The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-04-25
F~REEDMEN'S JUBILEE.

"a 10 FsN
The colorcd people of Washington and
vicinity celebrated the abolition of slavery
in the District, on Thursday last. They
called on the President of the United
States and was addressed by him as fol-
lcws:
My colorcd friends: l have nothing
more to say to you on this occasion than
to thank you for this compliment you
have paid me in presenting yourselves
before me on this your day of celebration.
| came forward for the purpose of indica-
ting my appreciation and manifcsting my
appreciation Of the respect thus offered
or conferred. l thank you for the com
plimcnt, and | mean what | say, and |
will remark in this connection, that the
time will come, and that. too, before a
great while, when the colored population
of the United States will find out who
have selected them as a hobby and Il
pretcnse by which they can be successful
in obtaining and maintaining power and
who have been their trucst friends, and
wantel them to participate in and enjoy
the blessings Of freedom. The time will
come when it will be made known who
contributed as much MS any other man,
and without being considered egotistical,
| may say contributed more, in procuring
the great national guarantee of the abo-
liiion Of slavery in all the states by the
ratification Of the amendment to the con-
s%titution Of the United States, giving "A
national guarantee that slavery shall no
longer be permitted to exist or be re-es-
tablished in the states or in the jurisdic-
ton of the United States.
know how easy it is to cater to pre-
iudicc, and |unkindncss, but [ care not for
that. | have been engaged in this work
in which my ali has been perilled. was
not engaged in it as a hobby, nor did |
ride the colored men for the sake Of gain
ing promotion but what | did was Tor
the purpose of establishing the great prin-
cipIe Of freedom, and, thank God, | feel
and know it to be 50, that my efforts have
contributed us much, if not more in ac-
complishing this great national guarantee
than those Of any other living man IN the
United States. Enthusiastic applause. }
1t is very easy for colored men TO have
pretended friends, concealed in high places
and far removed from danger, whose eyes
have only abstractedly gazed on freedom,
who have never exposed their limbs or
property, and who have never contributed
u sixpence in furtherance of the great
cause for which another perilled his all.
and everything sacred and dear 10 man :
and those whom he raised and who lived
with him and now enjoy his property
with his consent, and receive his aid and
assistance; yet some assume that others
who have done nothing are the greatest
defenders and protectors OF the colored
man.
| repeat, my colored friends here to-
day, the time will come and that not far
distant, when it will be proved who il
practically your best friend. My friend
ship has as far as it has gone not been for
place or power, for | 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,
treads American soil his soul swells with.
In him in appreciation of the great truth
that he stands forth redeemed, regener
ated and disenthralled by the genius o.
universal emancipation. Applause. Ther