Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-04-26
THE EMANCIPATION ANNI.
VERSARY.
The President Declares Himself

WASHINGTON, April l9.-Thc celebration of the
Emancipation Of Slavery in the District of Colum-
bia took place TO day. Two regiments of coored
troope and various colored civil associations, with
many colored citizens, assembled i'm front of the
Executive Mansion. making dense mass Of
coored faces, relieved here and there by few
white ones.
After the firing OF the canon and the playing Of
several martial airs, three cheers were given for
the President of the United States, who, having
be en- escorted to prominent position by United
States Marshal Girdng and his private Secretary
Col VIM. G.. Moore, addressed the assernblage
as followss
"My colored friends, I have nothing more to say
to you on this occasion than to thank you for this
compliment you have paid me In presenting your
selves before me on this your day OF celebration
came forward for the purpose of indicating my
appreciation and manifestng my appreciation OF
the respect thus offered conferred. | thank
you for the compliment, and | mean what say,
and will remark in this connection that the time
will come, and that, too. before great while, when
the coored people Of the United States will find
out who have selected them as hobby and
pretence by which they can be successful in OBJ
tanning and maintaining power, and who have been
their truest friends and wanted them to partic!-
pate and enjoy 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 eco.isticai, may say,
contributed more in promOtnga national guaran-
tee Of the abolition of slavery in all the States by
the ratification of the amendment TO the Constiu-
'ion OF the United States. giving national guar
antee that SLAYER shall no longer be permitted 10
exist or be re established in any State or within
the Jurisdiction of the Unitrd States. | know how
easy it is to cater to prejulicc. and how easy to
foster prejudice and feelings unkind. care not
not that have been engaged in this work in
which my all has been peried. Twas not enga-
ged in j; as hobby, Tor did | ride the colored
men for the sake of gaining power. What did
for the purpose of establishing the great prn-
ciple of freedom. and, thank God, feel and know
i, to be so, that nv efforts have contributed as
much. if not more in accomplishing this great ma
tional guarantee, than those of any other living
man in the United States. En- husiastic applause.
1t is very easy for coored men to have pretended
friends, whose eyes have only abstracty gazed on
freedom. who have never risked their limbs and
property, and who never contributed sxpencc IN
furthersnce ofthe great cause, while another per-
illed his all and everything dear TO man, and
those whom he raised, and who lived with him, and
who now receive his assistance and aid, and
vet some assume who have never been considered
the crea: defenders OF colored men.
al repeat, that the day will come when it viii be
proved who is practically your friend, and not for
place or power. had these already. 1t has been
principle with me, and. think God, the great
principle has been established. that whenever any
individual. in the language Of distinguished era
tor, 'treads 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 mingie with you in celebrating the
day which commenced your freedom. | do it in
sincerity and truth, and trust in God ihe blessings
wh;ch have been conferred may be enjoyed and
appreciated by you, and that you may give them
proper direction. There Is something for all 10 do
You have solemn duties TO perform, and you ought
10 remember that freedom is not q mere idea. 1t
must be reduced to reality. Men, to be free, en-
dure many things which seem to be embraced in
the idea Of universal freedom. IL is for you to
give evidence TO The world and to the people OF
the United States whether you arc going 10 appre-
ciats this great boon il should be, and that you
are worthy of being freemen.
"Then let me thank yon with sincerity for the