The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19

dec, sion. SO felt il bold thing for me to
entsr the White House and presume TO
talk with the President of the United
States. Besides. had no one to introduce
me. Happily / was soon relieved at this
point 1 met with the late Senator Samuel
Pomeroy three cheers for Pomeroyl. good
and true man. with whom had become
acquainted during the border-ruiflan war
In Kansas and he kindly consented TO
accompany me to the White House and IN
troduce me TO Mr.. Lincoln. Ii was daring
thing for him. Senator though he was. 10
walk the streets of Washington With me at
that time. To do was to invite insult.
This done, went to the executive man.
sion, not. however, without much solcl-
tude to how l should depOrt myself;
how i should order my speech, and how
this great man in his exalted Office would
be likely to receive and treat man of nv
condition. The result was altogether at
variance with my fears. had not been an
instant in the presence of this great man
before all apprehensiops were dispelled.
II saw before me q man, O great man, a
tall man ply sically, and was not long In
discovering that was In the preseDce OF
great man mentally. i also made the dis
covery that it 10 much easier TO see ana
converse with great man than with
small man; with a big man than with
little one. Laughter and applause.
Il found Mr.. Lincoln seated In low
chair. and surrounded on all sides by I'M
bound books and papers winch 1 thought
he had been overhauling.
RECEPTION OF DOUGLASS.
"As approached he began to Use to re-
celve me, and he continued to rise. higher
and higher. till found my self looking M
TO him and he looking down upon me. He
gave me welcome which was none too
much nor too little, but just enough to
make me at ease.
First. began to talk of myself. as 1
haan II m nm
what bad been doing. He blandly put an
end to it all by saying: MIR. Douglass.
You need not tell me who you are. l know
who you are. Mr. Seward has told me all
about you Brought thus to a standstlll, L
proceeded with the object of my visit.
Il said: Mr.. President, L have been re-
cruiting colored troops. and If you want
me to succeed / must be able to assure
them that colored soldiers. while In the
service shall have pay equal to that OF
white soldiers; secondly, that when they
shall perform acts of bravery In battle.
which would secure promotion to white
soldiers. the like promotion shall be &C
corded colored soldiers; thirdly. that If the
threat of Jefferson DAVIS is carried out,
you, President Lincoln. will retaliate In
kind Good GoOdil
Feeling myself now perfectly free to say
TO Mr.. Lincoln ali TINT / thOught on the
subject, | supported my demands as beat
could with arguments. TO which he calmly
and patiently listened. not once interrupt
ing me. and when had finished he made a
careful reply. covering each proposition
that had submitted to hun.
He admitted the Justice of the demand
for equal wages and equal promotion to
colored soldiers but reminded me that for
the moment there were causes for delay In
its execution. He called my attention TO
the necessity, at that critical time. OF
avoiding any shock TO the preludices OF the
white soldiers. and told me of the many OBJ
sections there were to making colored men
holders; of the doubts entertained of them;
Df how it was hrst proposed that they
should be employed simply as labOrers;
that they should be clothed In q peculiar
and inferior uniform; that they should not
bear arms. but that they should work In
trenches with pick-ax and shovel: that.
ms time went on. they were thought
worthy to be soldiers but were not
TO take the field like other soldiers They
were only to hold fortified positions In
sickIy places after those places should be
captured by white soldiers He thought it
was great thing that they could De armed
and uniformed as soldiers at all. He held.
however. that In time the first two polntsl
had insisted upon would be conceded: that
colored soldiers would be equally paid and
equally promoted.
But when il came to the matter of re-
talIation, the tender heart of the great
President appeared In the OK preston of his
eyes, and in every line of his careworn
countenance. as we'll as in the tones of his
appealing voice. 'Ahp said he. Douglass.
j cannot retaliate. / cannot hang men in
cold blood. i cannot hang men who have
had nothing TO do with numbering colOred
prisoners. OF course. if could get hold of
the actual murderers of cOlored prisoners
j would deal with them as they deserve;
but cannot hang those who have had no
not con WINGED that Mr.. LincOln's logic was
right: bur was convinced that Mr.. Lin
coin himself was right. Applause.
ENEMIES LOVED EVEN IN WAR;
II could, and did, answer Mr.. Lincoln's
arguments; but was silenced by his over
mastering mercy and benevolence. had
found President with q heart-one who
could, even in war, love his enemies; and
that was something. In parting he said
Douglass. never come to Washington with
out calling upon me- And never did.
Though neither of the objects sought
were Immediately obtained l was full of
faith in the man, and felt sure that he
would do what he could to secure Justice
TO our soldiers ard protection To the lives
of colored prisoners. / saw Mr.. Lincoln
several times after this interview. and
found him ever the same large hearted man
as when / first met him. At one time dur
ing the war he sent for me to consult as to
how to get more slaves into our lines. He
had offered them freedom and protection.
but he said that they were not coming In
fast enough
while we were talking over the matter
Governor Buckingham the war Governor
OF Connecticut lapplauseI. was announced,
and L at once arose and asked leave 10
Withdraw, saying TO Mr.. Lincoln: Il must
not stay TO prevent your interview with
Governor Buckingham Instead of allow
ing me To leave. he said to the messenger.
in his peculiarly nigh and honest voice:
Tell Governor Buckingham TO wait. / am
talking with my friend Douglass APP
plause.
me to devise some plan Ivy which to get
more slaves within our lines, and to submit
my plans 10 him. did so: hut 1t was never
after necessary to put the plan into opera
ton. Onr rapid successes, and the increas-
Ing intelligence of the slaves concerning
the new departure of the log al people and
government IN their favor. brought the
freemen into our lines much faster than
the means We bad could caro- for them.
IL have often said that Mr.. Lincoln was
the tirst great public man with whom
could talk for hours without being once re-
minded. either by way of compliment or
condescension, OF my color.
Perhaps this statement was q little too
strong; but It seemed true when made 1t.
The impression designed 10 make was that
Mr.. Lincoln said and did nothing during
our interview that reminded me in any way
OF our difference III color. He not only in
vIted me 10 see him at the White House,
but he invited me to tea with him at the
Soldiers Home applausel; and convinced
me that he was far above the prevailing
prejudices of his countrymen.
Il found Mr. Lincoln different from my
expectation of him. not only in his kind
ness TO me, but also in his manners, which
i. r..