Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-02-13
1rR- JOHNSON HAS TWO "TAIKs."


by two delegations-on frors the Territory
OF Montana aud the other composed of negroes
from everywhere. The Montana people
came to congratulate him upon the tone of
his Annual Message. In his reply to. them
he took occasion, in the following words, to
say that he was not candidate for reelection:
can inform all aspirants who are trying
to form their combinations for the future
who want to make one Organizations for one
purpose and another, that they arc not in nv
way. l am not candidate for any position.
and hence, repeat, l can afford to do RIGHT
aud, being in that Conditions will do rieths
make this announcement tor the purpose of
letting all know that my work is to restore
the Government, not u make combinations
with reference to any future candidacy for
the Presidency of the United States.
have reached the topmost round-mF
race Is run-so lar as that IS concerned. Nv
object is to perform my duty, aad that L will
endeaYor to do let us, then, all join in this
great work OF restoration; aud while we are
i restoring and repairing the breaches that
have been made, let US unite in the work of
MAKING new:States and populating them with
people who are worthy Of the government
which protests them. And let those new
State governments be founded. on PRINCIPLES
| IN harmony with the great machinery devised
by our fathers. So far us regards any aid or
assistance that can be given here in the. pr,-
| gross and in the cOnsummation of This great
work oil building up new States. as well as
| on the restoration of all the former States
! you will find me willing andcordiaI helper
The negro delegation came to ask for equal
suffrage and ''appropriats Legislation" to that
end. Fred. Douglas made the following ad-
dress, mOdcstly admitting that he was not
there to 'eulighteR' Mr.. johnson upon his
duties:
Mr.. Presidcnt-We are not here to en-
tighten you, sir, US to your duties as the Chief
Magistrate Of this Republic, but to show our
respect and present, i'll brief, the claims of
| our race to your favorable consideration. In
thecrderof Divine Providence you are placed
ina position where you have the power to
save Or destroy us-to bless or blast u.s. 1
mean our whole race. Your noble and
humane predecessor placed i'll our hands the
| sword TO assist III saving the nation, and we
| do hope that you, his able successor, will
tavorably regard the placing in our hands the
| ballot with which to save ourselves We
shall submit no argument OH that point The
fact that we are the subjects Of Government
and subject to taxation, subject to volunteer
III the service OF the country, subject to be-
| ing drafted, subject to bear the burdens of
the State, make it not improper that We should
ask to share in the privilege Of this condition.
| have 10 speech to submit on this occasion
L simply submit these observations us q limited
expression Of the views and feelings of the
delegation with which have come.
In reply, Mr.. johnson made LENGTHY
speech, Frequently interrupted by Douglas,
the gist OF which we give in the extracts be-
low, wherein, it will be perceived, tue Presi
dent thinks that the pressure of the Radical
measure OF negro suffrage will result III War
OF races:
IF know, myself, and the feel ngs of nv.
own heart, they have been for the colored
man. GSllave owned slaves and bought
slaves, but never sold one. l might saw.
however, that practically, SO far as my con-
Dectlon wlth'siuvcs has gone. shall have
been. their slave instead of their being mine.
Some have eveE followed me here, while
others are occupying and enjoying my pro-
perty with my consent. For the colurrd race
my means, lHy time, my all have been
perlled; aud now, at this late day after giving
evidence that's tangible, that is practical. /
am free to say to you that do not like to be
arraisned by some who can get up hand
somely rounded periods and deal in rhetorical
talk about abstract ideas Ut liberty who never
perilIcd life, liberty or property. This kind
of theoretical, hollow, impractical friendship
amounts TO but very little. Whilst | saw
that 1 am friend to the colored man, do
not want to adopt policy that believe will
end in u contest between the races, which, if
persisted in, will result in the determination
Of ono or tho other. God forbid that should
be engaged in such work.
The white man was permitted to vote be-
fore the Government was derived from linn
He is n part ard pereel.ct the political ma
chinery. Now, by rebellion or revolution,
and when You come back to the objects of
this war, you find that the abolition Of slave.
ry was not one of the objects. Congress and
the President himself declared that it was
waged on our part in order to suppress the
rebellion. The abolition ofslavery has come
US an incident to the suppression of great
rebellion. AS an inciG:us, ADD as an accord
ant, we should giveit the proper direction
The cOlOred man went into this rebellion Il
slave; by the operation of the rebellion he
came out Il freedman. equal to freedman in
any other portion of the country. There,
then, is a great deal done for him on this
point. The non stakeholder who vas forced
into the rebellion, and was as loyal as those
who lived beyond the limit of the State, was
carried into it, and his property, and in a
number of instances, the lives of such were
sacrificed, and he who has survived has come
out Off with nothing gained, but a great
deal lost. Now upon principle of justice,
should they be placed in condition different
from what they were beforez On the one
band. one has .ost great deal. and in a
political poiut of view, scarcely stands where
he did before. Now we are talking about
what We are going t" argue. We have got
at the hate that existed between the two races.