Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-02
The President and The ColOred Del.

AE AAsANAN q VI AAo -ANNA
view with the delegation of colored men
which called on him about two weeks
ago:
The sensation of the day is, of course,
the Presidents talk with the colored dele
cation, and that from Montana, on
! Wednesday last. Nobody is much sur
prised or much hurt at the c~old-bloodcd
disregard shown of all lessons taught by
these momentous events yet there cannot
help being sorrow in the hearts of many,
that at this late day Mr.. johnson should
! blot out all the nObler utterances Of his
life.
So far as the Republican majority are
concerned, this unwilling of Mr.. john
sons true opinions and policy will make
no difference. They are going forward TO
do the work which in their Judgment IS
considered necessary for national security
and unity. Instead Of distracting the
| Republicans, the ayowed and dictatorial
dissent of the President nos succeeded in
concentrating and uniting them. Agood
many who were inclined to compromise
on Tennessee last week, and some Sena-
tors DESTROYS Of e~masculating the District
| suffrage bill, are now strong in their de-
| termination against either.
L am able TO give you a minute account
1 of the interview had BY the colored dele
gates. The telegraphed has informed you
who composed the delegation. Mr.. Geo.
I. Downing, representing the New Eng
land States, acts as their president. As
the htsHiCsacsr and the Copperhead
press generally declare that the Interview
- - r,-- A. Du--sT--4 III.
warning, and was a plan of the radicals to
make Mr.. johnson commit himself, l pro
pose TO tell how the interview was brought
about. OF course It was part Of the dele
cations plan to pay their respects to the
President, awaiting until the arrival of all
the delegates. On Monday last "a request
was conveyed to the President, through a
person acquainted at the White House,
and having access to the Executive. 1t
was hoped by the delegates that this favor
would be extended 10 them some evening.
so that more time might be given for a
full expression of views. Their action
was dictated by no one. Very few per-
| sons were admitted, and no counsel as to
their conduct WAS volunteered. Ii was
felt that such men as Douglass, Downing,
Whipper, and the others, were capable OF
managing their own affairs.
On Wednesday morning the delegation
received a note informing them their
friend had made an appointment at half
past ten of that day. 1t took them by
surprise. How much so may be Judged
BY the fact that the very e egant, finished.
and compact address of Mr.. Downing
was written in the White House while the
delegation was waiting admission. Ii had
been agreed amongthem that Mr.. Douglass
shouid be spokesman. He, however, de-
| clined, considering it Impolitic Tor him to
| sperk, as he had lately severely criticised
the President; nor was it designed to in
troduce the delegates separately.
On being admitted, however, which was
between twelve and one, Mr.. johnson ad-
vanced with apparent cordially, and eX-
| tending his hand. MIR. Downing then IN
troduced the delegates, and proceeded to
address the President, who stood by the
side of the chair he had occupied. After
Mr.. Downing finished Mr.. Douglass spoke
briefly. There was then a pause, the del
| egation expecting NJ. Whipper, Of Phil
adelphia, 10 speak. As he did not, Mr..
Downing remarked " that what had been
said expressed fully their hopes and
wishes, and the delegation respectfully
hoped the President would make q favor
able response
The President seemed slightly confused,
placing his foot on a chair, hesituting Il
little as he commenced his rambling reply.
As he proceeded, reaching the point where
be spoke of those who in rounded periods
expressed their devotion 10 liberty, etc,
his face begun to glow, his manner grew
animated, and between the pNUses Of his
interjeclionary sentences, he spit furiouslv
on the floor, As il he was thus showing his
opinion of those radicals at whom his 5lr-
casm Was aimed. The reply proceeded,
and as it did the Presidents manner lost
that cordial look which it wore when the
delegates entered. Both Mr.. Downing
and Mr.. Douglass tried, without any de-
sign on the part of either, 10 catch and fix
Mr.. JohusOn's eve on themselves. They
were the spokesman, and consequently de
sired to make any reply that might he
necessary. They found it impossible. Mr..
johnson in a marked manner avoided this
and al last fixed his own glance upon the
Mississippi delegate, and he desired
through him to affect the balance.
As the President proceeded, Douglass or
Downing several times sought TO make
some answering reply or remark. The
President, between the pauses Of his talk
ing and splitting, seemed to give them an
opportunity-even to invite reply. But be-
fore a sentence could be finished, as soon
rs the point aimed at was visible, the
President would interrupt abruptly, and
go on with his talk. Of course it was i'm
possible to report these broken sentences.
Mr.. johnson showed uneasiness at the in
terrupticns, and evinced a strong desire
not TO allow any discussion. The remark
about the slave despiSing the poor white
man was directly addressed to Douglass.
There Is hut one criticism upon it, and it
is that Mr.. johnson showed gstr9nge ignO-
rance OF human nature in thus addressing
this distinguished man. When the Presi-
dent said, let us draw near and discuss
this question: Mr. Douglass, standing in
his simple manhood and Intellectual dig
nifty, the central figure of the group, fully
the President equal in al that consti-
tutes noble character, took him at his word
and advanced toward the President. The
latter drew back in q repellant manner.
When the delegation was leaving, Mr..
Douglass said, The President sends US to
the people, and to the people we GO"
The star of this city, in its report, made
Mr.. Douglass say in closing, 'snd we 90
to make the people right The differ
ence is important, because the latter con
cedes that the people are not already right
which the delegates do not admit.
Among the delegates was a white Vir-
ginian, Judge Pepper, of Norfolk, who
was elected by the colored people there to
represent them.
Mr.. Douglass IS to address the citizens
of Washington, in reply to the Presidents
sophisms, his inhuman attempts to bring
about that which he pretends to seek 10
avoid-a- war Of races. Il Is intended to
the largest church or hall in the
city. Mr.. Douglass lectures here on Tues
day, upon "The Assassination and its
Lessons
One thing attracts attention in the Pre-
reply both to the COlored men and
the Montana delegation. 1t Is the tone Of
but wounded egotism with which
he e. sslllPdd 10 tbs. difference cf views
cism of his policy made by prominent Re
publiCans. Another thing Is the constant
repeating Of himself In the Montana
his repeated illusions to his mes
sage (which was but generally and with
courtesy alluded TO by the delega-
tom makes one think only of the story Of
the drunken man who failed to get into
bed, and after several attempts seated
"to wait for the bed to come
r,rrDI oro1v -