Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-13
Rejoinder of the Colored Men.
.rKxrSr or THEIR OPINIONS AND WISHES

| sTATENENT OF THEIR OPINIONS AND WISHES
The following is the published reply of the
Colored Delegation to President Johnson, pre-
pared after they had their interview with him
| Mr.. PRESIDENT In consideration of deli
cate sense OF propriety, well as your own re
peated intmations OF lndispositlon TO discuss or
10 listen to reply to the views and opinions you
were pleased to express to US IN your elaborate
speech to-day, the undersigned would respect
fully take this method of replying thereto.
| Believing, as we do, that the views and opin-
| ions expressed in that address are enurely IN
sound and prejudicial 10 the highest interests of
our race as we'll as of our country, We cannot
do otherwise than express the same, and, as tar
as may be In our power, arrest. their dangerous
| influence
| 1t is not necessary at this time to call atten-
ton to more than two or three features OF your
| remarkable address.
| The first point to which we feel especially
bound to take exception is your attempt to found
policy opposed to Embarrassment, upon
| the alleged ground of an existing hostility on
| the part of the former slaves toward the poor
white people of the South.
| We admit the existence of this hostility and
hold that 1t is entirely reciprocal.
| But you obviously commit al error by draw
| ing an argument from an incident oil state OIL
slavery and making 1t basis for policy
| adapted TO a state OF freedom
| The hostility between the whites and blacks
| of the South Is easily explained. Ii mas It's root
| and sap in the relation of slavery, and was IN
cited on both sides by the cunning OF tue slave
masters. These masters secured their ascenoen-
oy over both the poor whites anu the bia Ks by
putting enmlry between them. Ihey divided
| both TO conquer each.
| There was no earthly reason why the blacks
should not hate and dread the poor whites, when
in state of slavery, tor 1t Was from this class
that their masters received their siave-catcaers,
slave-drlyers, and overseers. They Were the
men called III upon all OCCASIONS oy tue masters
when any hendlsh outrage was 70 De COMMITTED
upon the slave.
| Now, Sir, you cannot but perceive that the
cause Of this hatred removed, tne hatred must be
removed also. Slavery Is abolished. Lhe cause
OF antagonlsm Is removed, and you must see
that 1t Is aItogeihe IliogIcdI-'- putting he"
wine into old bottles, men1lng new garments
with old clothes to IegisIate from slave
holding and slave-driylng premises LOT people
whom you have repeatedly declared your p1r-
pose 10 maintain IN freedom. Beside, even II Il
were true, as you aIle5e, that sne hJs-Hty u
the blacks toward tie poor whites must neces-
sarily be the same state U slavery, II tht
name OF Heaven, We reyerenty ASK, no" car
you, in view vi your protested desire = promo,
the welfare OF tie black man, prl7e Aln %. q
means OF def nse Il u clolhe INN, whom You
regard ms enemy, IN the Ianoply OF PoH.ca
power Can 1t be that You would recommend
d policy which would am the s,rOus aud cas-
down the detenceless? Can you BY any posi-
bIIIry OF reasoning regard tins - just, tAlr y
wise
Experience proves That those are Offences
abused VINO can be abused with tne Creates IN
punity Men whipped Offences VINO Az
whipped easiest. Peace between races Il NOT i
be secured by degrading one lace and eXaitIng
another-by giving power to one race anu with
holding 1t from another,-out by maintaining
state OF equal justice between al pagtles hIs
pure-Ihen peaceaole.
On the colonization theory which you wer,
pleased to breach very mucn could be said. Il
l. impossble.to suppose, IL view Of the usefulness
OF the black man IN time OF peace a Il iaOOrel
IN the South ami IN time OF war as soldier d
the North, and the growing respect Tor hl
rights among the people, ami his increasing
adaptation 10 a high state OF cIyiizAtlJu IA thls
his native land, there can ever come time wneI
he can BE removed from TINS country without d
terrible shock 10 lis prosperity and peace.
| Beside, me worst enemies Of the nation c0ul-
NOT upon lus fair name greater MANY
than TO suppose that negroes could ce toler-tet
among them IN state Of the most degrading
slavery and oppression, and must be east away
and driven mo exile Tor other cause thar
having been freed from their chains.
GEoRGs f. DOWNING, FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
JoHN JONkS, LEWIS III. DOUGLASS,
WILLIAM HIPPER, And others
| W ashIug Ton, Feb. :. 1866.