Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-20


President few days ago sent q special
message to Congress upon the subject,
transmitting letters from the Secretary of
the Treasury and the Postmaster General,
strongly urging some legislation upon the
subject, and giving the reasons therefor
The committee, after sharp discussion,
directed the chairman to report against
any modification of the oath whatever
The chairman will present an elaborate re-
port upon it., going into the whole ques-
tion, and attempt to vindicate the action of
the committee by quotations from the
Presidents records. Mr.. Rogers will pre-
sent minority report in favor of its re-
peal, as desired by the Secretary of the
Treasury aud the Postmaster General.
Negro CeIebrn IiOn-The President
Makes IA Speech to HSis "COlOred
Friends"
WASHINGTON, April 10.-The celebration
OF the emancipation of slavery in the Dis
trct of Columbia took place to-day. Two
regiments Of co'ored troops and various
colored civic associations, with many other
cOlored citizens, assembled in front of the
Executive Mansion, making dense mass
OF colored faces, relieved here and there by
a few white ones. After the firing of can
hOh anu pay NIX VI bCNCldl MAJ lldl airs
three cheers were given for the President
of the United States, who having been es-
cOrted to prominent position by United
States Marshal Garding and his private
Secretary, Col. VIM. G. Moore, addressed
the assemblage as follows:
My CoLoRED FRIENDS Il 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 maniIesting my appreciation
of the respect thus offered or conferred. l
thank you for the compliment, and mean
what [ say, and will remark in this con-
neCtion, that the time will come, and
that too, before great while, when the
colored population of the United States
will find out who have selected them as u
hobby and a pretense by which they can
be successful in obtaining 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, contributed more, in procuring
the great national guarantee OF the abO-
llllOl VI oldNClJ III dll JlG DJdJCSs Wy GnC
ratification of the amendment to the Con-
stitutiOn of the United States giving a ma
tional guarantee that slavery shall no long
er be permitted to exist, or be re-establish-
ed in State or jurisdiction of the United
States. | know how easy it is to cater to
prejudice and how easy it Is to excite feel
ings of pr iudice and unkindness. | care
not for thar. | have been engaged in this
work In which my all has been periled. |
was not engaged in it as a hobby, nor did |
ride the colored men for the sake of gain
ing power. What / did was for the pur-
pose of establishing the great principle of
freedom, and thank God feel and know it
to be so, that my efforts have contributed
as much, If not more, in accomplishing this
great national guarantee than those Of any
other living man in the United States.
Enthusiastic applause.
1t is very ca Y for COlored men to have
pretended friends ensConced in high places
and far removed from danger, whose eyes
have only abstraCtly gazed on freedom,
who have never exposed their limbs or
property, and who never have contributed
siXpence in furtherance of the great
cause, while another periled his all and put
everything sacred and dear to man, and
those whom he raised and who lived with
him now enjoy his property, with his con-
sent, and receive his aid and assistance
Yet some assume, and others who have done
nothing are considered the great 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 is practically
your best friends. My friendship, as far as
it has gone, has not been for place or pow
er, 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 within him in appreeia-
tiOn of the great truth that he stands forth
redeemed regenerated and disenthralled
by the genius of universal emancipation
[Applause.l Then let me mingle with you
in the celebration of the day which
commenced your freedom. do it in sin
cerity and truth, and trust in God
the blessings which have been conferred
may be enjoyed and appreciated by you,
and that you may give them proper di-
rection. There is something for all to do.
You have solemn duties to perform, and
you ought to remember that freedom is not
mere idea. 1t must be reduced to prac-
tical reality. Men, in being free, do deny
themselves many things which seem to be
embraced in the idea of universal freedom.
1t is with you to give evidence to the world
and the people of the United States, that
you are able to appreciate this boon as it
should be, and that you are worthy of be-
ing freemen. Then let me thank you with
sincerity for the compliment you have paid
me by passing through here to-day and
paying your respects to me. repeat again,
the time will come when you will know
VINO have been your best friends and who
have been your friends from mercenary
considerations. Accept my thanks.
The bands then struck up lively tune.
Meanwhile the President remained, very
many of the colored persons approaching
aud shaking hands with him. The process
sion 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
a demonstration of the colored population
in this city, who were joined by negroes
from otherlocalities. There we're probably
1000 ar 5000 colored men in the procession,
while 100000 of the same race were inter-
ested spectators, manfesting their joy and
gladness by waving their hats and hand
kerchiefs, and cheering Justify the passing
procession.
.E Indian Affairs.
The ,Tribune's Washington special says /:
Col. Wynkoop, special Indian Agent sta
toned at Fort Laramie, Kansas, reports to
the Commissioner ofthe Indian Bureau that
mail travelling without au escort across the
plains is now attended with no danger, the
Indians along the various routes being
peaceably disposed. The Agent states that
In his opinion, il the Governmentw will only
fulfill its pledges, the Indians hitherto hos
tile will continue to observe the provisions