The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-06
n COLORED "RECEPTXON."


York Herald writes:
season in tho national capital occurred at the
residence of Secretary Browning on Saturday
afternoon last. The Secretary gave recep
ment of the interior and their families. From
the best accounts given of the inception and
result of this entertainment it would appear
that when the genial Secretary isened invi-
tations to the heads of bureaus and
clerks of his department to visit him
on Friday evening, he left the colored en-
ployees entirely out in tho cold. In vie~ of
their altered circumstances these aspiraats
for perfect equality had no notion Of allowing
things to go on as they did under the old re-
gime, and go either delegated one Of their
number to jog the Secretary's memory con-
dent ncoln, or managed in some way to hint
to him that all the employees of the depart
ment should be served alike. The Secretary
saw the point" and sent his messenger to
several bureaus with verbal invitation to
them ana their families to call upon himself
and Mrs. Browning between the hours Of two
and five o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
mates collectively to bid them farewell previous
to his retire ment irem Office, and concluded to
hdopt THIS method OF doing it. The Secretary
and Mrs. Browning accordingly made prepara-
tions to give their colored guests kind recep-
tion The appointed hour arrived, and with it
arrived q stunning concourse OF dusky visitors.
Deeming punctuality virtue too much ne
elected, they had deter mined not to fol-
low the example Of fashionable whites and
drop IN ,scatteringly. but to pounce upon
Browning may have been somewhat sur
prised at the size of the multitude that appear
ed, He probably was, but he received them
with marked politeness, and, together with his
wife, went through the ceremony of a vigorous
hand-shaking. At this stage Of the proceed
ings, another departure from established pre-
cedents in the matter Of receptions occurred.
One OF the messengers, Mr.. Bowen, drew
forth carefully folded paper, and, clearing
his throat. read it, after which he handed it to
merritt was commercially brief. Here it is,
precisely as written and spoken:
"Hon. Secretary. Rro,on,ng-SIR: We. the
colored employees in the United States Patent
Office, should not accept OF the invitation
you have been pleased to extend to as in the
humble position we have held under your ad-
ministraten Of the Interior Department. with
our race, from the fact that it is without a
precedent Of an American statesmen, which
will be long remembered by US. Therefore we
wish you and your family long and happy
life"
At the conclusion of this address, Mr.. Brown
ing replied by thanking them for their good
wishes. He was clad to see 80 many of his
faithful me S6enger5 around MN. tie nad
always found them jealous and trustworthy,
and wherever it might be his lot to dwell, ne
would remember them kindly. A bright
future was opening before them, in which
many of their race would rise to dignity and
honor; but their success rested mainly with
themselves. The efforts OF white men. friends
to their race. would avail but little, unless they
too worried their way to the wlshed-for goal
with honesty, integrity and the faithful prac-
tice OF every virtue. He warned them to be-
ware Of designing demagogues, who professed
friendship for the colored D1au only to be tray
him, and assured them that, whatever may be
said to the contrary, there could not be in any
section OF the country warmer or more dis
interested frit nds to the colored race tnan the
intelligent classes Of the South. They should
not pin their political faith to any particular
party in the belief that their friends can only
be found in that party alone, but should study
the institutions and laws OF their country in
connection with their own welfare, and choose
for themselves. The speech making ended,
the Secretary invited them into an adjoining
room where a table was spread with o bounte-
ous supply Of refreshments, to which they de-
voted their attentions with most praiseworthy
zeal To the colorod employees of the Interior
Department this was an epoch, and, Judging
from the great gleo with which they discuss
the momenOus events Of last Saturday they
will serve as an absorbing theme for months to
come.