The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-11
LOCAL MATTERS.

INTERVIEW OF LEADING COLoRED
MEN WITH PRESIDENT GRANT-Rtch-
mond and Vnyiaia Representation
Cordial Reception by tie President and
Other Leading MeH,-7He ResuH.-The
President was visited yesterday morning
by several of the prominent representatives
of the colored race from different States
North and South, who desired to give to
him the formal expression of their views on
the supplementary civil rights measure now
pending in the u. S. Senate. There were
present from Washington city Messrs. John
+. Cook, John 4. johnson, Prof. Langston,
John A. Gray, Jas. A. Handy, Lewis ii.
Douglass, Dr. Purvis, John *. Brooks,
VIM. Ii. Smith, Walker Lewis, Charles Ii.
Douglass and Perry Ryder. Prof. Green.
er, the successor of Prof. Cato as principal
of the colored high school, Mr.. Purnell, Of
the Freedmen's Bank, and others were
present from Philadelphia, while represen-
tatives were also included from this State
and Arkansas. The delegation from Vir-
ginia consisted of John Oliver, on the part
of the citizens, and A. j. Carter, Henry
Cox and Asa Coleman from the House of
Delegates. r.e.aa
The speeches that were made by Mr..
Cook on behalf of the delegation from the
district of Columbia, and by Messrs.
Greener for Pennsylvania, Gray for Ar
kansas, and Oliver for Virginia, respective
ly, substantially related previous views ex-
pressed by prominent colored men on the
subject of their rights. The Pres-
dent was requested, if consistent with his
views, to send a message to Congress, ask
ing for the passage Of the supplementary
civil rights bill as an amendment to the
amnesty law. ..........s
The speakers received very courteous at
tention, and, when they had concluded, the
President remarked that he thought, al
though some of the rights which they had
claim to under the recent amendments to
the constitution were withheld, still the
courts of law would accord all legal privi-
leges. lie considered that appending the
supplementary civil rights bill to the am
nesty measure would ,jeopardize the passage
Of the former, because, while it required 9
two-thlrds vote to pass the amnesty bill
the civil rights bill only required majority
vote, and in that respect it would be unfor.
tunate.
lie wanted to see some such measure as
the delegation desired passed, because they
already enjoyed all legal rights as citizens
and to be denied them was in opposition tc
the spirit and intention Of the law now il
| force. Ii these were denied, it was be-
| cause Of the absence of law to enforce
them. The delegation withdrew, seeming
well pleased with their interview.
The delegation afterwards held pleas
ant interview with Senator Lewis, who wa.
in perfect accord with the movement, and
will, to-day, at the proper time, present thu
petition Of the delegates. Afterwards
Senator Sumner was interviewed, and il
reply to statement made by Mr.. Oliver
that certain friends of the movement depre
Gated the union of the amnesty and civi
rights bill, because it would endanger th,
passage of the latter, Mr.. Sumner replied
" regard the union of the two as the sal
walton Of the one you desire, and have 81
connected them in order that the relativ
merits Of both might be discussed. |
amnesty is to be granted, and the entir
people of the South enfranchised, he want
ed to see, at the same time, all legal right;
guaranteed the three and half million o
people lately made citizens, who are nov
virtually denied these rights in consequence
of an unjust and cruel prejudice"
The delegation also called upon Mr.. Por
ter and Mr.. Platt, and was cordially re
ceived by them, who expressed themselve
heartily in favor of their cause.