The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-21
Celebration Of the Emancipation OF
Slavery in the District Of COL
umbia.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
He Exposes the Pretended Friends of the
COlored Race

WASHINGTON, April lS.-The celebration OF
the emancipation of slavery in the District of
Columbia took place to-day. Two regiments of
colored troops, and various colored civic assoeia-
tions with many colored citizens, assembled in
front of the executive mansion, making a dense
mass of colored faces, relieved here and there BY
few white ones.
After the firing of cannon and the playing
several national airs, and three cheers we're given
for the president of the Emitted States who hav-
ing been escorted to q position by United States
Marshal Gerding, and his private secretary (Col
William G. Moore,) he addressed the assemblage
as follows:
My Colored Friends-I have nothing more to
say to you, on this occasion, than to thank you
for this compliment you have paid in presenting
yourselves before me on this, your day of ceie-
bration come forward for the purpose of in
dicating my appreciation and manifesting my ap-
probation of the respect thus offered, confer
red thank you for the compliment, and
mean what say and will remark in this con-
nection that the time will come, and that, too,
before a great while, when the colored people of
the United States will find out who has selected
them as a hobby and pretence by which they can
be successful in obtaining power, and who have
participate in and enjoy the blessings of freedom
The time will come when it will be made known
who contributed as much any other man, and
who, without being considered egoGstcal, 1 may
saw contributed more in promotion of a national
guarantee of the abolition of slavery in all the
states, by the ratification of the amendment of
the constitution of the United States, giving a
national guaranty that slavery no longer be per-
mitted to exist or be re-established in any state
or Jurisdiction of the United States. know
how easy it is to cater to prejudice, and how
easy to foster prejudice and feelings unkind. /
care not that have been engaged in this work
in which my all has been perilled. | was not
engaged in it as hobby, nor did / ride the col
ored men for the sake of gaining power. 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 no: more, in accomplish
ing this great national guarantee than those of
snr other living man in the United States. Er-
thusiastic applause.
1t is very easy for colored men to have pre-
tended friends, in high places, and far removed
from danger, whose eyes have only abstractly
gazed on freedom; who have never risked their
limbs and property, and who never contributed
sixpence in iurtherance of the grea cause. while
another periled his all and everything dear to
him, and those whom he raised and who lived
with him, and who now enjoy his property with
and aid, and yet some assume, who have never
been considered the great defenders of colored
men. I repeat, that the day will come when it
will be proved who is practically your friend, and
not for place or power. 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 threads American soil his
soul within him feels and appreciates the fact
that he stands forth redeemed, regenerated and
disenthralled BY the genius of emancipation"
Then let me mingle with you in celebrating
the day which commenced your freedom. / do
it in sincerity and truth, and trust in God the
blessings which have been conferred may be en-
joyed aud appreciated by you, and that you msy |
give them proper direction. There is some
thing for all to do. You have solemn duties to
perform, and you ought to remember that free |
dom is not mere idea. It must be reduced to
a reality. Men to be free endure many things |
which seem to be embraced in the idea of univer-
sal freedom. 1t is for you to give evidence to |
the world, and to 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.
repeat again, the time-wil come when you viii |
now who have been your best friends, and who |
siderations. Accept my thanks.
The band shen struck up a lively tune
Meanwhile the president remained, and very
many of the colored persons approached and
shook hands with him. The procession then re-
formed and took up the line of march along |
Pennsylvania avenue. When passing the CAPT
.ol, cheer after cheer rent the air in compliment
to their legislative friends.
Never before has there been such a demon
,tration of the colored population in this city,
Who were joined by friends from other localities.
There were probably 1000 or 5000 colored men
n the procession, while 10, 900 of the same race
we're interested spectators manifesting their joy
md gadness by waving their hats and haadker
hiefs, and cheering Justify at the passing process
ion.