguished orator,
treads American soil, his soul swells within
him in appreciation of the great truth that
he stands forth released and regenerated by
the genius of universal emancipation. Zap
plause.) Then let me mingle with you in
the celebration of the day which com
menced your freedom. do it in all SINGER
ity, and with trust in God that the bless
ing which has been conferred, may be
enjoyed and appreciated by you, and
that yOu may give them a proper
direction. There is something for all to do
You have solemn duties to perform and you
ought to remember that freedom is not an
idea. Unjust be reduced to practical reality
Men in freedom desire themselves things
which seem to be embraced in the idea of
universal freedom. 1t is with you to give
evidence to the world and the people OF the
preciate this great boon as you should do,
and that yOu are freedmen. Let me thank
you for the compliment you have paid me
by passing through here to-day and paying
your respects SO me. / repeat again, the
time will come when you will know who
have been your best friends and whether /
have not been your friend. Accept my
thanks.