Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-07
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April {

Our Washington Letter.
is. WASHINGTON, d. c., April 2.
Editor Rutland Herald We have not
seen the sun in this place for the last
three days. Almost constant drilling
rain has been falling upon us since the in
auguration of the present month, and we
will no doubt be prepared to appreciate
sunshine when it makes its appearance
again, but the prospect this evening bids
fair for a continuance of the rain. This
has been unfortunate for the colored class
of our population, who have been anxious
to have rejoicing over the final conclu-
sion in regard to the fifteenth amendment,
yet it did not entirely discourage them, for
committee appointed by the colored
citizens of the first ward waited upon the
President yesterday morning and tender
evening, as evidence of their appreciation
of the prompt manner in which the final
official acts for proclaiming the ratifica-
ton of the fifteenth amendment had been
done, and to congratulate him on the tri-
umph of the great issue of the day.
The President thanked them, and con-
sented to receive them at nine o'clock.
Accordingly the committee, band, and as
many as could be provided with seats in
several large omnibuses, proceeded to the
Executive Mansion at the appointed hour,
where quite a crowd had gathered to wit
ness the ceremony; and Notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather, Col. John
W. Forney (who had been requested to
address the President on behalf of the cit
izens), President Colfax, and others
were assembled to greet the party. AT 8
e'a1ooL tLo p-osidont ~n4 f>---i1y appe--~d
at the vestibule of the mansion, the band
PLAYING "Hail to the Chief" Ut is stated
in the paper this morning that as the
President was passing from the vestibule
to the portico, he noticed several repre-
sentatives of the press, and said to them
in a pleasant and jooular manner, Seen
tlemen,- it will not be necessary to use
much paper in relating what L have to
say. You can easily remember it. y Col.
Forney, in his usual able manner, pre-
sented the citizens to the President in a
neat little speech. abiding to the procla-
nation of his illustrious predecessor,
which declared the downfall of slavery,
as essential to that great moral victory
which succeeded the triumph of arms, and
rendered to him the profound gratitude
of those who had gathered, for his pro-
clamation which seals the great work of
the war.
The President responded as follows:
I can assure those present that there
has been no event since the close of the
war in which l have felt so deep an in
terest as that of the ratification of the IF
teenth amendment to the Constitution by
three fourths of the States of the Union.
| have felt the greatest anxiety ever since
| have been called to this house, to
know that that was to be secured.
1t looked to me as the realization of
the Declaration of Independence. (Cheers.)
| cannot say near so much ON this subject
as | would like to, not being accustomed
to speaking, but thank you very much
for your presence this evening. ZAP
plause.)
The crowd cheered the President loudly
as he retired, and the band struck UP
John Browns body lies moulde-ing in
the grave" Cheers being given for Vice
President Colfax, he appeared and made
brief, but happy speech, and after sew
eral airs had been performed, among
which was yankee Doodle" the party
proceeded to the residence of Senator
Sumner, who appeared and addressed
them in his usual eloquence. They ex
tended their calls to Secretaries Fish anG
Boutwell,, Gen. Fremont at the Arlington
Hotel, and Col. Forney at his residence
on Capitol Hill, each receiving them with
congratulations, the latter entertaining
them with an eloquent and highly inter
esting speech. Evidently well satisfied
with the manner in which they had beer
received and entertained, they turned fol
their homes about midnight, rejoicing
over the fact that all men have been mad,
free and equal. We wish them success
1t now remains to be seen whether they
will appreciate properly the blessings o
freedom, confne themselves to the pursui
of usefulness and industry, and finally
| prove themselves to be peaceful, law
abiding citizens, worthy of that grea
change which has liberated them from thu
shackles of bondage and opened unit
them the light of new life, whereof,
they may solve the question as to whethe
they should be considered as human
beings or personal property. But for fea
| am trespassing too much upon generosi
ty, will venture no farther this time
i Respectfully yours, "B."