The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-09
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE Ne
GRO QUESTION.
A NEGRO DELEGATION PRESENT
THEIR VIEWS.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.
By telegraph to the Chicago Times.

By telegraph to the Chicago Times.
WASHINGTON, Feb'y Z.
The delegation of colored representatives
from different states of the country, now In
Washington to urge the interests of the col.
ored people before the government, had an
interview with the president this afternoon
The delegation was as follows: Fred
Douglass, of New York; Geo. j. Downing
representative of the New England states
Lewis FL. Douglass, son of Fred. Douglass
VIM. E. Mathews,of Maryland John Johns
of Illinois; John F. Cook, of the District o.
Columbia a j. Raynor, of South Carolina
James E. Oats, of Florida; A. w. Ross, o.
Mississippi; William Rippon. of Pennsylva'
uia John NJ Grsvin, Alex. Dunlap and Cal,
vim White, of Virginia.
The president shook hands kindly with
each member of the delegation, Fred. Doug.
lass frs, advancing for that purpose. Geo. I
Downing then addressed the president, as
follows:
VIEWS OF THE coLoRED DELEGATION.
We present ourselves to your exceliency to
make known with pleasure the respect which
we cherish for you, respect which is your
own due as chief magistrate. 1t Is our de
sire for you TO know that we come feeling
that we are friends meeting friend We
should, however have manifested our friend
ship by not coming to further tax your al.
ready much burdened and valuable time, bat
we have another object in calling. We are
in q passage TO equality before the law. God
hath made it by opening red sea. We
should have your assistance tbro' the same.
We come in the name of the United States,
and are delegated to come by some who have
upustly worn iron manaoles on their bodies,
by some whose minds have been manaoled by
class legislation IN states called free. The
c0orsd people of tbs states OF Illinois, Wis
consin, Alabama Mississippi. Florida, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Mary land,
Pennsy lvan1a, New York, the New England
states, and the District of Columbia, have
specially delegated Us to come. Our coming
is marked circumstance, noting determin-
ed hope, and that we are not satisfied with an
amendment prohibiting slavery, but that We
wish it enforced with appropriate Legislation.
This is our desire. We ask for it Intelligent
ly, with the knowledge and conviction that
the fathers OF the revolution intended freedom
for every American, and that they ell should
be protected in their ri gbte citzens-equal
before the law. We are Americans, native
born. We are glad to have it known to the
world as bearing no doubtful record on this
point. On this fact and with confidence in
the triumph of justice we have our hopes.
We see no recognition of race or color in
the organic law of the land. It knows nc
privileged classes, and, therefore, we cherish
the hope that we may be fully enfranchised
not only here in this District, but throughout
the land. We respectfully submit, that rem
dering anything else than this would be rem
dering to us less than our just due: that
granting anything less than our full rights
will be disregard of our just rights, of due
respect for our feelings. If the powers that be,
do So it will be used Icence, as it were
or an apology for any community or for indi-
Viduals thus disposed to outrage our rights
and feelings
1t has been shown IN the present war that
the government may justly reach the stron
arm into the states and demand from those
who owe allegiance their assistance and sup
port. May it not reach its subjects upon
whom it has a claim?
Fred. Douglass advanced and addressed the
president saying:
Mr.. PREsIDENT-We are not here to en-
tighten you, Sir, as to your duties as chief
magistrate of this republic, but to show our
respect, and to present. in brief, the claims of
our race to your favorable consideration. In
the order of Divine Providence you arc placed
IN position where you have power to save or
destroy US, 20 bless or blast us,-I mean our
whole race. Your noble and humane prede-
csssor placed in our hands the sword to assist
IN saving the nation, and we do hope that
like arm to secure and protect you, his sue
cessor, will favors0ly regard placing in our
hands the ballot with which to save ourselves.
We submit no argument on that point The
tact that we are the subjects of government
and subject to taxation, TO volunteer in the
service OF the country, subject to being draft
ed, subject to bear the burdens OF the state
mikes it not improper that we should share
IN privileges of condition.
have no speech to make on this occasion
l simply submit these observations 90 a lin.
ises expression of the views and feelings of
sh's allegation with which have come.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT
Inc following is substantially the response
of the president.
In reply to Some of your iuouiries. not to
make speech about this matter. for IL ia al
ways best TO talk plainly aud diss;nctlv ahout
sum Questions, | will say that if have not
gwen evidence IN my former course that su
FRIEND to humanity. and to that portion of
IL winch constitutes the col0red population. I
can give no evidence hereafter. EVERYTHING
that L have had, both as regards life and
property. has been periled in this cause, and I