Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-25

we can have rolitic miilenium-pol;csl u
bilee, and when proclaim to ali the Ia
tions OF the ea,tl that again usI.ed
people, and that we have triumphantiy passed
through our third ordeal-have peace at home
snd power to bd .fince to all the world
urud cheers Remember one thing, gentle
m.n,, ha; in my past life, though slanderers may
misr-presest, none can say that ever deceived
or betrayed him. 1t will be for you TO see in
the fuIure who will redeem all his promises,
and who i'll b. the most faithful. thank
yo". gentlemen, for the compliment yuu have
p4d me.
THE PRESIDENT To THE C)LoRsD hsN.
On Thursday, the 19ih inst, the celehra-
ton of the emancipation of slavery 10 the Dis
trict ot Columbia took place. Two regiments
of colofed troops, numerous coiored civic as
sociatiops and an Immense conccurse of col
ored citizens assembled In front of the Execu-
tive Mansion, and after some preliminary Ger
emonies gave three cheers for The President
OF the United States. In response to these
cheers, President johnson came out and al
dressed the crowd as follows:
My CoLoRED FRIENDS Lave nothing more
to say 70 you this occasion than 10 thank
you Tor tits compliment you have paid, In
presenting yourselves before me on thu your
day of ceie ration.
come forward for the purpose of vindicat-
ing my appreciation, and manifesting my APP
probation OF the respect thus offered OF con-
ierred.
thank you for the compliment and L
mean what | say ; and will remark, this
connection, that he time will come, and that,
too, before a great while, when tue coored
population OF the United States will find oas
who have selected them as hobby and pre-
tense by which they can be successful III CO.
tainIng and maintaining power. and who haze
been their truest friends. and wanted them to
participate and enjoy the blessings of Freedom.
The time will come when 1t will be made
known who contributed 81 much as any other
man, and who, without being considered ego.
ris.ical, may say, contributed more In pro-
caring the great national guarantee of the
abolition of slavery all the states, by the
ratification OF the amendment to the Consti-
tution Of the United States, given In national
guarantee that slavery should no longer be
serDitt<-j to exist or be re-esablished In any
state CT lJrIsd &C ION of the United States.
! ka ~ how easy it Is to cater to prejudice,
aad how easy excite feeling, prejudice,
asna unkindIess. | care not for that. | have
been engaged Ii thus work, in which my all
has been perIlei. | WAS not eng sgad IN It as
a hobby, nor did ride the cOlored men for
the sake of gaming power. What did was
for The purpose of est ,oishing the great prin-
ciple OF freedom aud, thank God, reel aud
know it TO be SO, that my efforts have con-
tributed as much, if not more. IN ccompilsii-
ing this great national guarantee. than thoes
of any other living man In the United States.
<Enth uslastic appiause.)
ft is very easy for colored Ren to have pre-
tended friends esconced in high places and far
removed from danger, whose eyes have only
aostFactedy gazed on freedom, who have never
exposed their limbs or property and who new
er contributed sxpence in furlherance of the
great cause, = hi!e another periled his all and
put everything sacred and dear to man, and
those whon he raised and who lived with him,
his property,at z srd, TO accomplish the free
dom OF the coiOred race. Yet others Wlo h1vo
done nething considered the real detead.
ers and protectors of the colored mao.
repeat. my cptored friends, here to-jiy,
the time will come, and that not far distant,
when iF will be proved who is practically yOar
best freod. My friendship, as far as it IA.
gone, has not been for place OF power, for
had these already. Ii has been principle
with M, and | thank e d the great D. lci-
pie has beea established, that whenever ary
Individual IN the language of q distinguishes ID
orator, treads American soI, " his sou. sweiis
within him IN appreciation of the gIe2t t,ush
that he ssa1ds foT the redeemed, rygenerated,
EN- .ncip.t oo." tlrplause) Then let me
mingle with you IN celebration of the day
which ,mmt need your freedom. l do it in
sincerity aad truth, and t.ust in God the
blessings which have been conferred may be
enjoyed and appreciated by you, and that you
ilay give them proper attention. There is
something Tor all to ID. You have high aud
solemn duties to perform, and you ought to
re member that freedom is not q mere idea
Ii must be reduced to pracslcal reality.
Mea are free to deny themselves many things
which seem to be emosaced in the idsa of un-
iFersal freedom. It is with yo1 - give evi-
denee to the world aud the people of the Uai-
ted States whether you are going to appreci-
ate this great boon as it should be, and that
you are worthy of being freemen. Then let
me thank you with sincerity for tbs compl,-
ment you have paid me by passing through
here to day and paying your respects To M.
L repeat again, the time will come when you
will know who have been your best friends
and who have not been your friends from mer-
cenary considerations. Accept my thanks.