The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1866-02-14
Speech OF the President to a Delegation 0
COlOrtd Men,

4 washington 10 urge lne Interests OF Inc cor
ored people before The government, had an
interview with the President this afternoon.
The delegation was as follows
/ Fred. Douglass, OF New York, George T.
Do wnine, representing the New England
States, Lewis H. Douglass. son Of Fred.
Douglass, and Wm. E. Matthews of Mary
land, John Jones, of Illinois, John F. Cook
o! The District OF Colombia, A. J. Reytier,
of South Carolina, Joseph Oats, OF Flori Ja,
~. w Ross, OF Mississippi, VIM Ripper, of
Pennsy fvaaia, john VI Brown, and Alexan-
der Dunlap, OF Virginia, and CaIvis Pepper
(wbi;e) Of Virginia.
The President shook hands kindly with
/ each member OF The delegation, Fred. Doug
lass first advancing for that purp ose. Geo.
! T. Downing then addressed the President as
4 follogs: We present ourselves 10 your ex-
ceIIency TO make known with pleasure The
/ respect which we are glad to cherish for y ou
Ia respect which is your due as our Chief
Magistrate. !, is our desire for you TO know
tba, we come feeling HAT we are friends,
! meeting as friends. We should, however,
have manifested our friendship by not COM
/ irc 10 fnrlher tax your already much bur-
dehea and valuable lime. But we have
another object in calling. We are in a pas.
J sage TO equafIiy before the Law God hath
! made ii by opening a red sea. We would
have your assistance through The same We
come to yon in the name OF lhe United
States, aud are delegated y some who have
unius,ly worn iron mauacles on their bed
ies, oy some whose minds have been uam-
.melsd by class legislation in states called
free.
The colorsd people Of The States of TG-
noi-, Wiscon sin Alabama, Mississippi, Flor
ida, South Carolina. Norih Carolina. Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New
Eugland s;a;es, and D-etrict OF Columbia,
have specially delegated us lo. come. Oar
coming is a marked circumstance noting
determined hope, that we are not satisfied
with an amendment prohibiting slavery ,bnl
tia; we ~ish i enforced wIb appropriate
legislation This is our desire. We ask or
ii iuleligepiiy. with he kaowledge aud
conviction that The fa'hers o! The feyolu-
ton intended ireeJoG FOR asery Ameucan,
,h they should be protected IN their rgh,s
as cilizsns aad equal before the law.
Fred Douglass adEanced and addressed
The President, sayiDg Mr. PTssidsnl-We
are not here o eEligh;en you sir, as TO your
daies as The Chief Magistrate OF ihe repob-
lie, bot to show our respect, and TO present
10 brief the claims Of OUTRAGE 10 your favor
able consideration. By the order Of Divine
Providence you are placed 10 position
where you have the power 10 save or de-
stroy US, 10 bless or blast Us. | mean our
whole race Your noble aad humane ere
decessor placed in our hands The power TO
sssisi in saving the cation, aud we do hope
regard tbe placing in our hands of the bal
Iol with which 20 save ourselves.
We shalt submit no Argument OF that
point. The fact 'ha, we are The subjects Of
government, and subject 20 iaxa,ion-sub-
jsct 10 volunteer in the serVics Of your eoun-
try-suljectre beins drafted sukjse, 10 tiesr
tie burdens of ihr Stale, makes l. rot i'm
proper lhai we Should ask 10 shase ia The
privileges ai this condition. have no
speech 70 make on tits occasion. simply
submit ,hese observations as a limited ex-
pressiob OF The views and feelings OF ihe
delegation with which have come.
TIE following is substantially The response
Of iae President: Ia reply 70 some Of your
inquiries, not 20 make speech about this
ualter--ior il i always best 70 TAX plainly
aaI distinctly about such -questions-I will
say thai il have not given evidence in my
iormer course hat am a friend Of hnmani-
", and TO that portion Of il which consti-
iules ihe colored population, can give no
evidence hereafter. Every hing that have
had both as regards lie and properly, has
been pariied in this cause and think
that understand wba should be The true
drecliop of this question. and what course
OF policy would result in the smeioralion
and ultimate elevation not oniy of the col
oreJ, bat oil the great mass OF the people of
the Uuiled States. | say that if I have not
giveD evidence that | am friend of hu-
manly, and especially the friend Of The col
ored mar, in my pas; conduct, there is nolh-
ing that ! can row do that would
If know myself and the feelings OF my
own heart, they have been for The co.ored
man. ! have owned slaves and bonghi
slaves, bn, never sold one. ! might say,
however. that practically, so far as my con-
nection with slaves has gone, have been
their slave instead cf their being mine
Some have even followed here, while others
are occupying and enjoying my property
With my consent. For The colored race my
means, my lime, my all has been Periiied,
aud now, at this la:e day, ai:er giving tan
gible evidence, am irse 10 tell you that
do moi like 10 be atraigned bY some who
can get mn handsomely rounded periods