The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-24

my all has been periled. I was not enp, ,ed
in it as a hobby, nor did ride the coIo SeI
man for the sake of gaining power. What
l did was for the purpose of establishing tLo
great principles of freedom And. t6ani.
| God, feel and know it to be so, that nv NJ
forts have contributed DIS much, if not MOI
in accomplishing this great national guarsr
tee than those of any other living man il
the United States. .LApplause.]
1t IS very easy for colored men to Laro
pretended friends, ensconGed in high places
and far removed from danger-whose ryr1
have only abstractly gazed on freedom; Who
have never exposed their limbs or proDertr
and who never contributed sixpence in tiig '
therance OF the great cause; while another
! periled his all, and put up everything sacred
and dear to man, and those whom he raised
and who lived with now enjoy his propprt,,
with his consent, and receive his aid and a.:
slstance: yet some who assume. and Others
who have done nothing. are considered tie
great defenders and protectors Of the color
| ed man.
repeat, my colored friends, here TODAY
! the time will come and that not far distant
when it will be proved who is practically
your best friend
My friendship, as far as it has gone, has
not been for place or power, for had these
already. 1t has been a principle with me
and thank God the great principle has
been established that whatever any in;livid
ual, III the language of distinguished ora
tor and statesman, treads American soil hi,
soul swells within him beyond the power Of
chains to bind him in appreciation of the
great truth that he stands forth redeemed
regenerated and disenthralied by the genius
of universal emancipation Applause
Then let ME mingle with you in the cele-
bration of the day which commenced Your
freedom. do it in sincerity and truth. and
trust in God, the blessings which have been
conferred may be enjoyed and appreciated
by you, and that you may give them pro-
per direction.
There is something for all to do. You
have high and solemn duties to perform, and
you ought to remember that freedom Is not
a mere idea. 1t must be reduced to pr8cti-
cal reality. IIen in being free have to d.nv
themselves many things which seem to lie
embraced in the idea of universal freedom
1t is with you to give evidence to the
world, and the people Of the United States
whether you are going to appreciate this
great boon as it should be, and that you are
worthy of being freemen. Then let me thank
you with sincerity for the compliment you
have paid me by passing through here TO-
day and paying your respects to me. re
peat again, the time will come when You will
know who has been your best friend, and
who has not been your friend from merceni-
ry considerations. Accept my thanks.
The President, after concluding his re-
marks, waited some time outside while the
procession passed, and during this time large
numbers or the colored people advanced to
pay their respects to him, and take him by
the hand.
The President, was repeatedly and enthu-
cheered during the delivery of the
above address and the passage of the process
sion, which proceeded to move as soon as lie
had closed