Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-02-13
5TON. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1866.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT TO A
DELEGATION OF cOLORED MEN.
WASHINGTON, February Z

INpluolJ
The delegation of colored representatives
from different States of the country, now in
Washington to urge the interests of the CO.
lored people before the government, had an
interview with the President this afternoon.
The delegation was as follows:-
Frederick Douglass, of New York; George
T. Downing, representing the New England
States; Lewis II. Douglass, son of Fred.
Douglass, and VIM. E. Matthews, of Md;
John Jones, of Illinois; John F. Cook, Of
the District OF Columbia; A. J. Raynier, of
South Carolina; Joseph Oats, of Florida; A.
W. Ross, of Mississippi; William Ripper, of
Pennsylvania John NJ. Brown and Alsxan-
der Dunlap, of Virginia, and Calvin Pep
per. (white) of Virginia.
The President shook hands kindly with
each member of the delegation, Frederick
Douglass first advancing for that purpose
George T. Downing then addressed the
President as follows:-We present ourselves
to your Excellency to make known with
pleasure the respect with which We are glad
to cherish for you--a respect which is your
due as our Chief Magistrate. 1t is our de-
sire Tor you to know that we come feeling
that we are friends, meeting as friends. We
should, however, have manifested our friend
ship by not coming to further tax your
already much burdened and valuable time.
But we have another object in calling. We
are in passage to equality before the law
God hath made it by opening Red Sea-
We would have your assistance through the
same. We come to you in the name of the
United States, and are delegated to come by
some who have unjustly worn iron manacles
on their bodies; by some whose minds have
been trammelled by class legislation in States
called free.
The colored people of the States of Illi-
nois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, Flori-
da, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New
England States, and the District of Colum-
bia, have specially delegated us to come.
Our coming is marked circumstance noting
determined hope that we are not satisfied
with an amendment prohibiting slavery,
but that we wish it enforced with appropri-
ate legislation This is our desire. We ask
for it intelligently with the knowledge and
conviction that the fathers of the revolution
intended freedom for every American-that
they should be protected in their rights al
citizens and equal before the law. We are
Americans native born Americans We
are citizens we are glad to have it known tc
the world, as bearing no doubtful record or
this point. On this fact, and with conf
dence in the triumph of justice, we bast
our hopes. We see no recognition of colol
or race in the organic law of the land.
knows no privileged class, and therefore W,
cherish the hope that we may be fully en-
franchised, not only here in this District
, but throughout the land. We respectfully
submit that rendering anything less thai
this will be rendering to us less than ou
just due; that granting anything less thai
our full rights will be a disregard of ou
just rights, of disrespect for our feelings
If the powers that be do so it will be used a
license, as it were, or any apology for an,
community or tor individuals, thus disposed
to outrage our rights and feelings. 1t hs
been shown in the present war that the gov
eminent may justly reach the strong arr
into States, and demand from them, fror
those who owe it allegiance, their assistanc
and support. May it not reach out a lik
= arm to secure and protect its subjects upo
whom it has like claim.
Frederick Douglass advanced and address,
'' ed the President, saying;-Mr, President
We are not here to enlighten you, sir, as t
your duties as the Chief Magistrate of tn
l. Republic, but to show our respect, and t
present in brief the claims of our race I
your favorable consideration. BY the orde
of Divine Providence you are placed in
position where you have the power to say
OF destroy us; to bless or blast us; mes
our whole race. Your noble and human
I'll predecessor placed in our hands the powt
D to assist in saving the nation, and We d
q hope that you, his able successor, wi
. favorably regard the placing in our hands
the ballot, with which to save ourselve
We shall submit no argument ON that poin
I. The fact that we are the subjects of goyeri
b, ment and subject to taxation-subject
volunteer in the service of the country
subject to being drafted-subject to bear Il
D burdens of the State, makes it not impropt
is that we should ask to share in the privileg
IS, of this condition. have no speech to NAL
J. on this occasion. 1 simply submit the
J. observations as a limited expression of Il
views and feelings of the delegation wi
N which have come
% The following is substantially the respon
n, H. of the President:-In reply to some of yol
inquiries, not to make a speech about th
K matter-tor it is always best to talk plain
and distinctly about such questions-I W
say that if have not given evidence in n
former course that am friend of humani
and to that portion of il which constitut
the colored population, can give no eN
dence hereafter Everything that 1 ha'
had, both as regards life and property, h
been perilcd in this cause, and feel al
!. think that understand (not to be egotisti
what should be the true direction of til
an nu question, and what course of policy wou
all result in the amelioration and ultimate eley
On ton not only of the colored, but of the gre
-,v mass of people of the United States. / 81
n that if / have not given evidence that a
t. friend of humanity, and especially Il
Ss friend of the colored man, in my past co
'A' duct there is nothing that can now