Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-12
A Caste Incident of Half a Century
Ago.

The recent exclusion of Frederick
Douglass from the dinner table of a
steamboat on the Potomac river re-
calls to correspondent the similar
experience of n distinguished and
intelligent colored man at hotel in
New Jersey near half a century ago
the results being more creditable
to all parties than those of the pres
ent incident, and the whole story is
quite worthy Of repetition as a les
son still needed by our people:
In 1924 Gen. Bower, the president
of Hayti, sent NJ. Mathew Granville
to this country as an agent to solic-
it and facilitate the emigration to
the country of our free colored peo-
pie. (Thc colony of American blacks
at Samana found by the commits
sioners is one Of the results Of that
mission.) NJ. Granville was a we'll
educated and intelligent gentleman,
with complexion not greatly diff
fering from that of Frederick Doug
lass. He landed at Philadelphia,
and came to New York. On his way
he stopped at hotel at New Bruins
wick for supper, and sat down to ta-
bic in company with some fifty or
sixty persons. NJ. Granville hap
pcned to be seated next to a United
States naval officer, who was entire
ly ignorant of NJ. Granville's rank
and character. When the officer
observed M. Granville at his side,
he remarked, "Sir, are you not aware
that it is not customary for white
and colored people to eat at the same
table" To this remark NJ. Gran
vile made no reply. The officer
then repeated his remark in more
offensive form, and rose from the
table, declaring, that che would not
eat with a negro" NJ. Granville
then rose and requested the officer
to resume his seat, and addressed
the company as follows: 81 am in
formed that it is contrary to the Gus
tom of this country for white and
colored people to eat at the same ta-
BILE. l am stranger, gentlemen,
from Hayti, and my ignorance Of
the custom must be my apology"
He then left the table, and as he was
leaving it, he observed the epaulette
upon the shoulder of the officer, and
said to him: "Sir, also am an Of
ficer in my own country, and if /
were there it would be my duty to
take into custody those Haytiens
who insult strangers" Immediate
ly more than half of the company
left the table, and went to the pro-
prietor OF the house and requested
him to set table where they might
have the pleasure of eating with NJ.
Granville. The sequel to this Incl
dent was that the next morning the
officer, convinced Of his mistake,
wrote an apology to the Haytien,
and received in return this laconic
and noble reply: "Sir! | write in
suits in the sand-favors on the mar
ble." Subsequently, M. Granville,
in alluding to this matter, wrote:
"The officer Of the American navy,
with whom this unpleasant affair
occurred, behaved the next day in
the most noble manner; and if his
tory has not already handed down
to posterity the renown Of American
gallantry, the conduct of this officer
would alone suffice to proclaim it,
for one must be truly magnanimous
to atone for ones faults, when eve
rytEing conspircs to commit them
with impunity." In commenting on
this affair, the journal Of the day
from which this story is taken, says:
''If this is a specimen Of Haytien
manners, it will not be amiss to send
some of our young men to Hayti that
they may learn how to behave them
selves. like gentlemen and like Chris
tians.' The name of this naval of
ficer is not given, but from subse-
quent illusions to the matter by Nj.
Granville, | suppose him to have
been Commodore Mckeever.