The Cecil Whig., 1885-07-11

Wy y" eh' SoPiCois CdhuOG EclcI W
any incident, in fact, to any expression
that l heard; it was simply PRESENT.
ment that Lincoln might fall that day.
l got right in front of the east portico of
the Capitol, listened to his inaugural ad-
dress and witnessed his being sworn in
by Chief Justice Chase. When he came
on the steps he was accompanied by
Vice-Presldent johnson. In looking out
in the crowd he saw me standing near
by, and l could see he was pointing me
out to Andrew johnson. Mr.. johnson,
without knowing, perhaps, that l saw
the movement, looked quite annoyed
that his attention should be called in
that direction. So got peep into his
soul. AS soon as he saw me looking at
him, suddenly he assumed rather an
amiable expression of countenance. l
felt that, whatever else the man might
be, he was no friend to my people.
heard Mr.. Lincoln deliver his wonderful
address. 1t was very short, but he an
swered all objections raised to his pro-
longing the war in one sentence. 1t was
a remarkable sentence:
Fondly do We hope, profoundly do we
pray, that this mighty scourge of war
shall soon pass away; yet if God wills it
continue until all the wealth piled up by
200 years of bondage shall have been
wasted, and each drop Of blood drawn
by the lash shall have been paid for by
one drawn by the sword, we must still
say Gas was said 5000 years ago. the
judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether.
ELECTED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
For the first time in my life, and l sup
pose the first time in any colored man S
life, l attended the reception of President
Lincoln on the evening of the inaugura-
tion. AS l approached the door l was
seized by two policemen and forbidden
to enter. l said to them that they were
mistaken entirely in what they were
doing, that if Mr.. Lincoln knew that l
W.: 8 at the door he would order my ad-
mission, and l bolted in by them. On
the inside l was taken charge of by two
other policemen, to be conducted, as 1
supposed, to the President; but instead
of that they were conducting me out Of
the window on plank.
"Oh," said l, ''this will not do, gentle
men, and as a gentleman was passing
in l said to him, "Just say to Mr.. Lin
coin that Fred. Douglass is at the door, ="
He rushed in to President Lincoln, and
almost in less than a half minute was
invited into the East room of the White
House. A perfect sea of beauty and
elegance, too, it was. The ladies were
in very fine attire, and Mrs. Lincoln was
standing there. l could not have been
more than ten feet from him when Mr..
Lincoln saw me. His countenance lighted
up, and he said in a voice which was
heard all around: "Here comes my friend
Douglass"
As l approached him be reached out
his hand, gave me cordial shake, and
said: Douglass, saw you in the crowd
to-day listening to my inaugural address.
There is no mans opinion that 1 value
more than yours. What do you think OF
it ?" said: "Mr. Lincoln, cannot stop
here to talk with you, as there are thous-
ands waiting to shake you by the hand"
"But," he said again, "what did you
think of ?" l said: "Mr. Lincoln, it
was a sacred effort" and then l walked
off. Il am glad you liked it" he said.
That was the last time l saw him to
speak with him.
LINCOLN NEVER TOLD HIM A STORY.
In all my interviews with Mr.. Lincoln
l was impressed with his entire freedom
from popular prejudice against the col.
ored race. He was the first great man
that l talked with in the United States
freely, who in no single instance re.
minded me of the difference between
himself and myself, of the difference oi
color, and thought that all the more re.
markable because he came from a state
where there were black laws. l account
partially for his kindness to me because
of the similarity with which had fought
my way up, we both starting at the low.
est round OF the ladder. must say this
for Mr.. Lincoln that whenever | met
him he was in very serious mood. l
heard of those stories he used to tell, but
he never told me story.
There was one thing concerning Lin.
coin that l was impressed with, and that
was that statement of his was an argu.
ment more convincing than any amount
of logic. He had . happy faculty Of
stating a proposition, of stating it SC
that it needed no argument. 1t was a
rough kind of reasoning, but it went
right to the point. Then, too, there was
another feeling that I had with reference
to him, and that was that, while l felt in
his presence l was in the presence Of q
very great man, as great as the greatest,
l felt as though could 60 and put my
hand on him if l wanted to, to put my
hand on his shoulder. OF course, die
not do it, but l felt that could. l fell
as though was in the presence of big
brother, and that there was safety in his
atmosphere. FREDERICK DOUGLASS.