Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-13
Jr nj au.
An Important Conversation between tn
President and a Colored Delegation.

the c7OTed people or the various sales called last
Wednesday, at the Executive Mansion, and had
an interview with the President, for the purpose OF
expressing their views on the questions now be-
ing C nsdered touching upon their general inter
e,t, aud Of csrtaining the ideas of the President
in the same connection. The delegation was as
follows. Fr ed. Douglass of New York George
L. Downing, representing the New England
States; Lewis II. Douglass, of Fred. Doug
lass William f. Matthews of Maryland /; John
Johns Of Illinois; John G.. Cook of District Of
C3lum bia; A. j. Raynor OF South Carolina
Joseph f. Oates of Florida A w. Ross of Mis-
sissipp; VIM. Rppon of Pennsylvania John
NJ. Crown, Alex. Dunlop and Calvin White Of
Virginia.
The President shook hands kindly with each
member OF the delegation Fred Douglass first
advancing for that purpose. George 5. Downing
then addressed the President as follows:
We present ourselves to your Exceency to
maks known, with pleasure, the respect which we
are glad cherish for you-a respect which is
your due as our Chief Magistrate. 1t is our de-
sire that YOU should know that came, feeling
that friends meeting friends We may,
however, have 4nifested our friendship by not
coming TO tax your already much burdened and
valuable time, but We have another object in call
ing. We in passage TO equality before The
iaw. God hath made it by opening Red Sea.
We would have your assistance through the same
We come 10 you 10 the of the United
States, and delegated to come by some who
have unJustIy worn iron manacles on their bodies
by some whose minds have been manacled by
class legislation in States called free. The col
ored people OF the States of Illinois, Wisconsin,
Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina
N1rf h ( Mr. and pppr Svlv ar5s
New York, New England States, and District of
Columbia have specially delegated US 10 come.
Our coming IS marked circumstance. We are
not satisfied vIth amendment prohibiting sla-
very, but We wish that amendment enforced with
appropriate legislation. This is desire. We
esk Tor 1t inteiigently, with the knowledge and
conviction that the fathers of the Revolution in
tended freedom for every Amercan-that they
should be protected IN their ghts citizens, and
be equal before the law. We are Americans
native born Americans. We are citizens. We
are glad to have It known TO the world that We
bear doubtful record on this point. On this
tAct, and with confidence in the triumph Of JUS
tie, We base our hope. We see no recognition
of color race ii the organic law of the land.
II knows no privileged class, and therefore
cherish the nope that we may be fully enfran-
chlsed, not only here in this district. but through
out the and We respectfully submit that
derIug any thing less than this will be rendering
70 Us less than our just due that granting any
thing less than our full rights will be disregard
Of cur JIst rights-of due respect for feel
.ngs- Ii he powers that be do so il will be used
license, it were, or an apology foi any
c0mmuni individual disposed TO outrage
our rights aud feelings. Il has been shown IN The
present that the Government may Justly reach
the strong arm into States and demana from them
from tlJse who owe lt-allegiance, their assis-
tlrce and support. May il not reach out Ii .e
arm. to secure and protect lis subjects upon whom
il has claim
Following MI Downing, Mr. Fred Douglass
advanced and addressed the President, saying:
MIR. president We are not here to enlight
en- You, sir, Is your duties the Chief Magis-
tIale Of this Republic, but to show our respect
and to present IN brief the claims of to
your favorte consideration. In the order of Di-
vine Providence you placed in position
where YoI have the power to destroy
to bless or blast us-l mean whole race.
Your noble and humane predecessor placed in
hands the sword to assist in savin the nation,
and We DO hope that you, his able successor, will
favorably regard the placing in our hands the
ballot with which to save ourselves. We shall
submit argument On that point. The fact that
we are the subjects of government, aid subject
to taxation subject to volunteer in the service
OF the country subject to being drafted sub
Ject 10 bear the burdens of the State, makes it
not improper that we should ask TO share in the
privileges Of this condition. | have no speech to
make on this occasion. | simply submit these
observations a limited expression of the views
and feelings Of the delegation with which l have
come.
PRESIDENT JOHNSOSs REPLY.
President Johnson, stepping forward to the
delegation thus addressed them:
10 reply TO some of your inquiries mot to make
a speech about this thing, for it is always best to
rtt and dfsfrp fiy ~
l will say hat if have not given evidence in my
course that l a friend OF humanity and to that
portion Of il which constitutes the colorsd popu-
lation. can give no evidence here. Everything
that l have had, both regards life and property
has heen Periled in that cause, and feel and think
that | understand (not to be egotisticaD what
should be the true direction of this question, and
what course of policy would result in the ameli-
Oration and ultimate elevation, only of the
coored, but also of the great mass of the people
of the United States. say that if L have not
given evidence that l am a friend of humanity,
and especially the friend of the colored man, in
my past conduct, there is nothing that l can now
Do that would do so. l repeat, all that | pos
'essed-life' liberty and property-have been put
Up IN connection with that question, when had
every inducement held out to take the other
course, by adopting which | would have accom-
pHshed perhaps all that the ambitious VIC uld have
desired II know myself and the feelings of my
l have owned slaves and bought slaves, but |
never sold one | might say, however, that, prac
ticaIIy, so far as my connection with slaves has
gone, have been their slave instead of their De-
ing mine. Some have followed me here, [
while others are occupying and enjoying my prop
erty with my consent. For the colored race my
means, my time, my ali has been periled; and
now, at this late day. after giving evidence that is
tanglble-that is practical-I am free to say to
you that do not like to be arraigned by some
who can get up handsomely rounded periods, and
deal in rhetoric and talk about abstract ideas OF
liberty, who never pered life, liberty or property.
This kind of theoretical, hollow, impractical
friendship amounts TO very little. While l say
tn ct am friend of the colored man, do not
want TO adopt policy that believe will end in
contest between the races-which, if persisted in,
VIII result IN the determination of one or the
other. God forbid that should be engaged in |
such a work. Now it is always best to talk about |
such things practically, and in common sense
way. Yes, have said, and repeat here, that if
the colored man In the United States could find
no other Moses-Or any Mosas that uo,Il J.. 4