Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-04-26
Report of the Associated Press.
Speech of the President.
WASHINGTON. Anril 10.

WASHINGTON, April 10.
The celebration of the emancipation OF
slavery in the District of Columbia took
place to day. Two regiments of colored
troops, and various civic associations, with
many colored citizens, assembled IN front OF
the Executive Mansion, making a dense
mass OF colored faces, relieved here and
there by few white ones After the firing
OF cannon and the playing of few martial
airs, three cheers were given for the Presi-
dent of the United States, who having been
escorted to a prominent position by U. 5
Marshal Gerding, and his private secretary
Col. VIM. G Moore, addressed the assem-
blage as follows:
Ny CoLoRED FRIENDS: I have nothing
more to- say to you on this occasion than to
thank you for this compliment you have
paid in presenting yourselves before me on
this your day Of celebration. | come for
ward for the purpose of indicating my ap-
probation and manifesting my appreciation
of the respect thus offered or conferred. l
thank you for the compliment, and L mean
what say; and Will remark in this con-
nectlon, that the time will come, and that,
too, before great while, when the colored
people of the United States will find out who
have selected them as hobby and pretence
by which they can bessu ;cessful in obtain
ing and maintaining power, and who have
been their truest friends, and wanted them
to participate and enjoy the blessings of
freedom. The time will come when it will
be made known who contributed as much as
any other man and who, without being
considered egotistical may say, contribu-
ted more, in promoting national guarantee
of the abolition of slavery in oil the States
by the ratification of the amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, giving a
national guarantee that slavery shall no
longer be permitted to exist or be restablish-
ed in any State or under the jurisdiction Of
the United States. | know how easy it is to
cater to prejudice, and how easy to foster
prejudice and feelings unkind. | care not
that have been engaged in this work, in
which my all has been perilled,
| was not engaged in it as hobby, nor
did | ride the colored men for the sake Of
gaining power. What l did was for the
purpose of establishing the great principle
of freedom and, thank God, feel and
know it to be SO that my efforts have con-
tributed as much, if not more, in accom-
plishing 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 in high places, AMI far removed from
danger whose eyes have only abstractly
gazed on freedom; who have never risked
their limbs and property, and who never
contributed one sixpence in furtherance Of
the great cause, while another perilled his
all and everything that was dear to man,
and those whom he raised and who lived
with him, and who now enjoy his pro erty
with his consent, and who now receive his
assistance and aid, and yet some assume
who have never been the great defenders of
the colored men. repeat, that the day will
come when it will be proved who is practi-
cally your friend, and not for place or pow
err. | had these already. It has been
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 within him feels and appreci-
ates the fact that he stands forth redeemed,
regenerated, and disenthralled by the gent
us Of emancipation" Then let me mingle
with you in celebrating the day which com
menced your freedom, do so in sincerity
and truth, and trust in God that the bless
ings which have been conferred may be en-
joyed and appreciated by you, and that you
may give them proper direction. There
is something for all to do. You have solemn
duties to perform, and you ought to remem
Der that Freedom is not mere idea. 1t
must be reduced to reality Men, to be
free, endure many things which seem to be
embraced in the idea of universal freedom
1t is for you to give evidence to the world
and to the people of the United States,
whether you are going to appreciate this
great boon as it should be, and that you are
worthy of being freemen. Then let me
thank you with sinnarity for tho eenap1inlont
you nave paid me by passing through here
to-day and paying your respects to me. |
repeat again, the time will come when you
will know who have been your best friends,
and who have not been your friends from
mercenary considerations. Accept my
thanks.
The bands then struck up a lively tune.
Meanwhile the President remained, every
man Of the colored persons approaching and
shaking hands with him. The procession
then reformed, and took up the line of
march along Pennsylvania avenue.
When passing the Capitol, cheer after
cheer rent the air in compliment to their
legislative friends. Never before has there
been such demonstration of the colored
population in this city, who were Joined by
friends from other localities. There were
900 to 5000 colored men in the procession
while 10000 of the same race were interest
ed spectators, manifesting their joy and
gladness by waving their hats and handker-
chiefs, and cheering Justify the passing pro-
cession.