The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-04-20
Negro celebration in Washington
over the Emancipation Of Slavery
The President is Waited upon and
Addresses the Assemblage. tY

Addresses the AsseinoiaEe'
| WAsHINGToN, April l9.-The celebra
tion of the emancipation of slavery il
the District of Columbia took pla ce
to day. Two regiments of colored troops
and various civil associations with
many other colored citizens, assembled
in front of the Executive Mansion
making a dense mass of colored faces
relieved now and then by a few white
ones. After the firing of cannon and
the playing Of several martial airs, three
cheers were given for the President
of the United States, who, having
been escorted to prominent position,
the procession was got in position by
L s Marshall Garding, and his private
secretary, Col William G. Moore ad,
dressed the assembly as follows:
Ny Colored friends-I have nothing
more to say to you on this occasion than
to thank you for the compliment you
have paid in presenting yourselves be-
fore me ON this your day of celebration
come forward for the purpose of indi-
eating my appreciation and manifestiug
my appreciation of the respect thus Of,
fered or conferred. thank you for this
4 L
may remark in this connection that the
time win come, aud that, too, before a
great while, when the colored people
of the United States will find ont who
have selected them as a hobby and
pretence by which they can be success
ful in obtaining and maintaining power
and who have been their truest friends
and wanted them to participate and en-
Joy the blessings of freedom. The time
will come when it will be made known
who contributed as much as any other
man, and who, without being considered
egotistical, may say contributed more
in procuring the great national guaran-
tee of the abolition of slavery in all the
States by the ratification Of the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, giving the national guarantee
that slavery shall no longer be permit
ted to exist, or be re-established in the
States or Jurisdiction of the United
States. know how easy tits to cater to
prejudice, and how easy it is toF excite
feelings of prejudice and unkindness. l
can not, for that have been engaged in
this work in which my all has been peril
ed. wasnot engaged in it as hobby nor
did / side with the colored men for the
sake of gaining power. What l did
was for the purpose of establishing the
great principle of freedom, and thank
God feel and know it to be so, for my
efforts have contributed as much if not
more in accomplishing this great ma
tional guarantees than those of any
other living man in the United States.
Enthusiastic applause
1t is very easy for colored men to have
pretended friends, ensconsed in high
places, and far removed from danger,
whose eyes have only abstractedly
gazed on freedom, who never exposed
their limbs or property, who never con
tributed a siXpence in furtherance Of
the great cause, while another perilled
his all, and everything sacred and
dear, and those whom he raised, and
who lived with him, and now enjoy his
property with his consent, aud receive
his aid, yet some assume, and others
who have done nothing are considered
the great defenders and protectors of the
Golored man | repeat, my colored
friends, here to-day, the time viii come
and that not far distant, when it will he
proved who is practically your best
friend. My friendship has, as far as it
has gone, 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 whenever any individual in the
language Of a distinguished orator.
treads American soil his soul svells
within him in appreciation Of the great
truth that he stands forth redeemed,
regenerated aud disenthralled by the
genius universal emancipation ZAP
plaussD
Let me mtn.lc With you III the Cele-
bration Of the day which Commemorates
your freedom | do it IN sincerity and
truth ana trust in God that the bles
SINGS which have been conferred may be
eni0yed and appreciated b. you ana
that you may give them 4 proper di'
rection. There is something for all to
do You have solemn duties to perform
and Won ought to remember that freed
ON IS not a1mere idea It must he reduced
to practical reality When IN being
free to deny themselves many things
which seem to be embraced in the idaa
sf universal liberty, it is with you to
give evidence to the world and the peo
ple of the United States whether you are
roing to appreciate this great boon as Il
Should be. and are worthy of being
freemen Then let NE thank yOu with
sincerity for the compliment You have
paid me by passing through here to-day
and paving your respects to me re
neat again, the time will come when yon
will Know who have been yOur best
friends and who have not been your
friends From merCenTy considerations
accept my thanks.
The band then struck up lively tune
In the meantime the President remain
ed, very many of the colored per.
sons approaching and shaking hands
with him The procession then re
formed and took up their line of march
along Pennsylvania Avenue. When
passing the Capitol cheer after cheer
rent the air in compliment TO their leg
islative friends
Never before has there been such.a
demonstration of the colored population
in this city, who were joined by friends
from other localities There were prob,
ably 100000 colored men in the process
sion. while 100, 600 of the same race were
interested spectators manifesting their
ioy and gladness by waving their hats
and handkerchiefs, and cheering lastily
the passing procession.
r.l;,n NeVs-.FenIau Tri,I,