The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-05-03
CELEBRATION By THE COLORED
PEOPLE AT WASHINGTON.
speech by the President.

cother colored citizens, assembled in
front of the Executive Mansion, max
ing q hense mass of colored faces, re
lieved here and there by few white
ones. After the firing of cannon and
tho playing of several martial airs,
three cheers were given for the Presi-
dent Of the United States, who, having
been escorted to prominent position
by United States Marshal Gording and
his Private Secretary, Colonel William
G. Moore, addressed the assemblage as
follows:
"My colored friends-I have moth. :.
ing more to say TO you on this ooca-
sion, than thank you for this compli-
ment you have paid in presenting
yourselves before me on this your day
of celebration. | come forward tor the
parpose of indicating my appreciation
and manifesting my appreciation of
the respect thus offered or conferred.
thank you for the compliment, and |
mean what | say; and | will rcm lrk +,
in this connection, that the time will
come, and that too before great while,
when the colored population OF the
United States will find out who have
selected them as hobby and q pre-
tence by which they can be successful
in obtaining and maintaining power,
and who have been their truest friends
and wanted them to participate and en- :
l. 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 be.
ing considered egotistical may say
contributed more in procuring the
great national guarantee of the aboli-
ton of slavery in all the States by the
ratification of the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, Civ.
ing national guarantee that slavery
shall no longer be permited to exist or
be re established in State or .jurisdic,
ttion of the United States / know how
easy if is to cater to prejudice, and
how easy it is to excite feelings of pref
udice and unkindness. | care not for
that. l have been engaged in this
4 work, in which my all has been i'm
periled.
II was not engaged in it as hob
by, nor did / ride tie negro for the
sake of gaining favor. What | did was
for the purpose of establishing the great
principle of freedom, and, thank God,
| feel and know it to be so, that my
efforts have contributed as much, if
not more, in accomplishing this great
] national guarantee, than those OF any
other living man in the United 4tates
Enthusiastic applause.
1T is very easy for colorcd men to
nave pretended friends enstonced IN
high places and far removed from dan.
ger, whose eyes haze only abstractly
gazed on freedmen. who have never
exposed their limb or property, and
who never contributed q sxpence in
fnrtherancc of the great cause, while
another perlcd his all, and everything
sacred and dear to mnn; and those
whom he raised and who lived WI h
him, now enjoy his property with his
consent and receive his aid and as,
sistance; vet some Others who have
done nothing, are considered the great
defenders and protectors of coored
men.
81 repeat, my colored friends, here,
to-day, the time will come. and that
not far distant, when it will be proved
who is practically your best friend.--
My friendship is, as far as it has gone,
not for place or power, for | had these
already, 1t has been principle with
me, and, thank God, the great princi-
pie has been established, that whencv-
or any being. in the language of dis
tingnished orator, treads on American
soil, his soul swells within him in ap-
probation OF the great truth that he
stands forth redeemed, regenerated &
disenthrallcd by the genius of univer.
sal emancipation. [Appause Then
let me mingle with you in celebration
of the day which commenced your
freedom. l do it in sincerity and
truth, and trust in God the blessings
which have been conferred may be en-
Ijoyed and appreciated by you, and that
you may give them proper direction,
There is something for all to do. You
have solemn duties to perform, and
you ought to remember that freedom
is not a mere idea. 1t must be reduc.
ed to practical reality,
"Men in freedom havo to deny them.
selves many things which seem to be
embraced in the idea of universal free.
dom. 1t is with you TO give evidence
to the world and the people of the
United States whether you are going Ia
appreciate this great boon as it should
be, and that you are freemen. ..
"Lct me thank you with sincerity
for tho compliment you have paid me
by passing through here to-day and
paying your respects to me. repeat
again, the time will come when you
will know who have been your best
friends, and have not been your friends
Accept my thanks
The band then struck up a lively
tune, meanwhile the President remain
ed, very many colored persons APP
preaching and shaking hands with him.
The session then reformed and took up
its line Of march along Pennsylvania
avenue. When passing the Capital,
cheer after cheer rent-the air, in com
pliment to their Legislative friends,-
/ Never before has there been such d de.