New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-25
4 Caste Incident Of Hair a Cen
fury Ago.

The recent exclusion of Frederick Douglas,
/ from the dinner table of a steamboat on tn o
io'omac river recalls 10 q correspondent the
similar experience of distinguished and in
tel'lgent c"iored man at hotel in New jersey
near haii century ago, the results being more
creuitaoie 10 All parties than those of the pres.
ent incident, and the whole story ia ouits
worthy OF repetition "a a lesson still needed
ny our people. In 1924. General Bower the
resident OF liayt, sent vi. Mathew Granville
I'D this country rs an agent to solicit aud facih-
tate the emigration 10 that country OF our free
/ colored people. The colony of American
blacks at SANTANA found by the San Domingo
commissioners is one Of the results of that
MISSION. vi. Granville was we'll educated
anu intelligent gentleman, with complexion
not greatly differing from that of Frederick
Douglass. He landed at Philadelphia. and
came to New York. On his way he stopped
at hotel at New Brunswick for supper. and
sat down to the table in company with some
nifty or sixty persons. NJ. Granville happened
To he seated next 10 L. y. naval officer who
was entirely ignorant of VI. Granyiles rank
ana character. When the officer observed NJ
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 VI. Granville made no
reply. The officer then repeated his remark in
more offensive form, and rose from the table,
declaring that" he would not eat with negro"
VI "ranvll!e then rose and requested the officer
TO resume his seat and addressed the company
as follows :: " am informed that it is contrary
10 the custom of this country for white and
colored people 10 eat at the same table lam
a stranger, gentlemen, from lIayti, and my
ignorance OF the custom must be nv apology
He then left the table, and as he was leaving
1t, he observed the epaulette upon the shoulder
OF the officer, and said to him "Sjr also Am
an oifcer IN my own country, and if | were there
II would re my duty to take into CUSTODY thosa
Haytens who insult strangers" Immediately
more than half of the company left the table.
and went to the proprietor of the house and re.
quested him to set a table where they might
have the pleasure of eating with NJ Granville.
The sequel to this incident was that the next
morning the officer, convinced of his mistake.
wrote an apology to the Iiaytien, and received
IN return this laconic and noble reply: "Sir.
L write insults In the sand-favors on the
marble. subsequently, NJ Granville, in
alluding to this matter, wrote The officer
OF the American navy, with whom this un-
pleasant affair occurred, behaved the next day
IN the most noble manner; and if history 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 magnaninOus to atone for ones faults,
when everything conspires 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 HAYDEN
manners, it will not be amiss TO send some OF
our yOung men to lIayti, that they may learn
how TO behave themselves like gentlemen and
like Christians The name of this naval
officer is not given, hut from subsequent allu-
Sions 10 the matter by VI. Granville | suppose
him TO have been Commodore Mex eever-
Salem Register.