Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-13
The President and the Colored People.

versation held last W ednesday between the
President and delegation OF col0red people.
Inc conversation Is lInpor Iant disclosing both
the views anu feelings OF President Johnson,
and thus anording ciew 10 she policy which
lac Will pursue Ia future and cannot doub
that every sincere and earnest Republican, who
believes 10 equal rights ior ali, viii read much
ol The Presidents discourse with profound re-
greet Inere many things l his remarks
WINCH are open u criticism bad taste,
pceIaiIy tna1 pare III winch he boasts OF his
own sdperlor devotion 10 the Union anu the
penis nc Jared III remaining true 10 ms country.
u ali thIs lie Las been rewarded by elevation
- .ne ONCE ne now holds ; and, 10 view OF the
result, DuL t.lInk tnas It Is hardly In
gOOu TASTE to coast OF the sacrifices he
4n1-4e 70 stand " the country. Even the
oOuth, snose VINO went with the rebellion sui
IereU more, IA the long run, than those who
stOJ4 ~ tAe AlOa and unless the government
nov, L 4 nlO-4en. Of mistaken ienIty and mag
n-nImIey, returns 10 the rebels political and
civil SIsAts tGey iJII-Ited when they Went into
tre.LzJu, the IL Eure Va Southern Union men Will
De - preferable tne iuture OF Southern
.tOTs-
Bul questions u taste and OF prophecies are
o. lltcie moment, when npared . the solemn
declaration OF the President that he . Ia favor
vi allowing Inc whites OF the South to decide
whether oI.ck men shall " e. ana that he
THINKS Congress mas 10 night axe any rule
y sAHfA5e On the DISTRICT u Columbia, which
Is ogJscIed 10 By majority Of The white voters
~ kos a no
very foundation vi democratic government a
republic Is nothing unless Is d government OF
lie people, -nG ~ the people, tor the peo-
pc lie people must mean the t0hoIe people,
4uU not parC. W allie IL true the majority
must rule, eney must rule by oul-voting, and
NO. - DISTINGUISHING the majority 1t no
LnOto Gsmoc.-tic IOr sue INABILITY IL deny suf-
I.-5e u ,Ae minority Oy Jaw, than 1t would
oe 70 DO 50 by force. Ii is a denial ot rights
- eltneT e-se. i monopoly Oh any sorl Is
o1lOus ano hostile the spirit OF our instltu-
lions, whether It Is q monopoly Ut civil or
property or political rIghts,-but 1t Is most
JdlOus ana dangerous 70 peace ana iiberty when
IL Is l. monopoly vi government. " hen d part
u any natIon exclude another part, equally
Win themselves entitled to d snare IN she gov
ernAent, tney commit u crime, AMI intIct d
Er4eSOus wound upon republican Institutions !,
An1 their uTpaCIOn Is the less right De
cause they aoie 10 do 1t. Minorlties as well
maJOrities have rights, the white minority in
Mississippi ana South Carolina, as wei as the
OlacA minority IA " lsconsIn and Connecticut
W OaIu President johnson admit that the black
majority the former states would be justified
n refusing suffrage their white fellow clt-
1en-, TIC whites the Latter states re-
fused &c to sheIr colOred citizens There are
moTe than three millions OF col0red people at
Une south now without the balboa popula-
SiOn arger tnan Enas which reDeiied against
treat britain because II taxed without
UeIng allowed to be represented and must the
iedeE.-4 government make ehort give lie
CslIIOs u these three millions OF people now
without representation
We re-ret 60 BE- compelled to believe that
PrezidenI Johnson Imbued with South
ern pIeJudIces against tn coloreo people, as 10
decline To aid them 10 their efforl 30 obtain
tneir nights Ordinarily the President Is quick
strike at ali uIonopOlies. In this response 10
the cOiOred delegation he called siavery"a great
monopoly, enabling those who controlled IL to
constitute arisroeracy, enabling the few 70
derive great profits, and rule the many with d
rod ol ron Yet now Is this monopoly de-
slroyed ii power is siu reposed exclusively IN
this same - aristocracy 2" The g aristocracy
still make Tie laws they did before, and can
rule, 81 lar Is tue government Is concerned, with
The same ''rod OF iron as formerly, ana what
haze ma dIsfr isad hlack-
Now tney are protected by federal bayonets, by
tne treedmens Bureau, by the strong hand Of
national authority, bus what defense will they
nave against this . rod OF irou," when fedora
interference is withdrawn? The blacks for
eighty years nave ielt this rod OF iron" auC
nave had remedy but reyoiution,-s shall We
leave them no escape but that in the future
Ne % not wonder that the President refused
allow Mir. Douglass to interrupt him wher
thus aiiu1ing u " InonopoIies,'' tor the sharp
clear nind vi this champion Of equal right
would have delivered staggering blow rIgh
between the e. es OF the Presidents logic. Mo
nopoiles was dangerous word to be used by
the iogician VINO was endeavoring to Justify tn,
most gigantic and unjust monopoly on this con
rInent, the monopoly which calls Itself demo
crailc. and yet denies the ballot TO more thai
three millions OF the loyal people of this coun
try rne Camden and Amboy monopoly, whicl
the PRESIDENT thought worthy oil denunclatlol
N MS animal message, is trivial and Harmless
beside this ohgarchy which is attempting to ez
Guide every colored man from the ballot box.
We do not to speculate upon what TIN
conversation iOreshadows az. 10 the future ectlo
OF the President. We very sure Congress Wi
stand firm, although the Presidents positio
may compel modification OF the bill relatln
t. suffrage IN the District Of Columbia, by IL
eerLng tue educational teet. Congress will als
DO what can 10 secure TO the colored peopl
OF the South their rights through the Free'
mems Bureau and general legislation. Tw
tbNds uf both Houses, We believe, are agree
upon 50 much and The people are with the
IN spite OF the schemes of Democratic politician
ana such trimmers Doolittle and Cowan ar
Raymond. Inc cause of equal rights must y