Silt AUTOBIOGRAPHY -OF Dr. William Henry Johnson KESPECTFUIJ/V DEDICATED To HIS ADOPTED HOME. THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE EMPIRE STATE LIBERTY, FRATERNITY, EQUALITY. All things rome to him who waits," Hut that is merely stating One feature of the case you ve got To hustle while you re waiting. A.UI3ANV, N. V., AUQUST 1st, 19OO. PRICE PER COPY, $1.50 IN PAPER; $2.00 IN CLOTH. ALBANY: THE AKfilTS COMPANY, PRINTERS. IQOO, rol YRK.HT. 1900, Kv WILLIAM IIKNL Y -l AluTIIKI? OK WILLIAM II. JOHNSON. Mi:-. WILLIAM II. JOHNSON, President of the Female Lunily Society, Albanv, N. Y. s MAMIE HOARDLV I hiladelphia, Pa. .VI K". MAKGARETTE.HAHRISON, PiltHfield, Mass. 1 f THE .TOHXSOX KESIDEXCE FOR TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS, NO. -319 ()raii _ <: Stivt-t, cast of the Xorthcni Uoulc-varU, Albanv, X. Y A BUQL ET INTRODUCTION. This little volume bears the date August i, 1833, in honor of the emancipation of slavery in the British \Yest Indies, and to the memory of Clarkson \Yilberforce, Lord Broham, and that noble band of patriots the Pioneers in the Anti-Slavery Crusade. \Y. II. I. TlFK COLORED A.MI-IKJCAN. \Y.\sn INGTON, I). C., September 8. n;oo. MR. \YILUAM II. Jon. \so.v. 27 Maiden Lane. Albany. X. V.: Mv DKAK SIR. You may remember in your reminiscences that al> . >ut sixteen years ago. when the first illustrated colored news paper was printed. " The Indianapolis Freeman," that you were one of its first contributors, and that you fired your opinions through its columns to the entire race. I remember your work very well and 1 remember too that you were one of the first to give substan tial aid and support to "The Freeman." I was the founder and editor, and promoter at that time. Yours verv truly, E. K. COOI FR. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON, D. C., September 14, 1900. MY DEAR MR. JOHNSON. I am glad to learn that you are pre paring a book, and that it is so nearly ready that I may expect a copy in the next ten days. You do right to leave an impress of the kind selected, as your monument. Cicero, who died nearly a thousand years ago. is still remembered. Caesar s Commentaries, to-day, delight thousands, though fully two thousand years have passed since his birth. A good book, one depicting scenes in the M209381 12 INTRODUCTION. life of a good man, will outlast any monument of marble the hand of man can fashion. It is remarkable that so perishable an article as paper should resist so effectually the destroying action of the rust of decav, so much better than iron or marble. A\ e have books in the library, hundreds ot years old, looking bright and well pre served as if from the. printer s hand but a short time ago. Therefore, I commend your wisdom to put what money you would otherwise spend upon a grave-stone, in an autobiography, so your friends can ever recall your services to your race, and the young of succeeding generations strive to emulate your noble self- sacrificing example. Your eminent services will grow brighter with the lapse of time, when the asperities, and all the jealousies incident to an active political career, shall have healed. Then, and not until then, will your eminent services command that appreciation they so richly deserve. ] trust yon will make them full, and include those striking inci dents well known now, but destined to perish soon, since they depend solely upon personal recollection, which is daily being destroyed by the hand of death. It should be an interesting book, and 1 shall await its appear ance with no little eagerness, and expect the fulfilment of the promise of one, for the Xegro Bibliography. Few people, of undoubted literary knowledge, would have thought it possible to collect or identify three hundred books and pamphlets by Xegro authors. Therefore, the real facts have become the sensation of the century. I have catalogued and fully identified more than fourteen hundred books and pamphlets by Xegro authors. The London Academy, a very high literary authority, speaks of the fact as truly marvelous. Trusting you may live long and enjoy the contemplation of your well-spent life, and die of old age, I am very sincerely yours, DANIEL MURRAY, WM. H. JOHNSON, Eso. Assistant Librarian. INTRODUCTION. 13 No. 45 WF.LLESLEY PARK, DORCHESTER, MASS., October i, 1900. KRIH.VD [oiixsox. -Yours of September fifteenth, just received, and I hasten to reply. Accept my heart} congratulations on the near publication of your book, and may it have the success it richly deserves. Enclosed find photo of myself. I am very sorry that I cannot secure one of the late Lewis Hayden, as I know of no one who has one. I fear T know nothing new to tell you about Charles Lenox kemond, as yon knew him about as well as I did. Moping that this will not reach you too late to be of use, I am. Very trulv yours, 10IIX L SMITH. PREFATORY REMARKS. This little book makes a welcome intrusion upon the reading 1 public, because it brings \vitli it facts and reminiscences which will strengthen the hope and aspiration of its readers. Men are daily making impressions upon the minds of those with whom they come in contact, either for good, or for evil. The good impressions that are made upon the mind will live and become more enduring than the engraved tablets of brass or the chiseled lines on the granite. They are as imperishable as the "stars on the brow of the evening sky. that shine on and on forever." In order to preserve, in a convenient form, the thoughts and ideas of others, they have been handed down, in book form, from preceding generations. In like manner, this little book ot reminiscences is largely a com pilation of historic narratives and incidents that have first found their wav into the newspapers. The incidents referred to, in this little volume, are largely of a personal character, yet thev have a strong bearing upon the great epoch of the age. The auto graphic letters and other correspondences, herein published, are largely from persons of a national reputation, and, hence, the author s work, labor and influence has been the same, viz., the close association with persons who were identified with movements that had for their design the betterment of the condition of the Xegro race, as well as mankind in general. Then this little book registers the fact that the largest share of legislation in this State, relating to the Xcgro race, was accom plished through the influence and energy of the author. As one can be helped and encouraged by the helpful conversation of a friend, so can a good book be an inspiration to its readers,, by giving them an idea of the work and accomplishments of one who, with l6 PREFATORY REMARKS. his zeal and energy, has contributed to the development of the country into its present national greatness. Therefore, this little volume is commended to the reading public, for their thoughtful and kind consideration, not sketching it. bin a thoughtful reading of the same. REV. JAMES M. RODDY. A. Al.. Liberty Street Presbyterian Church, Tnn 1 , .V. F. September 4, 1900. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. CHAPTER I. A I>KIFF SKETCH OF TIN-: LIFH OF DR. \Yiu.i.\.\i HE.XRV Joii.vsox. OK ALHAXV, X. V., PROVES YFRV I XTKRFSTI x<; READIXC, A.XD (ioiCS TO SlIOW \\ lIAT SHEER PLUCK L XDER ADVERSE ClRCL M- STAXCES CAN ACCOMPLISH. Horn in Alexandria, Ya.. of free parents, Marcli 4, 1833. lie left home at the age of twelve, with only the education that a Sunday school could give. .Four years, ending May, 1850, were spent in Philadelphia, learning the hair-dressing business: he came to Albanv, X. V., in 1851, where with others he was engaged in conducting the "underground railroad," the object of which was the assistance of fugitive slaves; returned to Philadelphia in 1855. In 1857. became a member of the lUmneker Literary Institute." and about the same time he, with others, organized the " Proscribed American Council," which helped to revolutionize public opinion in Philadelphia. July 4. 185*;, he delivered an able oration at the celebration in Philadelphia, the first time that colored people par ticipated in such an event. In the same year he was forced to leave Philadelphia to escape imprisonment for having assisted fugitive slaves; went to Xorwich, Conn., and was a resident of that place when the war broke out. Xot being allowed to enlist as a soldier because of his color, he joined a Connecticut regiment as an inde pendent man and participated in the battles of the first liull Run, Roanoke and Xewbern; his health failing, he returned once more 1 to Albanv, X. Y., and became a recruiting agent for the Fourteenth Congressional District. He was a delegate to the Xational Con vention in 1864; drew up the constitution of the XVw York State Equal Rights Committee; elected Chairman, 1866-73 I <S Al TOl! MXiUAI I I Y OK I>K. WILLIAM IIK.XKY I < ) I I \ S( ).\ . (re-election declined); drafted an amendment to Code, striking onl the word " white," wliich in 1872; drafted the Civil .Rights bill in 1873, which then became a law; in 1867 he memoralized the constitutional convention to reorganize the fundamental instrument bv omitting the property qualification clause which imposed a real estate ownership as a precedent condition to allow colored citizens to vote, and was successful in his endeavor. In 1891 he drafted a bill and secured its passage through the Legislature of this State. abolishing the discriminating, unjust insurance law which permitted the acceptance of colored people upon the same terms with white people, and at death deducted one-third of the face value of the insurance policy, basing this deduction upon the pretense that, the longevity of white people was one-third greater than that of black people. In this noted case Dr. Johnson delivered a speech before the legislative committee exposing the fraud perpetrated upon his people by insurance institutions. llis argument received the applause and outspoken approbation of all his listeners, llis inter pretation of the law upon the question, as well as the humane and business aspect of the case which he presented, won him a complete victory. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature of 1891, and received the approval of the then Governor, lion. David I). Mill. It causes a saving to the colored people insured in this State amounting to at least $50,000 per annum. His life work along these lines culminated in the triumphal enactment into law of the bill passed by the Legislature of i<)oo. and signed by the Governor (Col. Theodore Roosevelt), which wipes from the statute books of the Lmpire State the last vestige of racial discrimination. It is the bill known as Xo. 40,2, of the Laws of 1900, repealing all laws on the statute books prohibiting the free and equal accommodation of children of African descent in the public schools of this State. Governor Roosevelt, in recognition of Mr. Johnson s patriotic and manly participation in this matter, presented him with the pen which was used in signing the bill. lie was a Freesoiler. In early life, in the days of slavery, he trained with Gerrett Smith, Frederick Douglass, Stephen Myers. John C. Fremont, Tiishop Logan. Rev. Henry Highland Garnet. Prof. W. Howard Day, Jacob C. White, ( )ctavius V. Catto and the old anti-slavery party. He attended the first Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia in 1856, where Fremont and Dayton were nominated and Abraham Lincoln secured i 10 votes for Vice-President. He was present in 1872, when General At TOJMOr.UAlMlV OK DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 1 9 ( rant was nominated, and also attended the convention this year, when McKinley and the "Rough Rider" were nominated. hi j8()2 he was elected Grand A I aster of the M. \Y. (i. L. (colored), and in the same year wrote to Al. \\ . G. M. Benjamin Hagler, of the G. L. of F. and A. AL, protesting against the color line in the Masonic fraternity. (See Masonic Record attached.) In i 88^ he received the- thirty-third degree, the highest Masonic honor; drafted the amendment to the Xew York State constitution, strik ing the word "color" from that instrument, which was adopted in 1804; between limes he has studied law and medicine and now at the age of sixty-eight is still manfully battling for the proper recognition of his people. Mr. Johnson was the first colored man elected to any official place in this State. In 1872 lie was elected janitor of the State Senate and served one term of two years. Jle was also elected janitor of the High Court of Impeachment, consisting of the State Senate and the Court of Appeals, which tried the impeached judges of the Supreme Court at Saratoga in 1873. lie was elected in 1887, a State committeeman at large of the Republican State Com mittee, and in 1888 he was re-elected to the same position by the State Convention held in lUiffalo in the spring of that year. Xo other colored citizen in this State has ever been honored by an election in a State Convention to that position. lie was a great admirer of Lincoln, (irant. Conklin and Arthur, lie followed the fortunes of General (irant and attended the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1880, where the intrepid 307 delegates, led bv Roscoe Conklin, stood by General (irant until his colors went down and Garheld was nominated. He went again to Chicago in 1888 and witnessed the nomination of !>eniamin Harrison for President. In i88 j lie refused to stand for re-election, and retired to private life, where he remained till i8*ji, when he was called upon to secure the adoption of the insurance anti-discriminating law. He is an able and fluent speaker. Tie is in every sense a race man. He stands squarely upon the constitution, insists upon a fair and legal interpretation of this instrument and the laws of the State 1 and general government. Tie has been and is to-day an aggressive and intrepid advocate of the rights of his race and the maintenance of the supremacy of our glorious United States. He is an expansionist, believing that wherever the Stars and Stripes are raised, there they must remain. Tn all of his political lights (and they have been many) he has never grown personal. except in his own defense. lie is a freelance, as willing 1 to take as to give. He honors a manly up-and-open-facecl combatant, but despises an opponent that hides behind a nom de plume. Dr. Johnson is proud, and justly so, of his adopted home. Albany, where he has resided more or less for upwards of fiftv years. In 1873 the people of this good city presented him a life-size crayon portrait of himself, beautifully and substantially framed, which is perhaps better described by following newspaper clipping. ArTOTJTOr.RAPTIY OF DR. WTLLTAM IIENRY TOIIXSOX. 21 CHAPTER II. |)K. IOIINSOX S LITKKAKY \\"OKK DKSKKVHS SPECIAL A! EXTIUN. PARTICULARLY II is XKWSPAPKR CONTRIBUTIONS. I hiring the first year <>i the Civil \\ ar he was the war corre spondent of James Redpath s Pine and Palm," published at P>oston, Mass. lie was first with the Annv of the Potomac during the three months campaign. He then joined the Burnside expedi tion and did ser\ ice in North Carolina. At times he has been the Albany correspondent of Frederick Douglass Rochester paper, The- North Star," the "Christian Recorder," Philadelphia; "The Freeman " and " The Age," New York city, and the " State Repub lican," Plainfield, New jersey. In 1892, he published and edited "The Calcium Light," an independent journal, at Albany, and to-day, at intervals, is publishing "The Albany Capital." As a public speaker he has been in great demand. He delivered the oration at Rutland, Yt., on the occasion of the first celebration of the fifteenth amendment to the Federal Constitution, June 8, 1870. That entire speech was published in two editions of the Rutland Herald." His speech at Hoston, delivered in Fancuil Hall, in 1872, attracted wide attention, as did also his oration entitled, " \\ hat 1 know personally about John Brown and his raid on Harper s Ferry," delivered at Waverly, X. Y., August i, 1888, and the able and masterful address on " Lincoln. Slavery, Rebellion and Freedom," delivered in Albany, X.-Y., [tine 11, 1895. He ablv defended the question of " \Yoman s Rights" delivered before and under the auspices of the Female Lundy Society, May 29, 1888, in this city. All these and many others are in print. Among his magazine productions none excel his " Fruits of Faith," published in the "Fort Orange Monthly," February number for 1886, Albany, and his able argument in defense of President McKinley s administration, in particular his treatment of the Negro, and ( lovernor Roosevelt s attitude and expressions regard ing the Xegro soldiers in the Cuban \Yar entitled "The Xegro Citizen. His Constitutional Prerogatives and Obligations." This noted paper was published in full, together with an excellent cut of the author, in the September, 1899, number of the " Rexl, White and 22 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. \\TLL1.\M I1KXRV JOHNSON. lUuc" magazine, and also in " Everybody s Paper and Magazine," issued bv the Leonard Publishing Company, of Alban\", X. Y. Dr. Johnson is an Episcopalian. He is now and has been for manv years a member of St. Peter s Church, this city. He believes in the spreading abroad of the gospel of our Mlessed Lord, but doubts the wisdom of forcing religious views upon any nation of people, especially those with whom we have diplomatic and treat) relations. He believes in the general civilization of the heathens, but thinks that coercion along religious lines does not enter into the province of a country like ours whose constitution is founded upon the basis of religious liberty and toleration. Dr. [ohnson is a creditable and much respected relic 01 the old anti-slavery and free soil parties. lie never tires in words of praise when speaking ot his old associates in pro-slavery davs. i Ms admiration of the life and character of the late Frederick Douglass is unbounded. In his now famous sera]) book s, where every pub lished incident of his remarkable life is tabulated, there is found scores of autographic letters from prominent public men and women and a review ol the book s furnish interesting historical study. His eulogy of Frederick Douglass, delivered on the occasion of the memorial services held in this city. March 5. 1X0,5. will never In- forgotten bv those who heard it. A cabinet photo of himself and one of the late Dr. Thomas Klkins are to be seen in the Centennial Historic Album of this city. They are the only Afro-Americans honored in that work. The following quotations from his scrap books will help illustrate the character of the subject of this sketch: "The World s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, opening December I, 1X84. William II. Johnson is hereby appointed by the board of managers as Honorary Commissioner for Albany, X. Y. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and caused the official seal to be affixed at Xew Orleans this 28th day of ( )ctober, A. D., 1884. E. A. IJAKKR, Director-General. E. RICHARDSOX, President." ST. PKTKH S PKOTF.STANT KPISCOPAL Cnt RCH. HON. CHARLES SUMNEH. of Massachusetts. "The Republican Party is the Ship, all else the Sea."- Frederick Douglass, MADONNA. Praise God. from whom all blessings How: Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. . V. - ASSISTANT JJBKAKIAN OF CONGRESS, Washington. |), C. .U TOniOGRAPlIY OF DR. WILLIAM HEXRY JOHNSON. 27 ROCHESTER, X. Y., January 18, 1870. MY DKAR MR. JOHNSON. Please accept my thanks for a copy of the Rutland. \ t.. Herald, containing an account of the interesting proceedings in Rutland, and of your speech made on the occasion of the celebration of the fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution. I am very glad to see you in the open field, and hope you will allow your voice to he heard often. Your friend, FREDERICK DOUGLASS. MR. \YM. II. foiiNSON, Albany, Y. Y. "The Knights of Labor arc 1 swimming to the front in Albany in a verv substantial wav. Last week the order procured to be incorporated, according to law, the Knights of Labor Building Fund Association. Officers have been chosen for the Association a> follows: President, William II. Johnson: vice-president, P. J. McCuire; secretary, l ; . J. Morris. There are about forty branches <>f the Knights of Labor in Albany, and they pay out about 83.000 each year for rent. This they propose to save and use in paying for a building \\\ \\hieh all the assemblies can hold their meet ings." [Press and Knickerbocker. March 4. 1887. "The trial of ex-District Master Cummins, on charges, including twenty-eight counts, began in the Knights of Labor Hall on Church street. Amsterdam, at one o clock to-dav. before the Dis trict Court, composed of Mr. \V. II. Johnson, of Albanv, chief judge of District 127. and associate judges \Yhite of District 65 and another of Albany." [Albanv Evening lournal. [ulv 11. 1887. HON. THOMAS HKNKDK T. Public Printer, ll ashiugton, D. C.: DKAK SIR. This endorsement of Miss Lottie Tompkins who i.s now employed in the department under vou, and who deserves to be retained. 1 desire to make to you without qualification. She was appointed through the influence of the wife of the late lamented Secretary of the Treasury, the Hon. \\ . \\ indom. Miss Tompkins is in every way deserving of \ our favorable consideration and I take pleasure in joining her many friends in commending her to vou for retenti< >n. I have the honor to be your humble servant, etc,, WM. IT. JOHXS( )N. _ 7 Maiden Lane, Albany, X. Y. Mav 22, 18(^4. 28 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM ITEXRY JOHNSON. The above letter was returned to the writer with the following inscription : " Miss Tompkins is secure under your endorsement. "T. K. BENEDICT, " Public f rinlcr. \\"ASII INCTON, 1). C., .U</y 31 MR. YY.M. 11. JOHNSON : KJXD FRIEND. If so, I may address you, as von have been so kind, through my dear friend, Mr. (. has. Bullar, to interest your self in mv behalf in writing to Public Printer Benedict to retain me, 1 now write to thank you and tell you how grateful I feel as 1 am trul v depending on my own resources, and as 1 had become accustomed to the work it was nothing more than natural that I should like to hold the position as long as possible. 1 shall alwavs remember your kindness and ever believe me, Your friend and well wisher, LOTTIE TOMPKINS. ALBANY RAISES OXK lirxi>RKi> DOLLARS FOR JOHN BKOW.X S DAUGHTER. The Musical and Literary Entertainment of l : cbniar\ 24/11 ./ Gratifying Success Artistically and Financially. ALBANY, N. Y., Marcli i, 1897. MR. EDITOR: On January loth, I addressed the following letter to Dr. \\ . 11. Johnson, the sage of Maiden Lane: "Mv DEAR MR. JOHNSOX. Knowing your interest in all good work and realizing the scope and extent of your influence in this community 1 make bold to enclose the within clipping from the Chicago Conservator, which I represent, and to suggest to you that some effort be made in this city among the colored people and white friends of John Brown, of blessed memory, to relieve his daughter who is now in distress. I will gladly co-operate with you in any effort you may undertake to put the colored citizens of Albany in line and to demonstrate to the world that they are still grateful and revere the memory of the man whom God raised up to strike the Al TnniOGKAlMlY ()K DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY JoHXSOX. 2Q blow which culminated in the liberation of 4,000,000 slaves and changed the current of popular thought on the question of human slavery in the United States. 1 trust this matter will commend itself to your favorable consideration and that you will be able to devise some practical plans for this lady s relief. You were a con temporary of John Brown s and vou are the man to go to the front in tin s citv in this cause. Yours truly. I. K. BRUCE. Within a week after this letter had been sent 1. had a note from Dr. Johnson inviting me to call on him to discuss plans, which i did. At this meeting it was decided to organize a volunteer committee of the representative colored people in the city of Albany and to give an entertainment that would reflect the highest credit upon their public spirit as well as to attest their apprecia tion of John Brown. From the moment that Dr. Johnson evolved the plan, its success was an assured fact. The tickets went like hot cakes and checks and cash contributions from the admirers of old John Jirown poured in to the committee. The success of the entertainment was largely due to Dr. Johnson s intelligent efforts, that it was planned with consummate skill, and that not a plan miscarried. The treasurer of the Association, Mr. E. B. Irving. deposited in the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of this city $100 in trust for Anna Brown- Adams, and subject to her order. 1 have just written her to draw on Albany for this amount. ( )n January twenty-first last, was held the first meeting of the Anna Brown-Adams Relief .Association in this city. On February twenty-fourth the musical and literary for her benefit was held in the Hamilton Street A. M. 1C. church, and netted the round sum of Sioo. On Monday, March eighth, a bank draft was forwarded to her for Sioo. M us. AXXA BROWX-ADAMS, Pctrolia, Humboldt County, Cal.: MADAM. Please find enclosed bank draft for $100, as per your direction in your letter of February fifteenth; you will please acknowledge receipt of the same at your convenience, and accept the best wishes of the Anna Brown-Adams Relief Association for your continued success along these lines. \Ve wish we could make }O AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM LLEXRV JOHXSoX. the sum $500, but we have done what we could. We pray ( iod to bless vou. madame, and subscribe ourselves. Yours truly, WM. H. JOHNSON , Chairman. K. T>. TRVIXd, Treasurer. }. K. BRIX K, CV. Secretary. Albany. X. Y., March 8, iSg;. Registered letter \o. 3105, I*. ( )., Albany. Rec d Mar. 8, 1897, of \Y. JJ. Johnson. 27 Maiden Lain-, a letter addressed to Mrs. Anna Brown- Adams, IVtrolia, d\\. FRAXVIS II. \\ ( )( )1)S, P. M. I Vr \ AN ( ( >TT. Ml SICAL AND LiTEKAKY Kx ERC I S KS I I ELD WEDXESDAY RVEXIXC, FET.RTAUY 24, i8(>/. financial .lid Extended Net Proceeds from Distinguished l\rsons Xotable Public-spirited Citizens Co-operate. HELPING JOHN I5I>\VXS DAl GHTER. Afro-Americans oi this city are justly ^ratilied at the success <>t~ their efforts in securing funds for the relief of the daughter of John Brown. At the entertainment, which was one of the 1 best ever heard in this city, the cosy little A. M. K. church on Hamilton street. was crowded with an appreciative and enthusiastic audience. William H. Johnson delivered the introductory address, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, in my humble efforts to inaugurate these proceedings, I will not vouchsafe any apology for the position assumed by the voluntary committee under whose auspices this literary and musical is held for the benefit of John Brown s daughter, Mrs. Anna Brown-Adams. The object fully justifies our action, and commends the liberality of your generous patronage. ( )ur conduct to-night attests in unmistakable language our recog nition of, as well as our effort to requite, in some degree at least, the debt of gratitude we owe the memory of our dead hero. "On the 2(1 of December, 1859, old John Brown gave up his precious life upon the scaffold at Charlestown, Virginia, that m\ race might become free and worthy citizens of this commonwealth. that slavery should die, that the escutcheon of this great republic Al roiJKH .RAPHY OF should he forever free from the blight of degeneration caused by the dehumanizing system of chattel slavery, the result of Man s inhiinianitv to man. ( )ur great Empire State has done itself honor to carve in granite together with other illustrious dead citizens, the bust of John Brown of historic fame upon one of the columns that will perpetually beautify the western staircase of our magnificent capitol. " In like manner we do ourselves honor in the effort to. help relieve the distress that burdens his daughter struggling for the necessities of life in far-off California. Two weeks before John lirown made his famous raid upon Harper s Ferry, 1 was fortunate enough, in companv with the late Hon. Frederick Douglass and others, to meet him, to hear him unfold his plans of attack, to tell of his determination to strike the decisive blow, come weal or woe, for the freedom of the slave. " ( )n the evening of the fatal second of December. 1859. the day of John I frown s martyrdom, I. serving with others, stood guard over his dead body that laid in state in the city of Philadelphia. whilst en route to Xorth IClba, Fssex count}", this State, its final resting place. I laid mv hand on his upturned brow, and in that presence 1 registered a vow never to be false to mv God, mv country or my race. "To-night, thirtv-seven years since, we stand here in the capital citv of the Fmpire State pleading for aid to relieve the immediate wants of our hero s daughter. ( )ur plea is not made in vain; this fact is attested in a most emphatic manner by this crowded house, by the liberality of public-spirited citizens who have contributed to the relief fund, and by the splendid arrav of gifted and talented people whose names grace our excellent program. Dear friends, I thank you for your generous co-operation, and now, using the language of that poor, shattered, heart-broken woman of Petrolia, Ilumboldt county, California, I earnestly invoke the blessing of John Brown s (iod upon you one and all." At the conclusion of his address Mr. Johnson, introduced lion. John \Y. Thompson, of Rochester; who had been designated by the committee to act as honorary chairman. Mr. Thompson, upon rising, was greeted with a hearty outburst of applause. Fie said: " It accords me great pleasure to have the distinction to be one of the citizens of Xew York to join in an effort to help to relieve the pressing wants of the daughter of that grand old hero and emancipator, John Brown. But to be selected for the position of honorary chairman of this evening s demonstration is an honor of which 1 shall ever be 32 AUTOmOCJRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. proud." Continuing, he said: " Upon reaching- this city this morn ing- as the representative of the Frederick Douglass Monument Fund Association, to address the legislative committee in charge of the bill to appropriate $5,000 toward the fund, ] dropped in as 1 always do, when in this city, on my old friend, Dr. Johnson, who immediately invited me to preside at this meeting. I said to him that when I got through talking to the committee I would he unable to talk at this meeting. That, said my old friend. is just what we want, and, with that understanding. I accepted."- - (The Albany Capitol. ALP.ANY, X. Y., February 25, 181)7. \Y.\i. H. JOHNSON: DEAR SIR. I could not forego the pleasure, among the first things to do, this morning to tender my congratulations for the very prettv speech vou made last evening as chairman of the benefit entertainment for the relief of John Brown s daughter. When describing how you stood by the upturned face of the dead hero of Harper s Ferrv, in Philadelphia, turning to vour comrades on the platform you then rose to the heights of true eloquence. It was a beautiful tribute, charmingly rendered. I am your friend, TOSFPII A. SMITH. i 13 West 27th St. NEW YORK, *lugust 3, 1000. WM. H. JOHNSON, Fso.: DEAR SIR. T have received a copy of the Albany Fvening Journal containing an article written by yourself entitled " Home versus Foreign Missions." The article appears well in the columns of the grand old Journal and shows that your efforts are not con fined to the amelioration of the Afro- American, but enlisted in the cause of charity, benevolence and fallen humanity. That the results of your many achievements may be fully appre ciated and your worth among us properly estimated is the desire and hope of, Yours very truly, F. B. WRIGHT. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 33 HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT CONN. YOES., CAMP MANSFTEED, VA., 7///Y 13, 1861. \\ ni. H. Johnson lias leave to go from and return to camp. The guards and pickets will permit him to pass and repass. ALFRED H. TERRY, Colonel Commanding. CAMI MYDou EEL, June 26, 1861. \Ym. II. Johnson (colored) has permission to go in and out ol camp bv order ol, DANIEL TYLER, Brigadier-General. (HAS. \V. WALTER, . //(/( -(/< -( amp. AEP.AXY, .lugiisl (). 1866. ( AI-T. \\ .\i. J I. JOHXSI ).\ : Siu. Appreciating from my inmost heart your intense Christian and national desire for liberty, manifested in our late movement upon Canada as against England for Irish emancipation, I, there fore, request you to give me a roll of your members. [ desire the names to cherish and keep as a memento of gratitude from the free colored race to the enslaved Irishmen, whose descendants and brothers battled so bravely for freedom and liberty. I have the honor to be. dear sir, very truly your friend and com patriot, JAMES J. HEFFERMAX, Brigadier-General Irish Republic. \\ \ I.I .ERR >UCE, ( him, August 22. j 888. \YM. 11. JOHNSON: DEAR SIR. After consulting several leading colored .Repub licans, it has been thought advisable to hold a conference of the prominent colored Republican leaders at Indianapolis, about the 26th of September, to " formulate and send forth an address to the colored citizens of the country which would set before them the relative merits and demerits of the two great parties and why we as a class prefer one to the other." Will vou kindly communicate to me your views on the subject and state whether you are willing 34 AfTomoGkAi jiY OF j)k. WILLIAM HKXRY JOHXSOX. that your name shall be signed to the call? Anything that you may have to say on the subject will be gladly received. Yours truly, W. S. SCARBOROUGH. CKDAR HILL, ANACOSTIA, .1). ( ., Sept. 8, 1888. \\ .\i. H. Jouxsox, ALP.AXY, N. Y.: DKAR DR. Jonxsox. -Thanks for your letter. I>y the kindness of Prof. Scarborough, I was permitted to read your letter to him. He requested me to return it, and I have done so. I am very glad to know that you approve and will co-operate with Mr. Scar borough and others in the matter of the convention. For reasons quite satisfactory to myself, \ think it better that yon and Prof. Scarborough should take the lead in that measure. 1 see that the National Committee has relegated me to a very wide field. 1 do not see that 1 shall have a single (lav or night to spare if T cover the ground they have marked out for me. I am to go to Indiana. Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin in the west, and to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the east. My only fear is that I shall not be able to go through without breaking down. I leave home next week to be gone till the fifth of November. I have been waiting for the National Committee for an expression of opinion as to the advisability of our holding a convention. Thus far it is silent. It will remain for you and Prof. Scarborough to decide whether it is best under the circumstances, to go forward. I should have no doubt about it mvself, if the time were not already far spent. Whether you hold the convention or not, I shall hope to meet you somewhere on the stump in the State of New York. Your friend, FREDERICK DOUGLASS. The suggestion to hold a National Convention was finally abandoned and an address to the people was issued. It was endorsed by representative colored men, representing each State and territory. That action was approved by the National Repub lican Committee, Hon. M. A. Quay being then the chairman. Mr. Douglass signed for District of Columbia, Prof. Scarborough for Ohio and Dr. Johnson for Xew York. AUTOBIOGRAPHY ( > F DR. WILLIAM IIHXRY JOlIXSOX. 35 HEADQUARTERS RHITHLICAN XATIOXAL COMMITTEE, No. 91 FIFTH. AVENUE. NEW YORK, September 19, 1888. MY DEAR SIR. Enclosed I send YOU a draft of an address to the colored people of America, as prepared bv the Honorable Frederick Douglass, to which we desire your name attached. I hope yon feel able to sign it. \Ye had suggested that a national convention should be held as an offset to the convention held at Indianapolis. The general judgment was against the policy of such a course, and it was decided instead that it would be wiser and more effective to issue an address signed by the representative men who would be most influential with the element thus desired to be reached. If voti should feel able to sign this address, and we earnestly hope that YOU may, as Your name will be influential, please wire me to that effect on receipt of this letter. Very truly vours, J/S. CLARKSON, I r ice-Chair man. \Vm. II. Johnson, Albany, X. Y. I \\( nxnrnox AI. RKprni.icAX ( LCI; OF THE CITY OF ALBANY. (( )rganized in 1868.) ALBANY, X. Y.. Jauuar\ KJ, 1888. \V.\i. II. Jon NSON : DEAR SIR. I am directed to inform you that at a meeting of the Unconditional Club, held January 10, 1888, you were unanimously elected an active member thereof. You are respectfully requested to attend the next meeting ol the club, January j-jth. and sign the Constitution and ]>y-Laws. Very respectfully, \Y1T. 11. CULL, ( or responding Secretary. AI.I .AXV, November 5- 1864. MR. WM. 11. JOHNSON: SIR. At a meeting of the Female Luiuly Society, the following resolution was unanimously carried: }6 At Tor.lOC.RArilY ()K DR. WILLIAM IILXRY JOIIXSOX. Rcsokrd, That Mr. \\ ni. H. Johnson be invited to address said societv at their coming anniversary, the second week in January. I lease answer immediately and oblige. Yours respect full\ , MRS. LEY! JOHNSON. President. MRS. JAS. A. MAY. Secretary. i i i I .road Street. The Lundv Society presents its compliments to Mr. Johnson, and requests him to accept the enclosed trifle tor the able manner in which he addressed them at their late anniversary, January twelfth. MRS. LEVJ 1< )HXSON. President. C. MARY HICKS, ( orrespoiiding Secretory. Albany, January 17, 186"=;. ALBANY, X. Y., May i, 1888. M R. \YM. 1 1. Joiixsox: DLAR SIR. T am requested by the Female Lovejoy Society, to invite von to be the orator of the evening at our forty-fourth anni versary, which will take place on May 2<j, 1888, at Jackson Corps Armory. \Ye sincerely hope yon will be able to grant us our request. 1 Mease send answer. Respectfully yours, MRS. S. A. FRFFMAX, Xo. i<)2 Livingston Avenue. Secretary. PHILADELPHIA, XoTcmhcr 14, 1857. MR. \ V A r . H . J o r i x s o x : DLAR SIR. I have the honor of informing you that a meeting of the ]>anneker Literary Institute held at their room, " I enne/.el Hall/ Seventh street, below Lombard, Xovcmber fifth, the board of managers reported through their secretary, your name for mem bership, which, on motion, was accepted. The stated meetings of the institute are held on every first, and debate on every third, Thursday of each month, at 7.30 o clock r. M. The room of the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 37 institute is also opened on every Thursday evening at the above hour, for the accommodation of its members. The laws require von to pav an entrance fee of fifty (50) cents and a monthly due of twelve and a half (121-2) cents until after the 1st of January, iS^S. when the month! v dues will be raised to fifteen (15) cents. Yours, etc., A. W. CAMPBELL, Corresponding Secretary. P. S. The entrance fee you can pay on or before the stated meeting to Mr. lacob C. White, jr., R. S. PHILADELPHIA, June 22, r86o. \Vi I.I.IAM II. [oiixsox, ESQ. : DKAK SIR. Through the secretary, your resignation was duly ] (resented to the institute, and T must urge the multiplicity of kindly feelings, that were then expressed, as the greatest hindrance to their mention here. Let me, however, assure you that a unanimous feeling of regret was evidenced in the speeches of the members: and that it were an effort to smother the truth, were I to omit recording the loss that we have sustained. I feel justified in acknowledging your ability as an officer, and I shall take no little consolation in congratulating any organization to which von mav join yourself: believing that you will be as active and honorable in it as the Banneker Institute have always found vou. And it was also, on motion, /vV.sv/T tv/, That a vote of thanks be tendered to you for the able and efficient manner in which you filled the vice-presidency of the Banneker Institute. It was. you will believe, unanimous! v passed. T have the honor to be, Verv respectfully yours, etc., OCTAVIUS V. CATTO, Corresponding Secretary of B. I. P. S. The new constitution has been adopted; the by-laws not yet acted upon. Yours, O. Y. C. Second P. S. A vote of thanks was given you for the books you gave the institute. O. V. C. 38 At TomocKAiMiY or DR. WILLIAM IIKNRY JOHNSON. ENKCl TI VK M ANSK )X, \\".\sn INGTON, February 2, 1885. Till : llo.x. \\ i LI. i AM 1L Jou.xsox: SIR. I promised von a picture of President C. A. Arthur when I returned to Washington. I never forget promises I may give or make. I have- forwarded to your address, 27 Maiden Lane, Albany, the picture. Do yon intend visiting Washington to see the President-elect inaugurated? 1 trust vonr fainilv and vonrself are enjoying good health. I remain, as ever, Vonr friend, ALECK POWELL. LAW OFFICES OK T. McC A.vrs STHWART, 58 C KDAU STKKKT. Xi-:w YORK, .-//>/// 3. 1891. MY DKAK MR. JOHNSON. 1 congratulate you heartily upon emancipating Afro- Americans from the unjust discrimination of the insurance companies of the State. Manv hands and inanv influences hel|)ed, hut, as general-in- chief, you commanded the forces, and von deserve supreme commendation. Yours truly, T. McCANT STEWART. MR. \\ M. 1 J. JOIIXSON : TrKsnAY EVLNING, October 31, 1865. Eound. Alfred Thomas, a private in the Second Veteran Reserve Regiment, verv carelessly left a pocket-book containing over four hundred dollars in the shaving saloon of \Ym. H. Johnson, Maiden Lane, last evening. Mr. Johnson, not knowing the name of the owner, informed us of the fact, in order that we might aid in the discover} of the loser. lUit Thomas, in his search for the pocket-book, visited Mr. John son s place of business this afternoon. It was fortunate for him that the money fell into an honest man s hands. [Albany Evening Jounal. A I.EM, LOl IS MEN AN I). The Grand Old Man. I m l t tJ tf RKi>Ei;iCK j)on;i,Ass MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND TRAINING SCHOOL No. 1512 Lombard Struct, Philadelphia, 1 a. ArTonror.RAT Tiv OF DR. WTLLTAM HENRY JOHNSON. 43 M ox DAY, June 18, 1888. The Xew York Press correspondent says: \\ illiani II. Johnson calls Lynch the most eminent colored Republican in the country. This man is pretty eminent himself. lie is the Albany barber orator who came on with the (irant Club, lie is tall and slim, wears a blue suit of clothes, a white plug hat and full whiskers. He has been a high Mason, a leader in the Knights of Labor and is a Republican State committeeman at large of New York. [Chicago Tribune. T IS K KG Kb: XoK.MAI. AX I) I.XDl STRIAK INSTITUTE. Tt SKK< ;KK, ALA., August 31, 1899. MR. \\"M. II. JOHNSON, 27 Maiden Lane, Albany, X. Y.\ I)KAK SIR. I wish to thank you very cordiall} for the very warm sentiments respecting myself and ihe work, expressed by you in the Albany Argus of August 22d. It is always encouraging to note that there are members of the race who are willing to concede to every man his due. I cannot tell you how completely stunned and shocked I was by the report sent out from Chicago to the effect that I had been denounced by the Afro-American Council. Later information, however, revealed the fact that this was erroneous, as only two members were engaged in what T, of course, consider rather disreputable business. The Council itself seems to have put itself on record unequivocally by the passage of the resolution com mending our work at Tuskegee. Again thanking you for your very kind word, I am. Yours trul v. LU )()KER T. \VAS1I1XGT( >\. ALIJAXY. August 22, 1864. Received for J. Howard King. C. \Y. Armstrong and C. T. Shepard, committee, one hundred dollars from \Vm. H. Johnson, on subscription for procuring substitutes from the draft ordered by the President of the United States July 18. i86r, as per agree ment appointing said committee. C. T. SHKl ARD, Treasure)". 44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. MORNING EXPRESS. ALBANY, N. Y., September 6, 1873. WILLIAM 11. JOHNSON, ESQ.: |)I-:.\R SIR. I have the honor to inform YOU that certain citizens, without reference to political preferences being desirous of pub- lically manifesting their appreciation of the distinguished service you have rendered the colored race, as well as to attest their per sonal regard have caused a portrait of yourself, suitably inscribed, to be presented to you. The same is now, and will continue to be, on exhibition until about Thursday next at the store of John IMadwell, after which time it will be subject to your order. With great respect, THOS. ELKLNS, CJidinncin <>l ( ///.:. < its ( oinnii/lee. ALBANY, September [), 1^73. THOMAS ELKINS, ESQ.: Your favor of the 6th inst. is at hand, in which you are pleased to inform me that certain of my fellow-citizens have caused a por trait of myself, suitably inscribed, to be presented to me. Permit me, here, sir, to say, in accepting this testimonial of the high regard of my neighbors, to assure you and them through you that words at my command are inadequate to even faintly convey or express the profound and unfeigned thankfulness of my grateful heart at the assurance that my poor and unpretentious, but well- meant, efforts for amelioration of the heretofore dehumanizing con dition of my race in this city and State meet the high approval and commendation of the people with whom it has been my lot, through ("Jed s providence, to live and labor. Yet, I indulge the hope that the remainder of my life shall be so spent in laboring for and in devotion to the advancement of the highest and best interests of all the people of my country, and of humanity, religion and morality, as to, in some small degree, at least, commend me to the continuance of their confidence and esteem. Thanking you personally, sir, for the interest you have uniformally manifested for my welfare, 1 have the honor to subscribe myself, with distinguished consideration, Yours truly, WAT. IT lOllNSON. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HHXRV JOIIXSOX. 45 TIIK XKW YORK PRKSS. ( Dailv Ldition.) (Robert P. Portrer, Editor.} FRIDAY, September 14, 1888. \\"illiam H. Johnson is an Albany negro for that is what he likes to be called who will talk to you bv the hour in a vigorous mellow voice, and tell you a hundred picturesque and witty unanswerable reasons why he is a Republican, and why every other negro ought to be one. lie is a tallish, slender man, with full whiskers, and a white plug hat in the summer, and, with all his honors of masonry and politics for he has been a grand master of the colored Masons of Xew York and is now the only committee- man at large on the Republican State Committee is not above running his barber shop and leading in the social enjoyment of his neighbors, lie is a valued member of the stalwart Grant Club, and went to Chicago a Depew man. Douglass and Lanston, Bruce and Lynch know and admire him. He has just received a letter from another Mississippi friend of his. James I. Spellman writes him that, no matter what the outrages perpetrated upon his race every day, the State of Jefferson Davis could almost be carried for Ben I larrison and protection, if there were to be a fair vote. TIIK PHILADELPHIA PRKSS. April 20, 1858. The Literary Congress will hold its first stated meeting at the hall, southeast corner of Xinth and Spring Garden streets, on the first Wednesday evening in Mav. The question of the admission of the delegates from the Philadelphia IJanneker Literary Institute will then come up. The " Banneker " is a well-established literary organization, and a great favorite among the intelligent colored population. Mr. \Ym. H. Johnson, one of the delegates elected from this Institute, is well known throughout the community as an able lecturer and powerful debater. \Ye understand that consider able opposition will be made against the admission of this body, one society already having instructed its representatives to oppose any motion which may be made to admit it. \Ye have no opinion to express on the subject, preferring to await the decision of the Congress on the question whether color or literary merit is to be made the test of admission in this case, and others of a similar 46 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIE.XRY JOILXSON. character. We inadvertently stated the other day that Mr. John J. Elliott had been elected treasurer of the Congress. Air. G. Henry Davis, of the Irving Literary institute, was elected to that position, while the former gentleman was selected corresponding secretary. 27 MAIDKX LAXE, ALBANY, N. Y., March 20, 1897. JACOB C. WHITE, ESQ., 1032 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pa.: Mv DEAR SIR AND FRIENDS. I write to say that I greatly appreciate the commendable spirit that inspired yourself and others to establish and maintain the Douglass Hospital in the city of your and my youth. J desire further to say that I am the owner oi a plaster bust of our dear friend, the late Hon. Charles Stunner, which was modeled by Miss Kdmonia Lewis at Rome, Italy, and presented to me by the artist on the evening of August 24, 1875. in this city, in the presence of a select audience gathered in the A. M. E. church. It was, at the. request of 1. (iarland Penn. put on exhibition in the Xegro Department of the late Atlanta Expo sition, and is a work of art I highly prize. I want it preserved after I have been " gathered unto my fathers," and to thai end 1 have decided (should it be acceptable) to will or give it to the Frederick Douglass Hospital, of Philadelphia, Pa., of which von have charge. The only expense consequent upon its acceptance will be for packing and transportation. With my best wishes for your entire success in this praiseworthy venture for the amelioration of the condition of the needy and deserving of the race, I am, my dear sir and friend, with sentiments of high personal regard and esteem, ( ordially and sincerely yours. WM. II. |( ) PHILADELPHIA, March 30, 18^7. Ah DEAR JOILXSON. Your kind favor of the 2oth inst. came duly to hand. I thank you for the kind words which vou have been pleased to speak of me, and commend vou for the public spirit manifested by your own good self. The board of managers of the Douglass Hospital will meet on the evening of the 2d prox., at which time it will be my pleasure AUTOlilOGkAPHY OF DR. \VMJJA.\L IIKXRY JOHNSON. 47 to formally present your letter to me and also your gift to the hospital. With many thanks, 1 am, \ erv sincerely \ ours, |. C. WHITE. FRKDKKK K DOUGLASS M KMoRIAL I 1 < >SI IT A I. AND TRAINING SCHOOL, 151.2 Lo.Mi .ARD STRKKT. PHILADELPHIA, .l/(/Y I, 1897. 1 1 ox. W.M. I i. IOHXSOX: DKAR SIR. I was instructed bv the hoard of managers of the Douglass Hospital at their last monthly meeting to inform yon of their appreciation of vour kind offer. It would afford us unbounded pleasure to possess the most valuable piece of art which you have so kindly offered, and will assure you that our care of the same shall be nothing short of a protecting character. We will gladly receive it at anv time 1 you mav find it convenient to part with the same. Most truly yours, A. A. MOSSELL, Secretary. )OUGLASS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND TRAINING SCHOOL, 1512 LOMHARD STRKKT. I ll ILADKLIMI I A. Odobcf 2$, \&)~. [OIINSON, 27 Maiden Lane, /ilbany, N. Y.: DKAR SIR. Hie Douglass Hospital will gives its annual enter tainment at the American Academy of Music in this city on the evening and night of December sixteenth. It will be a charity ball; the earl}- part of the evening will be occupied in a musical and literary entertainment or program. We are negotiating to have Paul Dunbar as the literary star. Xow, it has pleased the man agement to have me request you to be present to present the bust, which you were so kind in giving us. We think it would make a fitting scene to close the first part of the program. If you wilt accept, we will consider ourselves highly honored and shall see that there is no expense you shall have to bear. Kindly wire me your acceptance immediately, as there is little time left us to get 48 Al ToniOCRAl II V OK DR. WILLIAM IILXKY JoTINSoN . our bills posted. The Academy will seat four thousand and it will be filled. The best opportunity we can ever have for yon to present the bust; do not fail to accept it. Ever yours, A. A. MOSSELL. ALBANY, X. Y., October 27, 18^7. A. A. MOSSKLL, ESQ.: DEAR SIR. Your favor of the 28th inst. is at hand. I desire to assure you and your associate managers of the Douglass Hospital that I highly appreciate your action in arranging for a public presentation and acceptance of the bust of the lamented Sunnier. This action gives me double assurance that YOU appreciate the possession of that artistic production of the gifted Edmonia Lewis, coming to you through me. Your program for December six teenth, doubtlessly, will be unique with Paul I )unbar. the great negro poet, as the star, the presentation of Stunner in " Terra Cotta " to the Douglass Hospital; thus reviving the hope that the two great emancipators, though dead, will still be linked together in the grateful memory of the living. My dear sir. I am unable to express the pleasure that the accept ance of your invitation would afford me. It is, therefore, with unfeigned regret that 1 am compelled, owing to circumstances over which I have no control, together with poor health which renders it highly improbable that 1 will be able to be absent from mv home a single day this winter, to inform you of my inabilitv to be with you on your annual entertainment at the American Academy of Music in your city. Still, I trust that that fact will not interfere with the public presentation. You have all the data in your posses sion to enable a substitute to perform that duty, and, I think, you will find no difficulty in selecting a gentleman in your city willing to do that for me. If you conclude to accept my suggestion along this line, I leave the selection absolutely to you. I am, Very truly yours, WM. IT. |01L\S( )\. The life-size bust of Hon. Charles Simmer, the abolitionist and friend of Frederick Douglass, was presented to the Douglass Hos pital (last evening). The speech of presentation was made by AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIEXRY JOIIXSOX. 4g Rev. P. O. Cornell. The gift was received on behalf of the institu tion by Rev. J. 1*. Sampson. The bust is the work of Miss Edmonia Lewis, a colored sculptress of Rome, Italy. It was the gift of \Ym. H. Johnson, of Albany, N. Y. The presentation was made on the occasion of the charity ball for the benefit of the Douglass Hospital at the Academy of Music. [Philadelphia Press, December 17, 1897. PHILADELPHIA, February 14, 1853. MY DEAR Sox. I take this present opportunity of writing you a k \v lines to inform you that I received your most kind and most affectionate letter, and was very glad to hear from you and your dear wife. I am very happy to hear that you are doing well, and 1 hope that you will remember the prayers that 1 often put up for you when you was present with me, and my prayers are continually going up to ( rod for the conversion of you and your wife that you both might be brought in the fold of God and be true children of the kingdom. Your sister is well and sends her best love to you and her dear sister, Sarah, and she would like to see you both. Mr. and Mrs. Mall are well, and, 1 think, they would like to see you both very much. All the inquiring friends join in love to you. I would like you to write as often as you can, for 1. am delighted to hear from you. Direct your letters the same, 342 Chestnut street. T must come to a close. Xo more at present, but still remain Your affectionate mother, PATSY JOHNSON. Air. Johnson was married to Miss Sarah A. F. Stewart in this city August 2, 1852, by the Rev. Dr. lluntington, of the Clinton Square Presbyterian Church. OFFICE OF THE AFRICAX CIVILIZATION SOCIETY, ROOM Xo. 26 I* i RLE HOUSE. XEW YORK, November 27, 1863. MR. \V\r. 11. JOHNSON, ESQ.: DEAR SIR. Permit me hereby to extend you i most cordial invitation, in the name of our society, to attend the celebration of the President s proclamation in the great hall of the Cooper Insti tute, Xew York city, on the ist day of January. 1864. Much of the 50 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. best talent in New York, Brooklyn and other cities will be engaged for the occasion. An early reply to this note will oblige your friend, HENRY .M. WILSOX, Secretary African Civilization Society. Permit your name to be used as vice-president. PHILADELPHIA, January 26, 1864. MR. WM. H. JOHNSON: DEAR SIR. Yours came to hand; enclosed I forward the photos according to direction. I am under nianv obligations to you for your kind consideration ; wishing- you great big success in all you may undertake for the good of our people and the salvation of the I nion, T am, With high regard, I). P.. BOWSER. ALHAXY, X. Y., July 4, 1865. \ Y A r. IT . J o 1 1 x s o x : DKAK FRIEXD. The text of the nation is no reconstruction of the rebel States, save upon the basis of free and absolute suffrage of all inhabitants. Yours for enfranchisement, CALVIN FAIRRAXK. Mr. Fairbank suffered twentv years imprisonment at the South for running fugitives Xorth. LTP.ERTE. EGALITK. REFTIlLTOrE DTlAYTI. HAVTIAX BUREAT OK EMJT.KATION, Xo 8 WASHINGTON BIMLDI.XG, 22 r WASHINGTON STREET. BOSTON, June 18, 1861. WAI. H. JOHNSON, ESQ.: DEAR SIR. If llayti declares war against Spain, T will go as a volunteer, and duly notify you of the time of sailing. T am in hopes that peace will be preserved, but, if not, we will be there to see. Very truly your friend, TAMES REDPATH. ArTOKKX .K. \IMIY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 51 THE XEW YORK AGE. April n, 1891. (Signed by Governor Hill.) The insurance bill recently passed by the Xew York Legisla ture, which was fathered and engineered through mainly by Air. \Ym. H. Johnson, of the Afro-American League of Albany, has been signed bv Governor Hill and now is a law. Mr. Johnson deserves the thanks of the race for his good work in securing the enactment of this law. XEW YORK, January 31, 1891. DEAR SIR.- 1 am in receipt of your letter of the twenty-ninth, and contents dnlv noted. 1 have seen Lawyer Charles Taylor, Mills Building; Lawyer I). A I aeon \Yebster, 33 Line street, of this citv. and have made a personal request of Mr. Fortune to do all that they could to aid you in your effort to have the "Chase Insur ance I>ill" enacted into a law. All of them have promised me. to take a personal interest in the matter, and I have no doubt but what thev will do so, and that you will have all the moral sup port necessary from this part of the State amongst the Afro- Americans in behalf of the bill referred to above. I am only sorrv that my business is of such a nature that T can not go around personally and get a number of signatures to a petition urging the passage of this bill. I would suggest that you call on Assemblyman Lawrence from Xew York city, using my name, as the president of the Southern Beneficial League in this city, and say to him that, if he supports this measure, it may be the means of his returning to the Legisla ture, lie knows that it was the disaffection amongst the Republi cans in his district which was the cause of his election. Y< inrs truly, GE( ). \YM. LATTIMORR, 66 E.vchciugc f hicc, A . T. To DR. \Y. i 1. [OIIXSON, ALP.AXY, X. Y. TROY, April m, 1873. \\ M. II. IOIINSON, ESQ.: MY DEAR LRIEND. Your very kind letter has been received, for which please accept my heartiest thanks. T send you kind con gratulations for the success with which your arduous labors have 52 AUTOTUOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. been crowned. May your memory ever be fresh in the hearts of an injured people, and may you live long to see the ultimate triumph of your desires enjoyed by a truly-deserving people. Should the Governor fail to sign it, it does not diminish any of your deserved appreciation. My wife greatly rejoices in your success. Mr. Rich seems to be pleased with your success. Mr. Baltimore seems to be glad. I also thank you for the New York Insurance Report. You have my heartiest wishes for your prosperity and success. Please remember me kindly to your wife and family. I remain with Christian kindness, Very respectfully yours, REV. [. A. PRIME. NEW YORK, April 24, 1873. DEAR SIR. The citizens of New York intend to commemorate- the passage of the Civil Rights Hill, at Cooper Institute, on the evening of the fifteenth May next and, as chairman of the com mittee on invitations and speakers recognizing the important part which you filled in securing the passage of the bill, I respect fully ask, in the name of the committee, that you will consent to be one of the speakers on that occasion. Hoping that you will com municate a favorable answer by return mail, 1 have the honor to be, with respect, Yours, CHAS. L. REASON. 242 East 53<i Street. I have invited Major-General J. W. I lusted to be one of the speakers. Please suggest the name of a member of the Senate. Yours, C. L. R. \YM. H. JOIIXSON, ESQ., Janitor Senate Cliatnber. CUSTOM HOUSE, NE\V YORK COLLECTOR S OFFICE. 20 March, 1873. FRIEND JOHNSON.- I send congratulations on the passage (through the Assembly) of your bill; you have worked hard and deserve all the praise that can be bestowed by a grateful con- AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 53 stitiRMicv. If convenient- to yon, will you send me, through the mail, the particulars how the vote stood, who voted for and who voted against the bill, and oblige, Your friend, SAMUEL W. CLAY. SEVENTH CENSUS OF THE I/NITED STATES. J )E1 ARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, CENSUS OFFICE. WASHINGTON, January 27, 1891. SIR. Referring to your letter of the 24th hist., requesting information as to the comparative longevity of the colored and white races, as shown by the recent census, you are advised that the complications necessary to determine the facts have not suffi ciently progressed at this time to afford you any information upon the subject. It will probably be about six to eight months before the figures will be available. If you do not particularly desire the results of the present census, you may find some interesting comparisons concerning the expecta tion of life of the two races on page cxliv, volume 12 of the reports of the Tenth Census, which you, no doubt, have in the treasury library. Verv respectfully, ROBERT P. PORTER. WILLIAM. H. JOHNSON, .llhanv, X. }\ LETTERS FROM A COLORED SOLDIER. (Xo. IV. ( )n the held of battle.) February 9, 1862. EDITORS OF THE P.I.NK AND PALM, BOSTON, MASS. The Burn- side expedition has been gloriously successful. The rebels have been defeated and driven from Roanoke Island. On Friday our fleet came to anchor in Albemarle sound at ten o clock A. M. The rebels fired into the fleet from a battery on the shore. The gun boats responded with vigor. 4 P. M. The bombardment is progressing with great fury. 5 P. M. We are gaining upon the rebels; our troops are being landed in small boats in the face of the enemies batteries. 54 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WfLLTAM TTEXRY lOfFXSOX. 9 i*. M. We arc on the island; the enemy is held in check: hos tilities have ceased for the night. Satnrdav, 10 A. M. The battle has been resumed; the rebel land battery is being engaged by onr troops; the bombardment is still going on. 1.30 P. M. The rebels have been driven from the batteries at the point of the bayonet. The held is ours; we are pursuing the rebels. ii P. M. Two thousand rebels have unconditionally sur rendered. It is the end of one of the bloodiest battles of the campaign. Our victor\- has, indeed, been brilliant, but we have paid dearly for it. Our loss is about thirty killed, among whom is a colonel and a lieutenant-colonel, and a number of line officers. \Ye have in the hospital between seventy-rive and eighty wounded; they are all doing well. The enemy s loss I have not ascertained, but it has been considerable. 1 counted ten dead in one battery myself. ( ). Jennings Wise, son of General Wise, is one of our prisoners, and lie is mortally wounded. w. ri. ;., Jiiglilli Colored I oliinlccrs. Headquarters, Fort Kenno, Uoanoke Island, X. C. LETTER FROM MR. WM. H. JOUNSOX. ALBANY, April 15, 1863. FnrruRs STANDARD AXD STATESMAN: GENTLEMEN. I left Albany last Thursday morning with forty- five Xegroes for the Fifth Massachusetts (Colored) Regiment. \\ e arrived at Camp Meigs, Readville, the same evening, and were welcomed by five hundred and odd fully-equipped and well- drilled colored soldiers, under command of Colonel R. (i. Shaw. I handed over my command to the officer of the day, and then pro ceeded to learn the condition of the cam]), the men in the camp and things in general. The regiment is in barracks on a beautiful meadow, which is situated on the rise of ground distant one and one-half miles from Readville, and but a stone s throw from the line of the Boston and Providence Railroad. The barracks are well constructed, light and warm; there are no better in the country. Each house is furnished with a camp stove, elevated bunks, one lr-> ED M ON I A L.KWI: Of Koine. Ttalv, JOHN BROWN. His <oul \* inarching (tCTAYH S V. CATTO, Of Philudoljihia, Pa. PRESIDENT McKINLEY, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. Surrounded by his trusted Lieutenants, representing both branches of the service in the Spanish-American War, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON. Of Mic United Slates of America. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PR. WTLLTAM TTENRY JOHNSON. 59 coverlet, with straw: one rubber blanket, one woolen blanket for each man, and the men are furnished with a full set of accoutre ments, such as the government vouchsafes to her white volunteers. The men seem, without one exception, to be not only contented with their condition, but are proud to be numbered with the defenders of their country. The officers are. men who understand one another, and the best of feeling is cultivated by them. The regiment has a dress parade at 5 o clock p. M. every day, and shows indications ot discipline and prompt military evolution. Flic regiment numbers, rank and file, 635 men. \V.\I. 11. |t )1IXS( )\. I )AILV KNICKERBOCKER. (Albany, Saturday Morning-, November 25, 1871.) COLORED MILITARY COMPANY. Mr. William lohnson, a colored veteran ol the late war, has been instrumental in organizing a military company in this city. The work was accomplished night before last, when the following officers were elected to the Albany Military Association: Civil president, ( r. L. Morgan; secretaries, K. L. I urns, William Stanly; treasurer, ( iideon Lippitt; military captain, William II. Johnson; first lieutenant. Whitefield Wilson; second lieutenant, Charles Bell; first sergeant, J. R. Jones; sergeants, Henry Morgan, Thomas Casev, V.. T. Morgan, John Lodge; corporals, Abram Myers, Levi Ricks, Anthonv 1 arsons, lames Lucus. L. j. \Yatson, John Taylor, Henry Rees, R. |. Kd wards: musicians. W. V.. Tomsine, Robert lackson. 60 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY [OITNSON. CHAPTER III. THE COUNTY OF ALP.AXY HAS A COLORED POPULATION OF AHOUT 1,300. THEY ENGAGE IN ALL THE ORDINARY PURSUITS, AND ARE CREDITABLY REPRESENTED IN THE PROFESSIONS. They often achieve comfortable positions in life, and are, as a elass, honest, industrious and law-abiding. Thev have not to con tend against the race prejudice that exists in some cities. Coining here originally as slaves, they have passed through the successive stages of emancipation and elevation to citizenship. The first col ored Baptist church in this city stood opposite where the two- steepled church now stands, about 1815. The next church was built in Hamilton street, and the minister s name was Nathaniel Paul. The, colored people had a Wilberforce school. The first teacher was an Irishman, by the name of McCabe; then Air. Bassett was the teacher; and then Thomas Paul. John O. Allen was the last teacher of that proscribed school. The admission of colored children with equal privileges with the whites in the common schools of this State, under the operation of the " Civil Rights Law of 1873," brought the Wilberforce to a close. "Pinkster I)a\ " was in Africa a religious day, partly pagan and partly Christian, like our Christmas dav. Many of the old colored people, then in Albany, were born in Africa, and would dance their wild dances and sing in their native language. "Pinkster" festivities took place usually in May, and lasted an entire week. It began the Monday following Whit-Sunday of the Catholic and Episcopal churches, and was the carnival of the Afri can race, in which they indulged in unrestrained merriment and revelry. The main and leading spirit was " Charley of the Pinkster Hill," who was brought from Angola, in the Guinea Gulf, in his infant days, and purchased by a rich merchant living on the eastern bank of the Hudson. "King Charles" was said to have royal blood in his veins. The Beau Brummel of the day was Adam Blake, then body ser vant to the Old Patroon, and a grand master of ceremonies he was. The dancing master and music was peculiar. The main instru ment was a sort of kettle-drum," a wooden article called an eel-pot, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 6l with a sheep-skin drawn tightly over one end. Aside this sat Jackey Quackenboss, beating lustily with his hands and repeating the ever wild, though euphonic, cry of l> Hi-a-bomba, bomba, bomba," in full harmonv with the trununing sounds of his eel-pot. Air. lackson, a colored man, was at one time the principal baker in Albanv; and a teamster, by the name of B. Lattimore, got to be a man of property. Still there were but few colored voters in this county under the old law, requiring a 8250 property qualification. ( )ne of the great institutions of the Northern States in slavery times was the great " Underground Railway." Xo modern railway ever had so manv lines, so many trains, so many stations, or so many agents or conductors. It was very exclusive, for its passengers were all colored people. It started anywhere and everywhere in the Slave States and always ended in Canada. Xo through route ever had such a signal light, for it ran its trains by the north star. Every genuine lover of liberty was a stockholder, and every stock holder was a minute-man. Of course, every true black man was a charter member. The most noted agent at the Albany station was Stephen Meyers. Me was born a slave in Rensselaer county in 1800, in the family of Dr. Eights, but was soon liberated by the abolition of slavery in this State in 1827. Thousands of slaves reached Canada through his aid. He enlisted the first com pany of colored men from Albany, upwards of forty, but Governor Morgan would not accept them, and they went to the front as a part of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment. Some of his principal assistants were John G. Steward, Charles R. Morton. William H. Topp, William P. Mclntyre, William H. Matthews, 1 rimus Robinson. Benjamin Cutler, George Morgan and Dr. Elkins, all of whom have passed away. The latter was appointed by Governor Andrews, of Massachusetts, as medical examiner in the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Regiments. Dr. Elkins went to Liberia and brought home valuable collections of minerals, shells, and curiosities. Joseph A. Smith, born in South Carolina, has spent much o.f his life in this section, trusted and respected by the best citizens. James C. Matthews, the colored lawyer, has a pro fessional standing and record that are an honor to any man that achieves them. Adam Blake, the 2cl, late proprietor of the Kenmore Hotel, was born in the city of Albany, April 6. 1830. He died September /. 1881. He was the richest and best-known business man of his race in this county. Mr. Blake received a grammar school educa tion. He was a born hotel-keeper. ()2 AI TOHIOCR. \IMIV OF 1)U. \\I1JJA.M IIKXKY JOIIXSOX. The Albany Female Lundy Society was organized in the city of Albany, June 19, 1833, by a few earnest and benevolent colored ladies for mutual benefit and the development of social, intellectual and religious principles. It has had an unbroken existence for years, continually growing in strength and usefulness. \\ hile offi cers are elected annually, only four persons have been elected presidents of the association in these sixty-seven years; Mrs. Catherine March, Mrs. Levi Johnson, Mrs. Michael Douge, and Mrs. W. H. Johnson. The Lovejoy Society of Albany is also composed of colored ladies, and while not so numerous nor so old as the " Lundy s." has a kindred purpose and deserves commendation. Mrs. Whitfield Wilson is the president. Jephthah Lodge, Xo. 13, F. & A. M., was constituted in the city of Albany on the 20th of December, 1860, under a warrant from the M. W., Grand Lodge (colored) of the State of Xew York. The record of this Lodge is good. Four of her members have been elected Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of this State, namely, Samuel R. Scottson, William H. Johnson, 33d, [olm Devo and F. I>. Irving. Philomathean Lodge, 711, G. I*. (.). of ( ). F. Dispensation granted July, 1844. To-day there are probably in the neighborhood of 2,000 Afro- Americans in Albany, and they represent nearly all the trades and professions. There is the Van Yranken family, two brothers of which, Frank and Frederick A., are in the merchant tailoring business; the third, Charles FT., is head of an extensive city carpet department, and the fourth, Edgar S., operates a large tonsorial establishment. All are taxpayers. John Lodge, the caterer, owns property: and Mrs. Fleanora TFardin, on Txnox street. Tn business lines the Afro-American in Albanv has made himself a name. There are a number who occupy responsible positions. Among them mav be mentioned John T. Chapman, who for years has been connected with Leonard & Son; George i ayn, who is located at the power-house of the Albany Railroad in Watervliel: Miss Lottie Tayn and Mrs. Tames Gardner, who operate extensive dressmaking establishments; Fdward P>. Irving, head-waiter at the Ten Fyck, is said by his friends to be a royal entertainer at his fine home on Lafayette street. Mr. William IT. Rrcnt, the genial head-waiter of the Stanwix TTalk is a princely good fellow. Tie was born at Brenfield, Maryland. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. \\TLUAM HliXRY JOHNSON. 63 July 21, 1844. Like all old-time Southerners now living 1 North, he maintains the traditional characteristics of the Southern gentleman. Ed. Duncan, he of the Kenmore. \Yhat of him? Ask Messrs. Brent and Irving; the} will not be likely to answer you, but shrug their shoulders. They both tip their hats to Ed., but keep tabs on this aggressive young head-waiter. Then there is Thomas Campbell, head-porter of the State Capitol, an outspoken, defiant Republican, who shoots, every time he dis cusses politics, straight from the shoulder; his principal aim is to hit the: colored Democrat. Among his trusted helpers at the Capi tol are Messrs. A. P. Simpson, president of the Excelsior Republican Club, and Samuel G. Hardy. Benj. Franklyn, Peter Lawrence and Alfred (lay nor. Air. John E. Bruce, the versatile syndicate news paper correspondent, is a unique figure hereabout. He is a recent comer, but is welcome. I want him to stay. Sometimes he has been with me, and often against me, still I do not care for that. Mr. Bruce is all right; he is intellectual and aggressive; interested, as [ am, in the development of our race along the highest intellectual line. He is for the maintenance of the integrity of our country s execution. Mr. John Caldwell, the Albany correspondent of Mr. T. Thomas Kortune s Xcw York Age, is another highly respectable citizen. Edward Abrams is an electrotyper. and a master of his business. lie is engaged with The Centurv Plate and Printing Co., of which Mr. S. 1C. Hampton is general manager. Mr. \Ym. H. Van Alstyne is an aggressive and creditable member of the business end of our colored colon v. He is engaged at Keeler s Hotel, and has oversight of the toilet and boot and shoe dressing departments of that immense and first-class hotel. 1 1 e also has a branch department on the opposite side of the street. Mr. Louis Topp is night clerk of the Kenmore Hotel, and his genial and business-like methods secure for him the highest appro bation of the proprietors and guests. J. Y\ . Price, of Congress street, holds a responsible position on the X. Y. C. and H. R. Railroad, and is a leader in the social swim. Mr. Robert M. Madison, confidential man and private chef of tin. 1 1). & H. Railroad Company, is held in high esteem bv Yice- President Horace Young. Esq.: also bv all who know him. He resides with his family in a handsome residence on Second street. Stafford Lippitt is one of our solid young business men. His mother resides in her own beautiful home on Washington avenue. Then there are Messrs. A. C. Green, Hcnrv Cross, Samuel 64 AUTOP.IOr.RAPTIY OF DR. WILLIAM 1TKXKY JOIIXSOX. Branch, C. C. Oatfield, tonsorial artists, at 31 Orange street; Ephriam Frisby, Howard La Tour, Alexander Phillips, Walter K Wilson, all occupying- the confidences and respect of the community. Then there is our Henry Pinkney, Governor Roosevelt s confi dential and all-round man. Henry is a little fellow, not like the Dutchman s flea, but is, on the other hand, always in the way when duty calls him to attend to business. Mr. James A. May, of Second street, is one of the oldest and most respected of our fellow-citizens. lie has occupied the position of head-pantryman on the People s Line steamers for many years. There are few people who know that Air. May has grown a beard that by actual measurement is twenty inches long. When at work the whisker is plaited and hidden in his bosom, but, when attending church or a social gathering, he combs it out and down. It is then his venerable appearance reminds you of pictures of the patriarchs of old. The A. M. K. church is situated in a beautiful location on Ham ilton street. Its pastor is the Rev. W. S. Kane. There is a Chris tian Endeavor Association connected with this church, and is in a prospering and progressive condition. Mrs. S. Hamlin, the efficient organizer and leader, is a Christian woman who deserves the high est commendation. Air. Richard Gardiner is the chorister and Miss Fmma Nichols is the organist. Air. John 1). Nichols is the local preacher; he is a man of marked ability and ripe learning; he occupies the position of shipping clerk in the Regents Department in the State Capitol. Our own High School has graduates from the colony, among whom are: Airs. Clarence Miller, Aliss Alfarata Chapman, who car ried off the class honors; William Deyo and Aliss Nellie Goincs. Charles H. Butler, lately deceased, was another Afro-American, of whom his fellow-men were proud. He was in the Government employ in Washington. At the convention of the Catholic National L^nion in Albany, recently, he was a delegate from St. Augustine s church. Through his influence largely, Rev. Father Uncles, the first Colored Catholic priest to be ordained in this country, was ordained by Cardinal Gibbons. A Baptist mission was recently started on Second street, and is now in a prosperous condition. This is the Concord Baptist church. Its able and educated pas tor is the young and gifted Rev. A. T. lohnson, who, whilst never neglecting the Christian oversight of his flock, is aggressive along AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WJLLIAM IIKXRY JOHNSON. 65 public lines, to the end that society may be bettered by his being in it. Miss Mamie Dorsey is organist. There is also a Helping- Hand Society connected with the church. Among the leading spirits are: Mrs. James A. May, Mrs. A. P. Simpson, Mrs. M. Cook and Mrs. Allen." Mrs. Elizabeth Plato owns and resides in a handsome residence, 182 Second street. This lady is noted for her excellent qualities of head and heart. Mrs. Adeline Douge, of 370 Central avenue, has been and is care taker of the D. & H. depot. This delightful business and society woman is held in high esteem by all who know her. She is booked for a good position in the new Central depot. Mrs. George K. Smith, relict of that grand good fellow, who was for many years Mr. Thomas C. Platt s right hand Afro-American, and the trusty messenger of the Republican State Committee, is strictly a business woman. She inherited the respect of the Repub lican magnates and now holds a profitable position in the State Capitol. She resides on Eagle street. Miss Mary E. Hoyt is another business and society woman, active and generous to a fault. Madames Cecilia R. Hill, Maria Douge, Mary Mclntyre and \V. IT. Yopp are identified with the People s Line of night boats plving between here and Xew York. Mrs. [oseph A. Smith owns and resides at Xo. 410 Madison ave nue. She is the relict of Mr. Joseph A. Smith, the author and lecturer, who was so well and widely known by the society people. Mrs. William Fuzmore, of Xo. 180 First street, has the reputa tion of being the absolutely best cleaner, repairer and finisher of lace curtains in the citv. There is Mr. James Savoy, the genial and ever-present messenger of St. Agnes school. Ily the way, that plant of 1 ishop Ooane s is proving very helpful to our people. It furnishes employment to a number of good and industrious girls. The culinary, dining- and dormitory work is all performed by such. Miss Lavenia Williams, who has an oversight, is an exceptional bright young woman; her associates are all pinks of politeness and affability. Among these are Miss Mary Dixon, Mrs. Caroline Gardiner, Ann Wilkes, Ida Jones, Estella Gorder and Miss Blanche Jackson. 66 AI TOIJKXJK. \IM1Y OK DU. WILLIAM TTKXRY (OlIXSoX. Mr. C. H. Van Yranken and Ed. ] . Robinson arc both owners of their respective homes on Second street one above, and tin- other below, the Northern Boulevard. Thomas Tracy and Samuel H. Mando are both citizens of Albany, still it is hard to tell where Tracy spends the most of his valuable time; he is a valuable aggregate to the Tammany Hall Democratic machine. He is considerable of an all-round politician. He knows a hen from a hawk. Tracy and myself, together with his two boys. Charlie and Arthur, visited Xew York together last fall to help wel come Admiral Dewey. He proved to be a delightful good fellow to tramp with. S. H. Mando is unlike his brother-in-law; he is an all- round colored Democrat, as sly as a fox, holds a good position in the Xew York Custom House, a hold-over under Civil Service rule. Hon. Charles \V. Anderson, .Republican State Committeeman- at-Large, of Xew York citv, was here during Governor Morton s administration. He was chief clerk and confidential secretary to State Treasurer Colvin. Mr. Anderson made manv friends in political lines. He is an able, forcible and eloquent public speaker, and can hold his own with foremost orators of the day. James Baker, a former Albanian, now of Rensselaer-on-the-Hud- son, has developed into a real estate projector. Madame E. !>., the delightful helpmate of Past Grand Master Irving, of 68 Lafayette street, is a splendid housekeeper, and is about as good as any woman ought to be. She is another society leader, and is desirable and popular in all classes, but more espe cially with the buds. Airs. Sarah Cslier, who resided with her daughter, Mrs. Camp bell, at Staunton, \ a., owned and let a fine residence on Ten liroeck place, which at her death, which recently occurred, passed to her daughter. Miss Alice Levi and Miss Eveline Williams, of YVestbury, L. I., both graduated with honor from the Xormal College in this city. Mrs. William Richarson, of 12 Monroe and Chapel streets, has a well-equipped boarding-house. Mrs. Andrew Williams, of Xo. 2<; Monroe street, also takes boarders. The Sons and Daughters of Moses was organized in this city, October I4th, 1896. It is a branch of the National Societv, which has forty-two lodges working under the National Charter. Al TOJHOCRAl ll Y OF Dk. WILLIAM IIHXKY JollXSOX. 6/ Richard Allen Johnson, who is connected with the 1). & H. Railroad system, resides on First street, in his own property. Airs. Sarah Elizabeth Treadwell and her sister, Emily Purvis Johnson, are doing- dressmaking- at 319 Orange street. Among those that deserve mention as being identified with Albany, none are more entitled to commendation than Mr. William Sinclair, formerly of I uffalo, X. V., but now of Washington, 1). C. He will be best remembered as the steward of the Executive Man sion (hiring- that period when lion. Grover Cleveland was Governor. When Mr. Cleveland was inaugurated President, he transferred Mr. Sinclair to the stewardship of the White House at Washington, and lie has held that position ever since. Mr. Sinclair married Miss Abbey, a sister of the Van Yranken brothers and of Miss Anna. Mr. James M. Johnson, formerly a porter in the paper-hanging store of Mr. Mclntee, is to-day one of the most respected boot and shoe dealers, and a member of that branch of lioard of Trade, in Chicago, ill. Edward W. Crosby. Esq.. has achieved success in newspaper work. He now resides in Buffalo, and has been for years and now is the telegraphic editor of the Buffalo Times. Win. II. Yopp, Esq., is engaged with the Pennsylvania Central K. I\. Co.; so. also, is his son, Sanford. Mr. George Webican, the Kings county young" Republican leader, got in some line work at the Philadelphia convention. If he proves as successful in playing politics as he did at love-making lie will not disappoint his friends. Another former prominent and highly-respected citizen was Sergeant T. W. Anderson, late of Syracuse, X. Y. He and I were boys together in the citv of Philadelphia, Pa. We were associated here in tin s citv afterwards. I knew and loved the man. lie was everv inch a gentleman. He enlisted in the Twenty-sixth (colored) Xew ^ ork Regiment, and served through the \\ ar of the Rebellion with honor, and was raised to the rank of sergeant. He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Thomas Clark. Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Green. oi Syracuse; Mrs. I. foscph, of Xew York city; Mrs. Cannon, of < )swego, and one son, who bears his father s name. 1 am not taking a census of the city or State. I am simply endeavoring in this letter to show what the average Xegro amounts to. The woods and citv are mil of flam s sons. I rejoice to be 68 AUTOr.lOGR. \1MLY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. able to chronicle the fact that they are thrifty and law-abiding, and compare favorably to the white nice. Let someone tell Charles E. Lewis and family, who reside on North Lark street, that they live in the tenderloin district, and that somebody would get wallowed in the snow before the coming of springtime. Abe Blackburn, W. H. Keeler s trusted Annex man, would not drink another drop of filtered water or treat a friend, if yon tell him that the cozy little cottage on North Dove street, which he owns and resides in, is in other than the bine-blood district. 1 would not myself dare to meander on lower ( )range street or upper Congress, where resides on the former John I 7 !. Bruce and his gifted helpmate, and on the latter-named street where that interesting couple, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Taylor resides, if 1 dare insinuate that cither would not be welcome on the Tine Hills. I can t chronicle names of all the good colored people that deserve favorable mention. I am neither a talking nor a writing machine 1 ; still, I have wit and strength enough to tip my hat to Don Kaffell Cisenora and his charming madame. The first negro slaves were landed on Manhattan Island, Xew York Colony, by Dutch immigrants in the year 1623, and tin- practical abolition of the accursed institution in this State was accomplished in 1827; the law for that purpose was adopted in 1817. I have endeavored to draw a pen picture of the sufferings and degradation of the Negro slaves in ante-bellum days. I have also noted the rise and progress of my race in this citv dating from 1827 to date. It ought to satisfy the most doubtful that the Negro is not different from other races. All people of any nationality that ever amounted to anything came up through trials, tribulations and deprivations. Slavery, with all its attending horror, lias been, nevertheless, a civilizer of the people of the earth. Civilization, education and Christianity of a once enslaved people lifts them out of the rut of dependence and degradation. As the Rev. James M. Boddy puts it : " It is not the racial characteristics that render the American Negro inferior, but it is the fact that he occupies an inferior servile position. Now, I am satisfied that the New York Negro made considerable intellectual, social and Christian progress from 1827 down to 1870, when he was fully invested with civil, pub lic and political rights. His life and deportment since then gives assurance of his ultimate acceptance of all the obligations imposed AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLfAM HENRY JOTIXSON. 69 upon citizens by the Federal Constitution and his ability and determination to surmount, master, and solve the race problem for himself. \Y.M. II. [onxsox, For the Albany Capital. 1523 FIT/ WATER STREET, PHILADELPHIA I EXX. \\ M. 1 1. JOHNSON, Albany, X. V.: DEAR BROTHER. Our mother was born on a plantation at Cedar Grove, near Alexandria, on February 14, 1/88. She died in this city, lanuarv 6, 1858. God bless you for your grateful remembrance. Your loving" sister, MARTHA A. JAMES. /O AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKNKY JOHNSON. CHAPTER IV. TIIF FRI ITS OF Du. JOHNSON S M ASTHRFTL LEGISLATION. WKDXKSDAY, June, 1807. Mr. Martin 1. Townsend presented a petition from \\ ni. II Johnson, chairman ot the State Central Committee ot Colored Liti zens, praying" for the eslablishmeiit of equal manhood suffrage \vhich was referred to the committee on the right of suffrage. XlAV YORK CoXYKXTlOX ( R F i ( ) KT ) , 1867-68. Proceeding s and Debate, Yolunie i, page 1 </). CHAPTER 91. An Act supplementary to and amendatory of chapter eighty of tin- laws of eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled "An act to pro vide for the enrollment of the military, for the organization of the Xational (luard of the State of Xew York, and for the public defense," and entitled the military code. Passed, March 7. 1872, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of Xew York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SFCTION i. Section one of this act, entitled "An act to provide for the enrollment of the military for the organization of the Xational Guard of the State of Xew York and for the public defense, and entitled the militarv code," passed March seventeen, eighteen hundred and seventy, is hereby amended by striking out the word " which" in the first line of the aforesaid first section. Sec. 2. This act shall take effect immediately. CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALT,. The Bill as Passed. An Act to provide for the protection of citizens in their civil and public rights. Passed, April o, 1873. three-fifths being present. The People of the State of Xew York, represented in Senate and Assemblv. do enact as follows: SF.CTION i. X<> citizen of this State shall, bv reason of race, Hi;\. A. T. JOHNSON. 1 at-tor of Concord IJaptist Church, Albany, N. Y niH COT.DI. KD MEN S NEW YoKK STATK fJONVFA TION. Id in UK- <)|d Hamilton Sti cci r.ajitist church, almvc I carl. October 1;-17, 186(j KDGAR V. DENTSON, Senior Captain, Tenth Battalion. N. <;., S. X. Y Ilox. BENJAMIN 13. UDELL, Ju. OF DR. WILLIAM TIEXRY jouxsox. 75 color, or previous condition of servitude, be exeepted or excluded from the full and equal enjoyment of any accommodations, advan tage, facililv or privilege furnished by inn-keepers, by common carriers, whether on land or water, bv licensed owners, managers oi" lessees of theatres, or other places ot amusenu nt, by trustees, commissioners, superintendents, teachers and other officers ot com mon schools and public institutions of learning 1 , and by cemetcrv associations. Sec. 2. The violation of anv part of the first section of this act shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and the partv or parties violating the same shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a line ot not less than fifty dollars, nor more than live hundred dollars. Sec. v Discrimination against any citizen on account ot color, bv the use of the word " white." or anv other term in anv law. statute 1 , ordinance, or regulation now existing in this State, is herebv repealed and annulled. Sec. 4. This act shall take effect immediately. LAWS OF XEW YORK BY AUTHORITY. I Everv law, unless a different time shall be described therein, shall commence and take effect throughout the State, on and not before the twentieth dav after the day of its final passage, as certified bv the Secrctarv of State. Sec. 12, title 4. chap. /, part I. Revised Statutes.) CHAPTER 119. An Act to prevent discrimination against persons of color by lif: insurance companies. Approved bv the Governor April i. iSiji. Passed, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of Xew York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SKCTJOX i. Xo life insurance company doing business within this State shall make any distinction or discrimination between white persons and colored persons, wholly or partially of African descent, as to the premiums or rates charged for policies upon the lives of such persons, or in anv other manner whatever: nor shall any such company demand or require a greater premium from such colored persons than is at that time required by such company irom while persons of the same age, sex, general condition of health and prospect of longevity; nor shall any such company make or require 76 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. any rebate, diminution or discount upon the amount to be paid on such policy in case of the death of such colored persons insured, nor insert in the policy any condition, nor make any stipulation whereby such person insured shall bind himself, or his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to accept any sum less than the full value or amount of such policy in case of a claim accruing" thereon by reason of the death of such persons insured, other than such as are imposed upon white persons in similar cases; and any such stipulation or condition so made or inserted shall be void. Sec. 2. The violation of an} part of the first section of this act shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and the party or parties violating the same shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars. Sec. . This act shall take effect immediatel. THE ALBANY CAPITOL. Win. H. Johnson, Editor. ALT, A NY, June 2, 1804. \Ye noted in our last issue the fact that a memorial from " The Capitol " had been presented by the lion. C. ]>. Morton, praving for the removal of the word " color " from the organic laws of the State. Below we give the full text of that paper: To the Honorable the President and flic Members of the Constitutional Convention, Assembly Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, N. }\: GENTLEMEN. In the name of justice and in the interest of fair dealing, the honor and integrity of this great Empire State, T call your attention to the fact that the odious word "color" is found in the Constitution. As that instrument stands to-day, it unfairly discriminates against people of "color" of this State; that is, the Constitution provides that all persons of " color " not taxed shall be exempt in the enumeration. This is wrong, and not in the spirit and in conformity to the Constitution of the United States, nor the broad and progressive age in which we live. I, therefore, most respectfully pray your honorable body to so amend the Con stitution that the draft of it that you submit to the people next fall will not contain the objectionable features that my people justly complain of. Gentlemen, I have the honor to subscribe myself your most obedient servant, WM. H. JOHNSOX, Editor of the Albany Cahfol. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DK. WILLIAM IIEXRY JOHXSOX. 77 ALISAXY, May 22, 1894. The Constitutional Convention reassembled at noon Tuesday, in the Assembly Chamber, [ resident Choate appointed the standing- committees, numbering t \\ent\--se\ en in all. Among the very first business transacted was the presentation of a memorial from \Y. II. [ohnson, editor of the Albany Capitol, proposing that the word "color" be stricken out of the Constitu tion. The paper was presented bv Hon Charles .!>. Morton, of the Third Senatorial District of Kings county. It was read, and referred to the committee on suffrage. [Albany Capitol, May 24, 1894. \Ye are proud to note that owing to the efforts of the Capitol, the Revised Constitution does not contain the word "white" or " colored." ll stands for all citizens. [Kd. LAWS ( )! XEW Y( )KK ttv AUTHORITY. CHAPTER 492. An Act to secure equal rights to colored children in the State of Xew York, and to repeal section twenty-eight, article eleven, title fifteen of chapter five hundred and fifty-six of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-four, entitled. " The consolidated school law." hecame a law April 18, 1900, with the approval of the (Governor. Passed, three-fifths being present. The People of the State of Xew York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SI-X.TIOX r. Xo person shall be refused admission into or be excluded from any public school in the State of Xew York on account of race or color. Sec. 2. Section twentv-eight, article eleven, title fifteen of chap ter five hundred and fifty-six of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety-four, which reads as follows: "The school authorities of anv city or incorporated village, the schools of which are or shall be organized under title eight of this act, or under special act, may. when they shall deem it expedient, establish a separate school or separate schools for instruction of children and youth of African descent, resident therein, and over five and under twenty-one years of age; and such school or schools shall be supported in the same manner and to the same extent as the school or schools supported therein for white children, and they shall be subject to the same 78 Al ToniOORAi 1 !! Y OF DK. WILLIAM JIEXRY JOIIXSOX. rules and regulations and be furnished facilities for instruction equal to those furnished to the white schools therein," is hereby repealed. Sec. 3. This act shall take effect on the first dav of September, nineteen hundred. State of New York, Office of the Secretary of State, ss.: I have compared the preceding with the original law on hie in iliis office, and do hereby certifv that the same is a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said original law. JOHN" T. McDONOUGH, Secretary <>/ Sidle. Tn ]: SPECTATOR. ALTIAXY-IU FFALO, X. Y., .//V/7 J <J, Kj(K). (The Hill Signed.) Xo More Discrimination hi the Scliools of AYri 1 York State. TLLKCRAM FROM M R. \\". II. |()IIXS()X TO T. TllOMAS F< ) RTl X I-:, 4 CI-:DAR STREET, XEW YORK CITY: Governor Roosevelt has signed Senator Klsberg s Anti-Discrimi nating School bill. It i.s Xo. 402 of the Laws of KJOO. See the Spectator to-morrow. I wrote this with the pen the Governor used. WILLIAM II. J( )H.\S( )X. April K)th, LETTER KROM \\ .\i. II. Joiixsox, THE SAGE OF MAIDI-:X LAXE. Mr. Editor: I)L\R Sii\. ^ on ask me if I know \vho the author was of the Klsberg Anti-Discriminating School bill. In answering von I have 1o say that I regard it as inessential as to who drafted the bill, but, from what I do know of the affair, I believe that Major Poole, of Xew York city, is entitled to much credit, lie fathered the bill and looked after it during its conduct through the Legislature. He deserves much credit for his zeal in the matter. Still, his open and defiant declaration frequently made that lie wotdd rather see the bill defeated than to ask any Democrat to vote for it was, in m\ humble judgment, unwise, unjustifiable and offensive partisanship. Polities ought to have nothing to do with the question of equal rights involved in the movement. The fact that only five Demo- AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>! DK. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOHXSOX. 79 crats in the entire Legislature voted against the bill justifies my position. \\ e here in Albany were on the bridge, so to speak, with Senator Elsberg, and that, too. regardless of party affiliations, and to use the language of Rear-Admiral Schley: "There is glory enough in the vietorv achieved in the passage of the bill to go around." The Elsberg bill is substantially law, and 1 desire to record the fact, and one very gratifying to me, and it is that during the pending of the measure in the Legislature there was no holding back nor skulking on the part of the colored contingent in and around the Capitol. Every colored man possessing any influence whatever, from head-janitor down to and including the unassuming porter, was unsparing in aggressive support of the measure. The praseworthy activity of this colored official contingent ren ders conspicuous the indifference of the colored leaders of Xew York city who. now that the battle is won, will essay to monopolize the credit for the accomplishment of a scheme in which they were only interested at long and at a cheap range. Their desertion of the bill, and the noble effort to pass it was. from my view point, shameful in the extreme. Do these Xew York city leaders expect that measures of the great importance that was involved in the bill could go through the Legislature on the last days of the session, and that, too, when the wording of the bill was such as to cast the responsibility for the original passage of the obnoxious, discriminating school law upon the Republican party, which was in power in both branches of the Legislature in the year 180,4? That the bill was in danger of defeat down to the date of its final passage, just two days before the adjournment, was evident to all. Mr. John E. liruce. of the Colored American, who was in and out of the Capitol dailv, and in the position to know, expressed to me in a written communica tion dated March twentieth, serious doubts of the probability of its passage in its then shape. And the (Governor, who was evidently deeply interested in the matter, was reported by the Xew York Age as having sent in an emergency message to the Legislature, urging its immediate passage. It must be borne in mind that tin bill passed the Senate bv 38 to 5 votes, and the Assemblv without a division. Too much credit cannot be given Senator Elsberg, who intro duced the bill and stood by it to the last; nor should Assemblyman Davis, of the Twenty-seventh District of Xew York, be forgotten. He handled the bill with consummate skill in the Assemblv. The 80 Al ToniOOk.U HY OF DR. WILLIAM JIK.VUY JOHNSON. splendid action of Governor Roosevelt in the matter, from start to finish, was of a character to challenge the approbation and sin cere thanks of every lover of equal rights and of every Xegro man, woman or child in this great Empire State. WM. H. J( HIXSOX, 20 Maiden Lane. Albany. April <) When the insurance bill of this year \vas under consideration before the Senate Committee, February sixth. Dr. Johnson pre sented his able argument; after elaborating his strong and unanswerable legal and just points, he concluded as follows: Gentlemen, in conclusion, I beg that you will permit me to read a few of the scores of letters from prominent gentlemen addressed to you through me, indorsing this measure, asking for a favorable report of the bill by you. its passage by the Legislature and its approval by the executive. They are as follows: T. Thomas Fortune, Editor of the New York Age. As presi dent of the Afro-American League of Xew York State, I am very sure I voice the sentiment of the members of the League when I express the hope that the pending insurance measure for protec tion to Afro-Americans of Xew York State from discriminations, will be passed by the Legislature and become a la\v by the concur rence of the Governor. Charles P. Lee, of Rochester. I heartily applaud and approve of your course in thus again taking the stand in defense of our common rights and justice, wishing you cvcrv success. Willing to add the feebleness of my effort T cheerfully grant the use of my name to whatever worth}- end you inav see fit to employ it in furtherance of this movement. From \\ . F. Johnson, of Brooklyn. I se my name in favor of the passage of the bill. If I had 1,000 names I would be just as willing to put them to such use. Chas. Haley, of Hath. ( )f course, use mv name in anv wnv it may advance the interest of our race. A. M. Thomas, Jr., of Buffalo. I semv name in favor of the anti- discriminating bill. Ft is but an act of simple justice, as well as of sound business principle, and would be another progressive step of enlightened Al TomOGRAPIlY OF J)K. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOHXSOX. 8l legislation, showing" that common sense was battling down ancient prejudices. John T. McDonough, of Albany. The general features of Senate bill Xo. 103, to prevent discrimination against persons of color by life insurance companies ought not to be objectionable to any fair- minded man. These life insurance companies are public corpora tions, and the State has a reserved right to prevent them from making distinctions in their business transactions on account of color. Equal and exact justice is what is required and what your people and every other people ought to demand and receive. Rev. Dr. \V. \Y. Battershall, of Albany. 1 heartily indorse the provisions of Senate bill 103, as tending to rectifv a wrong and unjust discrimination against our colored fellow-citizens. TKOV, J chrnary 6, iKoj. WILLIAM 11. Joiixsox, Eso.: DKAR SJR. You do me the honor of sending me a copy of a bill now pending in the Legislature, and intended to protect colored citizens against discrimination bv life insurance agencies, especially the industrial ones. In answer to your kind letter i take pleasure in saying that I am greatly in favor of life insurance companies, and especially those industrial ones who are a great relief in case of death in poor families, but against the matter of discrimination on account of color or race. 1 would say that this is a great wrong, an injustice which should not be tolerated. I am in favor of every undertaking that helps the poor, and because some may be colored, I pity them all the more for that. T hope, therefore, that this bill will pass and become a law. I am proud, dear sir, to find in you a friend and defender of your people. That you and thev are colored is no crime, but an accident and a misfortune, on account of which you are all the more to be pitied and protected. I know colored people well, having lived many years among them in the South. They generallv are an innocent race and 1 thank Clod that they are free here, and I hope that the time may come when they will be free evervwhere. Thanking you, dear sir, for calling on me by letter. I hope that your advocacy of this humane and Christian law will be successful. It should pass by unanimous consent. Most respectfully, your humble servant in Christ. PETER HAVERMANS, }\istor St. Mary s CJnircJi. 6 cS2 ArTOl .lOCRAIMI Y OK DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. ALP, ANN", I<chnuir\ 3, 1891. MY DEAR MR. IOHNSON.- I have no time to look into the merits of the bill, a copy of which you inclose me, and, of course, I know nothing about it except what you say, but 1 am so absolutely opposed to any discrimination against my colored brethren, in any way whatever, that 1 indorse on the back of the bill, which 1 return to you, a general statement to that effect. Very sincerely your friend, WILLIAM CROSWELL DOAXE, Bisliof of Albany. Judge A. S. Draper, of Albany. I have yours of the 3ist inst.. and in reply thereto, advise you that 1 can see no objection to the bill a copy of which you inclose. It seems to me. that it ought to be supported bv everybody. Indeed, it seems to me strange that there can be necessity for such a measure. F. A. Chew, of Troy.-- Yours of the twenty-third nit., with insur ance bill inclosed, came duly to hand. In replv, would sav that 1 have read the bill carefully, and deem it a wise measure. [os. W. Price, of Albany. 1 believe that 1 speak the sentiment of every colored man, woman and child, not onlv here but in the State, when I pronounce in favor of the suppression of this great wrong- perpetrated against a weak and unsuspecting people by discrimina ting life insurance companies. Chas. H. liutler, of Washington, I). C. As an old Albanian, I want to go on record in favor of the speedy passage of the Chase- Ward bill, a copy of which you sent me. Thornton K. Pellom, of Xewburgh. 1 authorize you to use my name in favor of the Chase-Ward bill, I give it my most hearty approval. John L. Henry, of Whitehall. Use me in the interest of the bill. Hoping that it will pass and our race furthered on a step in the right. Tom. JJ. Clark. Svracuse. L sc mv name by all means, and may God help you to succeed. George A. Johnson, of Ithaca. T heartily commend your effort to secure the passage of the bill to prevent insurance companies dis criminating against our people. If you need them, all our people here will sign, also. AUTOJJJOCRArilY OF DR. WILLIAM 1IEXRY JOHNSON. 83 Fthelbert Evans, of Troy.- -Our league, last night, unanimously indorsed your effort to have the Insurance bill passed. Pierre Barguet, of New York. I se my name. I am decidedly for the bill. F. A. White, of Brockport. Please add my name to your peti tion for equal rights. A. Bolin, of Poughkeepsie. You may use my name; also the name? 1 of my sons in favor of the measure. Chas. H. Lansing, Jr., of Brooklyn. As a protest against such discriminations, I will cheerfully allow the use of my name to a petition for such purpose. Judge Francis H. Woods, of Albany. 1 take pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 3ist instant, inclosing Senate bill Xo. 103, and of stating that I am heartily in favor of its passage by the Legislature to the end of preventing discrimination. MR. \VILLL\M H. Joiixsox: I)I-:AR SIR.- Your letter of the 3ist instant, inclosing Senate bill Xo. 103, introduced by the lion. Senator Chase, has been received. I am unreservedly in favor of the provisions contained in this bill. They are eminently just and proper, and it is my earnest hope and pravcr that the relief asked for by our colored brethren, at the hands of the people of this State, through their representatives in Senate and Assembh, may be speedily presented and that the bill may not fail to become a law. Respectfully, FRANCIS McN 1 FR X FY, /->/.s7/()/> of sllbany. (JKNTLKMEX. This is HIV case. 1 submit it to you in the name of my people, and on behalf of ihe honor and credit of this free State. 1 am not personally interested in either of the discriminating companies, i hold no policies in either. It is the principle affect ing the matter that influences my action in the premises. Loyalty to my State and. country, my love of and pride in my race, together with my trust in Clod impel me to this action. We do not ask von to legislate on social or religious questions, we leave such to be dealt with by individuals; we do not desire to be longer regarded as wards of the State or nation, but as men and fellow- citizens, accepting all responsibilities incumbent upon such. T have faith in the American people. 1 look forward to the complete 84 AI TOMIOCRAIMIY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. triumph of the principles of justice and their being accorded un people not only here hut in the South; all signs point in that direction. I thank God that I am permitted to live just now in this enlight ened and progressive age, to be privileged to look on and contem plate the complete in vesture of my people with the equable badge _of universal brotherhood under the wise and just laws of the State and nation. WAT. IT. JOHNSON. (Albany Capitol, May r, 1891.) DR. \\ M. II. JonNsox, OF ALBANY, WILL DEEIYER His LEC IVKF, LNTITEED LINCOLN, REP.ELEIOX, SLAVERY AND FREEDOM. Press Comments. Dr. Johson s lecture is an original historical product, devoted mainly to that part of the illustrious statesman s official life which bears more especially on the slavery question, and is a correct resume of those historical events. [The Times-l/nion, Albanv. N. Y., June 13, 1895. Dr. Johnson criticizes and praises Air. Lincoln. He holds that the country owes a debt of gratitude to the negro. He tells what the race did toward suppressing the rebellion, and \vhv Mr. Lincoln finally emancipated the slaves. [Albany Argus, June 12, 1895. \Ym. H. Johnson, Esq., Albany, N. Y., recentlv read a paper before his neighbors on Abraham Lincoln and the slavery question, the closing sentence of which is rather sound, don t you think so? " I want you, my countrymen, to survive, to outlive the odious color line in politics and in everything. I want myself to forget and would, if I could -that slavery ever existed in this beautiful land. I would, if it were possible, blot from the pages of American history that period dating from 1861 to 1865, inclusive, and only remember that we arc a nation of free American citizens, one and inseparable, now and forever."-- [The Freeman, Indianapolis, Ind., June 22, 1895. Dr. Johnson s lecture on " Lincoln " is a masterpiece. It is a just tribute to the martyr President and the valor of 1/8,875 black soldiers, who were on the battlefields of the rebellion for God, country and liberty. [Albany Calcium Light. Dr. William H. Johnson delivered a lecture in the Hamilton Street A. M. E. church last evening, presenting Abraham Lincoln ArTOBIOGRAPIIY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOHNSON. 85 and his relation to the negro in a light in which the ordinary citi zen has not been accustomed to viewing him. President Lincoln, according to the lecturer, while demonstrating himself a statesman second to no other man, dead or alive, and commanding admiration from friends and foes, did absolutely nothing for the negro as such, Lincoln, the lecturer maintained, was too great to draw the color line. He did everything for the negro, in that he made it possible for the negro to participate in the suppression of the rebellion and restoration of the Union by mingling his blood upon the same fields with his white comrades. " i address myself," said Dr. Johnson, " to the younger genera tion, especially to the young men of my race. 1 tell you that you are free American citizens without any mortgage resting against von. The country owes you a debt of gratitude for two things: First, for the patient sufferings of your ancestors during the 250 vears or more of enforced bondage at the South for which the general government was responsible. Then for the bravery and heroism displayed by 1/8,975 negro soldiers, your ancestors, that turned the tide in favor of the Union cause. " Lincoln," he said, " desired only that the South should cease hostilities and return to the Union, with its slaves. He wrote in answer to Horace Greeley s appeal, that if he could, as President, restore the Union without freeing a single slave, he would do so. The emancipation proclamation was issued," he said, " because it became a necessity in the affecting of the restoration of the Union. " Mr. Lincoln saw the rebellion could not be crushed without the aid of the negroes as armed allies, so he said so, and made the declaration over his own official signature without reservation." The lecturer closed with an appeal to his fellow-countrymen to survive and to outlive the odious color line in politics and every where else. [Albany Journal, June 12, 1895. Calcium Light. ALIJAXY, April 2, 1892. The dinner given by the John Peterson s Association on St. Pat rick s Day eclipsed all previous events of the kind. The table, which was spread in the banquet hall, was in the form of a " T." At the head was seated in a group around the headline of the " T " those who were to do the speech-making. They were George \Y. Myers, president of the association; the Hon. F. Douglass, Rev. Dr. II. A. Munroe, Dr. John W. A. Thompson, T. Thomas Fortune, of the Age, the aggressive Afro-American Republican edi- 86 ArTonmr.RAPiiY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOHNSON. lor; C. \\ . Anderson, Esq., the silver-tongued orator, of New York city; R. .11. Smith, President of the Society of the Sons of Xe\v York; I. II. (.). Austin, C. 11. Lansing , |r., of Urooklyn, who looks, dresses and talks so much like and is so apt in his after-dinner speeches as Dr. Chauncey Depew that he has deservingly gained the title of being the Afro-American Chauncey Depew; Charles M. Herrian and Win. II. Johnson, of Albany. W. E. Gross, the ex-president, sat at the toot ot the table and delivered the address of welcome. [/ ///. //. Johnson s \/v<v/?. MR. CHAIRMAN. This being the anniversary of Ireland s patron saint, also your illustrious preceptor, I may be permitted possibly, in lieu of an after-dinner speech, a thing I am unused to, to draw a lesson from the lives of these two deserved saints. * Patricius, according to tradition, was born of free and noble patronage at a place called " Kilpatrick " in Scotland, in the year of our Lord 411. lie lived to reach the ripe age of eighty-i \v<> years. During the wars between the Picts and the Romans, whose conquests over England were at that time complete, at the age of fifteen he was captured by the Picts, carried a bondman to Ireland, and remained there in abject slaver v for six years, lie had, by nature, a brave, generous and lovable disposition and soon became imbued with the spirit of religion, having received at home and when a mere lad the rudimental and fundamental instructions in the doctrines of the Christian church. Although he was a youth. a Roman in a strange land among strangers, he consecrated his thoughts to Christ and offered his prayers for freedom that he might devote the balance of his life to the service of the church and the elevation of the Irish people, whom he had learned to love. His prayers were answered. Freedom came to him in some mysterious manner, aided, as he always believed, by Divine Providence. His escape was effected to the continent. There he entered a monastery, was educated and ordained a priest, returned to Ireland, consecrated his life to God s service and became Ireland s patron saint and has ever since been known as St. Patrick. To-day the anniversary of St. Patrick is observed all over the civilized world where the Christian religion has a foothold. It is a happy coincidence that the anniversary of Ireland s patron saint and the anniversary of the birth of the distinguished scholar, Rev. lohn Peterson, should fall on the same dav. St. Patrick was REPRESEXTATIVE;NEWSPAPEJR MEN, Albjinv. N. Y, HON. WILLIAM H. KEELEK. RICHARD KELLKY, Of Troy, N. Y. Born in Brunswick County, Va. An aggressive Republican of Hensi<claer County, and a veteran of the Civil War. A PENNY SHORT. HUN. LYMAN H. BEVANS, Recorder. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. QI born in freedom, reduced to slavery, transported to a foreign land, adopted it as his home, became the Christian leader of its people, the stimulator of their best thoughts and founded the basis of their unwavering faith in ( Jod. Rev. John Peterson was horn a freeman, an offspring of noble ancestry, who, like St. Patrick, was stolen and transported to a for eign shore. Your dead, revered preceptor was to you a patron saint in scholarship, in moral and intellectual training. You do well in Leather around this festive board on this historical dav to do honor o to the memory of those two distinguished Christians and scholars. For, it seems to me, that whilst honoring the one directly you but honor the other bv implication; the one an adopted Irishman, a preserver, defender and teacher of the Christian religion; the other a native American, the descendant of an illustrious ancestry of sunny Africa. lie was vour preceptor and intellectual father. Your love and reverence for the- Rev. John Peterson entitles you to the highest commendation. I know personally little of him. 1 never saw him, but once, then his presence filled me with admira tion and profound respect. 1 was sensible of the fact that I stood in the presence of one of ( lod s noble works. The lesson to be drawn from a comparison or by association of the names of these two illustrious sons of men is that the one, an adopted Irishman, once a slave, became Ireland s patron saint and was one of. if not, the most distinguished Christian law-givers of the fourth century. The other, an Afro-American, a member of a once proscribed race, became distinguished because of his great learning and pro found piety. It matters little where, when or how a man is born, his life and his death makes the indelible record, having been written on daily tablets, upon which his memory is condemned or extolled. Involuntary thraldom entails no stigma or disgrace upon the nobility of free-minded human being. " Cod moves in mysterious wavs. His wonders to perform. Cod bless St. Patrick s devotees. Cod bless John Peterson s pupils. God bless you all. Jo FIX BROWN S BIRTHDAY. CfcLlilJRATF.D 15V CoLORET) ClTIZENS IN CoNNKCTFON \YlTH THE SIGNING OF THE ELSBERG BILL. Iii accordance with the call of Bishop Alexander \Yalters, of the Xational Afro- American Council, the colored citizens of Albany gathered at the Hamilton Street A. M. E. church last night to ()2 AL TOmOGKAPJJY OF DR. WILLIAM IIE^RY JOTfXSOX. celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Drown and to express their approval of the passage of the Elsberg School Hill, which makes discrimination against colored children impos sible. The meeting was well attended and the enthusiasm was unbounded. The meeting was called to order by William 11. Johnson, who, in a few well-chosen words, explained its purpose, lie said: " [olin Brown was not a fanatic as many would have us think, lie was for humanity and did more for the colored race than any other man." After inviting to the platform Sergeant Garrv Jefferson, of the Thirty-first Colored Regiment; Sergeant Albert Ouallis, of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York Volunteers: John E. Mruce, Richard Kelly, of Troy, and the Rev. C. M. Gibbons, he read letters of regret from Governor Roosevelt, flavor Blessing, Speaker Xixon, Congressman Glynn, E. E. Cooper, editor of the " Colored American;" William Barnes, Jr., Jacob A. Cantor, Bishop Alex ander Walters, Senator Horace White, Hooker T. Washington. J. C. White, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pa., and District Attorney Dyer. Recorder L} man H. Bevans was then introduced as permanent chairman, and the program opened with an address, "The Growth of Public Conscience," by the Rev. James M. Boddy, A. M., of Troy, an eloquent young minister. He was followed b\ John A. Howe, Jr., who recited Ingersoll s " Address to the Survivors of the Army of the Potomac." Leo H. Graham recited, and Mrs. L. J. Mann sang a solo, after which the choir and audience sang "John Brown s Body Lies a Mouldering in the Grave." Addresses were made by a number of prominent men present, among whom was John T. McDonough, Secretary of State. Airs. Elizabeth Cisco, of Long Island, to whom is due great credit for her work on the Elsberg Bill, was introduced. Mrs. Cisco received an ovation and at the invitation of Mr. Johnson held a reception. Resolutions read by J. T. Chapman were adopted thanking and commending " Senator X. A. Elsberg, who, regardless of deter mined opposition and unfair criticism, stood by it until his efforts were crowned with success." Governor Roosevelt, to whom all honor is due. " A man worthy of the highest commendation, a good citizen, soldier, statesman, one whose grand achievements on the field of battle and in diplomacy, whose fairness, justness and fearlessness as an executive, place us under an imperishable obliga tion." Thanks were extended to the legislators who supported the bill, and to Mrs. Elizabeth Cisco. The resolution savs: "To no Al ToliroCR. \IMIY OF DR. WILLIAM HEXRY JOHNSON*. 93 one person, living" or dead, is the State of \ew York under greater obligations for the complete obliteration of raeial discrimination than to this splendid representative." THURSDAY, May 10, 1900. Secretary of State John T. McDonough was one of the orators at the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown at the Hamilton Street A. M. E. church, Wednesday night, and after cracking a number of good jokes at the expense of Dr. William II. Johnson, he began to speak of the passage of the Elsbcrg School Bill. Air. McDonough said that Dr. Johnson and others were deserving of great praise, but that the people had for gotten " that little woman, Miss Elizabeth Cisco, of Jamaica, L. I., to whom the most credit is due." Just as he was about to take up another topic Dr. Johnson asked Miss Cisco to stand up. Miss Cisco, who weighs in the vicinitv of 200 pounds, and who is well proportioned, stood up and, with a smile, looked at Mr. McDonough, who was completely staggered. The audience got on in a moment and v burst into a roar of lauerhter. ALBANY, X. Y., March 8. DKAR MR. JOHNSON. I have read with much interest and pleas ure the article in the Calcium Eight and your speech on Frederick Douglass, the latter published in the Evening Post under date March sixth. I return the two copies and thank you for the pleas ure given me. Sincerelv yours, |( )I1\ G. MYERS. ALP.ANY, March n, 1895. MY DF.AR JOHNSON. I have just received and read in the Albany Evening Post, which you sent me, your address on the occasion of the Douglass Memorial, and I thank you. J think you paid an appreciative and just tribute to a very remarkable man - remarkable in so many respects and not the least in that he had such a kind of common sense that he didn t lose his head under an 94 AUTOP.KHiR. \IMIY ()!- DR. WILLIAM IIH.VRY JOHNSON . almost unparalleled flattery early, and especially in Europe, lie knew his work and never lost sight of it. 1 lonored be his name and memory. Way back in the 40 $ and early 5o s, living next door to Mrs. E. C. Stanton, I first saw and met Air. Douglass there. Hastily, Yours truly, FRANK CHAMBERLAIN. ALHANY, X. Y., September 2, 1884. WILLIAM H. Jonxsox, Eso.: DEAR SIR. 1 take pleasure in informing you that at a meeting of the Invincible Rlainc and Logan Club, held September i, 1884. yon were unanimously elected an honorary member thereof. Trusting that the history of the past two campaigns, in which our club has had the honor to participate, may be repeated at ihe coming election, and that our club may contribute in some wav. at least, to that result, I remain. Respectfully yours, HOWARD GRAHAM, ( Corresponding Srcrctiirv. TMF. STANDARD. ( Published every Friday at 4*; Church street, Lexington, Kv.. b\ the Intelligence Publishing Company, Incorporated.) J. E. I>Krri: LKTTKK. Something about William H. Johnson, of Albany, X. Y. lie is the Avowed Champion of Xegro Manhood, but He is on the Wrong Side of the Fence An Excerpt from a Speech Delivered in 1859. Probably one of the most unique characters in Xew York State politics to-day is Dr. William H. Johnson, of Albany, who belongs to that class of humanity which is designated "self-made." He was born in Yirginia, and left that State because it wasn t large enough to accommodate his ideas as to what constituted manhood. He has lived in Xew York State over forty years, and for forty years has-been aggressively battling for Xegro manhood. He was for a number of years identified with the Republican party of the State, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 95 but because of the cowardice and treachery of certain Republican leaders in a matter which affected the rights of his race the passage of the civil rights bill he left the Republican party and cast his fortunes with the Democratic party. Since that period lie has been a sort of a free lance, he is as independent as " a hog on ice/ and never hesitates, when occasion requires, to blast not only Republicans, who are false to the Xegro, but the members of his own party, lie is very popular with all classes of Albanians and highly respected by the representative men of all parties, lie is more of a Xegro than a partisan, and only uses parties as a means lo an end. 1 have before me a speech made by this remarkable Xegro gentleman before the Banneker Institute, of Philadelphia, I a., |uly 4, 1859, from which I will quote an excerpt to show the kind and quality of the gray matter in his head: " 1 say to you, my fellow disfranchised American citizens, go on, the pure doctrine of our fathers must and will prevail; the principle upon which Amer ican independence was declared and sustained will yet ride out of the darkness which has for a number of years hung over it. The day is not distant when the proper spirit will actuate the American people and render universal emancipation a matter of necessity, and slavery will be known only in history. All the civilized nations in the world are now acknowledging the right of freedom to all mankind and America must sooner or later follow in their wake. This is encouraging to the American slave for he is a man endowed by his Creator with all the attributes that other men have, and should be free. So says the declaration of our independence." Air. Johnson discouraged the custom which obtained among colored men of burning the Constitution of the L nited States and the Declaration of Independence on each Fourth of July, on the ground that the fathers of the Revolution meant that black men should be comprehended in the latter document, and that because their descendants refused to acknowledge the just claims of the Xegro to share in its benefits and provisions, we were not justified in assailing the motives of the fathers, because their sons proved faith less and recreant to duty. The fathers loved justice and were will ing to accord it to the faithful blacks who helped them to break down British rule in the colonies and to establish this government upon an enduring foundation. The validity of a will made by a man in the possession of all his faculties, and in accordance with the forms of law, could not be affected by the objections of his heirs. As a legal instrument it must stand and will stand; the Declara tion of independence is the will of the men who made the Republic, 96 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HHXKY JOHXSON. and it will stand as long- as the Republic itself. The day will come when the American people will gladly comply with its generous and patriotic provisions and assure to the Xegro every right and privilege enjoyed by other citizens of the Republic. 1 am quite willing to subscribe to this sentiment because it is the kind of talk 1 like, and smacks of the patriot and statesmen. I saw to-day a bust of Charles Stunner in the parlor of Mr. Johnson, which was executed by Kdmonia Lewis, of Rome, and personally presented to him by this Xegro sculptress. [. E. BRUCE. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM I1KNRY JOHNSON. (}/ CHAPTER V. Tin-: XEGRO CITIZEN. 1 1 is Constitutional Prerogatives mid Obligations. (Discussed by Dr. Wm. II. Johnson. ) The Xegro problem forms a subject that is agitating the public mind. Thoughtful men of both races are looking for its unravel- ment. There are being held all over the country meetings at which much indignation has been expressed, and the general government has been the subject of censure, because of its alleged apathy in dealing with the Ivnchers. The mass meeting held in the Concord Baptist Church, under the auspices of the " Female Lundy Society," was a notable departure from the general rtde, in that it was not an indignation meeting, but one at which a free and untrammeled discussion of the race trouble was gone into. The primary object was to hud not only the cause that underlies the difficulties, but to have pointed out a wav to reach the beginning of the road that would lead to a practicable solution of the vexed question. A contribution to the columns of " The Colored American." pub lished at Washington, D. C., draws a parallel between the favorable attitude of Kx-1 resident (Irant. as against President McKinlev s apparent attitude against the Xegro. in view of this erroneous sentiment, it seems to me that 1 will be pardoned for going into a discussion of the matter without prejudice against or ill-will toward any man, witli the sole purpose to right a wrong done toward the government, to my race and to the white South. 1 am a Xegro American citizen, a subject of this great Republic, proud of my race and my citizenship, standing first and last by and for mv country, whether she is right or wrong; when she is wrong, to help make her right; when right, to help keep her so. I am, consequently jealous of my country s honor, and am prepared in mv humble province to help defend her proud escutcheon from assaults bv foes, be thev at home or abroad. It is this attitude; my love for the honor of the old flag which waves its protection over the citizen, white or black, native born and naturalized, in conformity to the Federal Constitution as legally interpreted by the highest 98 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. judicial authority the Supreme Court. It is this loyalty that impels me to expose the fallacies and assumptions of the would-be- Negro leaders, who like the incompetent French officer led his followers up the hill, and then ingloriously followed them down again. They, the critics, are wrong in their assumptions, in their premises, in their deductions, wrong from start to finish, the evi dence is all against them. They start out in their tirade against Air. McKinley by playing, so to speak, to the galleries, in that they eulogize the late President Grant a braver, nobler or more patriotic American never lived. \Ye all raise our hats and bow out- heads at the bare mention of the names of the martyred Lincoln and the heroic General U. S,. Grant. Still we detest the hypocrite and political trickster, who uses the name of either to defame the high character of AJr. McKinley or any other of our great Presidents. I want to say that every President of the United States, from and including Air. Lincoln, down to and including the present incum bent, have exerted their best endeavors to protect and promote the best interests of the Xegro. Do 1 mean to include Mr. Ex-President Cleveland in the category of Presidents who have safe-guarded the rights of the Xegro? I do most emphatically. Air. Cleveland was not an exception, he performed his duty as chief magistrate of the government in accordance with his oath of office. The Presidents have all done so, excepting per haps Hon. James Buchanan, who could not understand how a State or States in open rebellion against the government did not forfeit their constitutional prerogatives State rights. The Constitution is clear and mandatory upon the subject of State rights. I am a State rights man. I could not be otherwise, and be a loyal citizen of this government. I am not in accord and don t want to be with the self-established negro leaders whose object is to mislead as to facts for selfish purposes. 1 am a believer in the principle of State sovereignty, because to deny it would force me to repudiate the Constitution, and that 1 will never do. Let me quote some provisions of the Constitution; the fundamental law of this land in support of my position. Let us take article 9 of that instrument which reads as follows: "The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be con strued to deny or disparage others retained by the people/ This is the verbatim language of the Constitution on the subject of State sovereignty. It is a clear and concise affirmation of the principles always contended for by the South upon which is based their claim to regulate their internal or domestic affairs. Upon this ground .U"r<)|;l<>(,kAPIiY OF DR. WILLIAM 11LXKY JOltXSOX. 99 the States deny the power of the general government to invade the State in time of peace to quell internal disturbance, other than bv request of the Legislature or the (Governor thereof. The framers of tiie Constitution seem to have been desirous to emphasize their meaning of the principle of State rights, for in the next article - article 10. we find this language: The powers not delegated to the I nited States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to it by the States, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people." If this language means anything tangible, it means that the people of the several States possess exclusive power and jurisdiction over their internal affairs. Jlence the negro, comprising part of the people, is not exempt from his constitutional obligations, and the President of the I nited States, whether he be a Republican or a Democrat, is stopped from interfering with the internal affairs of the States except in compliance with the demand of the State government. In further support of this proposition, I call your attention to article 4. section 4, which provides as follows: "The I nited States shall guarantee to every State in the union, a Republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature or of the executive (when the Legisla ture cannot be convened) against domestic violence." Now, I. want any of the critics of Air. J resident McKinlev, to tell me how. in view of express and mandatory provisions of the funda mental organized law of the I nited States, the President can invade the States with the armed forces of the government to sup press mob violence unless called upon to do so bv State authority? 1 hey praise Lx-1 resident ( irant for using the I nited States forces, under General 1 hil. Sheridan s command, to suppress and wipe out the. " Klu Klux Clan." in Xorth Carolina and other States under going reconstruction, and they fail to state that at that time, during the eight years that ( Jcncral (irant was President, from i8o<j to 1877, the Confederate States were undergoing the process of reconstruc tion under the immediate direction of a Republican Congress ami the military genius of the man who declared that he would "fight it out. on this line if it took all summer." That the executive and the Legislature of all those States were of the same party faith with the President and Congress, in each of their States that there was a preponderance of negroes and northern white men in office, and that the military power dominated the entire South, and that the white men of the South, because of the rebellion, were under the IOC AUTOBIOGRAPHY ()F DR. WILLIAM IlI<:.\ + RV laws of Congress disfranchised and, like the southern negro of to-day, were powerless to protect themselves. [ resident Grant never violated his constitutional oath of office (as is implied in the article referred to). President Grant acted with and by the express request of the executive and Legislature of the State governments undergoing reconstruction in the maintenance of their J)e Jurey statutes. The United States forces were right fully used by him in the process of reconstruction, in obedience to article 4, section 4 of the Constitution, and not in opposition to the State government. When the southern States were reconstructed, fully under and in sympathy with the political party then in power at Washington, President Hayes, by virtue of the power he possessed as President of the United States, and with the approval of Congress, withdrew the armed forces from the South, and by solemn proclamation declared the process of reconstruction complete. Thus everv southern State was, by the proclamation of the President, readmitted to the sisterhood of States just as though there had been no war. The President s critics charge him directly with the failure of the Baker jury to agree to a verdict of conviction. They say the trial was a fizzle, that it was to make capital for William McKinley in 1900. Sheer nonsense. They say that the venue ought to have been changed to a court outside of South Carolina or any otlicr southern State, that no white man ever was or ever will be con victed in the South for killing a Xegro, etc. If this were true (but it is not) 1 would have to pray: "Good Lord, help, oh help mv people." If the southern Xegro cuts loose from his fool friends at the Xorth, and places his dependence upon his true friends at the South, he will soon be in a right position. The Federal Constitution limits trials of lawbreakers to the State where the crime is committed. (See article 6.) Jt declares that " in all criminal prosecution, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained bv law:" X ow, as to the facts in the case. President AlcKinley, at the urgent and persistent importunities of the colored Republicans of South Carolina, appointed Mr. Fraser J. Baker, a Republican Xegro, postmaster of Lake City, of that State, against the protest of the dominant whites of that section. Baker was inducted into office. The opposition of the whites was pronounced. They almost to a Al. TOTUOr.RAPITY OF DR. WTLLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. IO\ man demanded his removal. The Negroes of his and the President s party Xorth and South insisted upon his retention. He was retained by the I resident. On the night of January 7, 1898, a mob sur rounded Maker s house, applied the torch, and as Haker came out he was brutallv shot to death, his wife was wounded, and his infant baby, in its mother s arms, was also shot to death. This dastardly outrage was committed by a mob of low-down whites, solely because Maker was a Republican Xegro postmaster, the appointee of a Republican President, upon the demand of the Xegroes at the His critics knew all this, still they seek to blacken the fame of the executive bv implication of I resident AlcKinley, who, in the minds of all true race-loving and loval Xegro Americans, has proven him self the true friend of both races, south and north. ( Hher crimes committed in the South against my race were regarded as nothing compared to this. Here was a case, a crime against the majesty of the general government, one of which the government must take cognizance of, and it did. The best element ot humanity south and north sympathizes with the surviving family of the murdered Maker and demand retribution at the hands of justice. P>v command of the President, the Department of Justice, at Washington, inaugurated and prosecuted a determined effort to bring the culprits to the bar of justice; this effort resulted in the arrest of thirteen of the leading conspirators who were brought to trial in the city of Charleston, S. C., in the Cnited States District Court of that State. The presiding judge was I nited States Justice Brawley, who is not a creature of the President. He was and is a federal judge, holding a life term of office. The President has no more control over him or over the selection of the jury than he could have over the court-martial that will re-try the much-abused Captain Dreyfus in France. All the forms of law under the Con stitution were complied with. Skilled counsel, northern men with northern sympathy for the blacks, and interested in maintaining the honor and dignitv of our country, were employed by the govern ment. At the trial, two of the conspirators became penitent, turned State s witnesses, and testified in detail to the horrors of the lynch ing. The case was argued on both sides, and submitted to the jury by a judge whose prejudice had been enlisted against the Xegroes by the hurtful utterances sent into the south land by indiscreet agitators of the tvpe 1 condemn. After long deliberation the jurv returned a verdict of disagreement, eight standing for acquittal and four for conviction. IO2 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WIT/LI AM HENRY JOHNSON. 1 have given a clear, unvarnished statement of facts touching the power of the general government to interfere in the interest of the Xegro South. The government can only deal with the citizens of the States through the government of the States. This is true whether the citizen is white or black. This every Xegro ought to know, and then govern himself accordingly. Mad the accused in the Baker case been convicted, the President would have possessed under the Constitution power to enforce* the decree ot the court, and would doubtlesslv have done so, if it required the service s of every soldier and sailor in the United States. This government does not derive power from heredity succession as -does ( ircat Britain, Russia and ( lermany. This is not a hereditary monarchy, but it is a combination of sovereign States, deriving power from tin- States and the people thereof. All power not granted to the gov ernment bv the Constitution is retained bv the States and the people, citizens of the United States, are all upon an equal basis before the law. It there ever was anv doubt upon this point, it was happilv removed b\ the adoption of the (i-|th) amendment, which reads: "All persons born or naturalized in the I nited States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the I nited States and of the States \\lierein they reside. Xo State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the I nited States," etc. Here you find the reaffirmation of the principle, that the citizen is only readied through the State, and never directly. \\ e are living in a progressive age. Men to exert influence must keep up with and abreast of the times. As regards the manv sug gested schemes to solve the race problem, I regard none with favor that in anv manner suggest deportation, emigration ami colonization, or internal diffusion. They are all hurtful to the best interests of my race, who mean to stay here and like true citizens as they are, fight out this battle of life like men. 1 am glad that the Xegro is a citizen of this country, a factor in her development, shar ing in her glory, willing to suffer part of the white man s burden. I am hopeful of the speedy acceptance of my race as equal in the body politic. The flag of the Union, with its alternate stripes of red and white, and its field of blue with stars representing the sovereignty of forty- five States, affords good enough protection for me and mine. There is no good reason why the southern white man and the southern black m;m should not live in peace and harmony along the lines suggested bv Booker T. Washington, Bishops Gaines and ublished bv Thui THE I, AST MOMENTS OF JOHN BKOWN. MS Hovendon aud Frederick Josling & Co., New York, about 1834. NAN A, THE WHITE SLAVE. f M {$!$ MfMM <TATKSMl-:\. (Jov. THEODORE KOOSKVELT, Wlio signed the Anti-Discriminating School Law of 11)00, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. TO? I lood, John C. I )ancy. Dr. L. A. Struggs, J. W. Lyons, Register of llie Treasury, Ex-Governor Pinchback and other raee leaders of their type. 1 believe that it is not onlv possible but probable that this country under its beneficient and intelligent form of national and State government will surpass any other nation on the face of the globe in durability, in liberality, and in the march of civilization, educa tion and religion. I am an expansionist; I rejoice at the onward, aggressive and glorious extension of the domain of the United States. I am glad to see that we have reached out an arm and planted our flag upon soil beyond the seas. There is no color line in my philosophy. Constitutional preroga tives and obligations are the natural legitimate and logical inherit ances of the citizen to be shared alike by all, regardless of race, color or condition. The southern white man . believes that the Xegro wants to domineer and rule; the Xegro doesn t ijuite comprehend his consti tutional rights and responsibility, and banks too much upon assump tion. 1 know that there is a bad and lawless element of the Xegro as well as the white man at the South; both ought to be suppressed. The good name, the future happiness of the law-abiding Xegro demands that he should help suppress the bad element. The sweeping denunciation of the white South, upon general principles, will not do it. It is wrong; it does not help the Xegro at the North. It hurts the X egro at the South. There is upward of eighty-five millions of people basking under the sunshine of this nation s flag; of that number there are but ten million X^egroes. The indiscreet meddlesome northern Xegro and the lawless south ern Negro have forced the white South against us; and two-thirds of the white X orth, in the event of trouble, would not be for us, against the white South. Blood is thicker than water. Race prejudice will always exist to more or less extent. T do not appre hend a race war: but should one come, it will be justly charged up against the egotistical, self-appointed Negro leaders, who will not listen to the logic of current events, who, for political aggrandize ment or mercenary gain, are unmindful of the welfare of their race. Governor Roosevelt, in his speech at Rochester, at the unveiling of the Douglass statue, spoke truthfully when he said that " We have seen infamous scenes in the X orth as well as in the South. We have seen infamous crimes punished still more infamously. T would have both the white and the colored man pursue relentlessly those who disgrace the race to which they belong. T would impress every 168 AUTOBTOC.R. \PITY OF DR. WTLLTAM HENRY JOHNSON. man who takes part in a lynching, that lie not only ])cr])etrates a wrong to the colored man, but that lie disgraces his nation. Such scenes sear the souls of all who take part in them." Never were truer words spoken; all can subscribe to them. \\ c are not without strong and influential friends at the South as at the North. Xote the manly utterance of Ex-Governor Northern, of ( icorgia, in his famous speech at lioston, June 8th, last; he said: " 1 am the friend of the Negro in my State, and they recognize in me one of their strongest defenders. The South has made one great mistake, attributable, I am sure, to poverty and the bitterness engendered by reconstruction, in failing to rear a monument to the slaves of 1860 to 1865, for their unceasing devotion to our homes and the gallant protection they gave to the women and children of the South all through the dark days of our bloody civil strife. If anything like it has occurred in the history of nations, I have never read it. All honor and gratitude to the old-time Negro, as we knew him before and during the war." When the mob arrested the Negro preacher. Lige Strickland, as an accomplice of Sam llose, on the plantation of Major Thomas, at Palmetto, (ia., the grey-headed old confederate soldier defended Strickland. This aroused the mob, and a messenger was sent t> advise Major Thomas to leave Palmetto for his own good; but the old gentleman was not frightened, lie drew himself up and said emphatically: " I have never been before ordered to leave a town, and I am not going to leave this one." And then the major. uplifting his hand to give his words force, said to the messenger: Tell them the muscles in my legs are not trained to running: tell them I have stood the fire and heard the whistle of minnies from a thousand Yankee rifles, and I am not frightened by this crowd." Major Thomas was not molested. Note, again, the attitude of fustice James Aldrich, of Columbia, S. C., in his charge to a jury in an assault case against virtue, alleged to have been committed by a Xegro. He declares that, " Behind the hand of the lynchers may be the power of Samson, but in the exercise of that power they pull down the temple of justice upon the heads of themselves and their families and their posterity, and in place of peace and order, civilization and Christianity, they would hurl the country into the lap of barbarism. A land without la\v is a land without liberty; and a land without liberty is a land where the powerful oppress the weak- -where might makes right." Arrol .KMiRAPHY OF DR. \\JL1JAM HliKRY JOHXSOX. 1OO, 1 want now to have you note the action of Governor Bradley, of < ieorgia, in his prompt suppression of the " White Caps," when they attempted to oust the colored employes out of the Kincade mines, at Griffin, in that State, on the 2(1 of May last. When the situation was made known, lie responded promptly, and in an hour s time the Griffin Rifles were in their armory awaiting order from Judge Hammond. The mavor also ordered all the police force on dntv. The colored employes were protected. Xote, again, the splendid utterance of Judge Kmery Speer, at Macon, Ga., June 6th. Me said: "The punishment of criminals must be kept within the bounds of civilization and within the pale of the law. The contrary course is debasing and effective only in delaying fixed correction and prevention. J solemnly assert with a full knowledge of the import of what I say, that the crimes that have so inflamed the white people of this country against the Xegro race, are foreign to these people, whom 1 have known and loved since my childhood and whom I will know and love until my eyes are closed in death." Xeed I instance other evidences or professions of friendship for m\ race expressed bv white men at the South." In view of these facts. I am at a loss to understand why the Xegro South don t en-operate with the white South, with the power that can and will. if trusted, stand by and protect him from mob violence. The war of the rebellion is in the dead past; all animosity should be buried with the past. We are all American citizens, and as such should go forward regardless of the past, living in the real present. In 180^ and 1866. lynching was rampant at the Xorth. The Xegro was then the undermost dog in the fight, as he is to-day at the South. Xegroes were mobbed, their property destroyed and their lives sacrificed in defiance of right and justice. Orphan asylums were burned to the ground in Brooklyn, only because they were Xegro institutions. Colored men were hanged to lamp-posts until dead in the great city of Xew York, for no other cause than race hatred. Xegroes were shut out of the public schools, and. in this goodly city of Albanv, curtains were drawn to separate the white and the black people in some churches. I know and testify to the absolute truth fulness of these facts. 1 was a living protesting witness of such sins. To-day, the State of Xew York leads in the van of States that accord and maintain equal rights for all. To-day, a Xegro judge presides over the Recorder s Court, passes judgment upon and sends to the penitentiary black and white convicts alike, and exercises in chambers Supreme Court prerogatives. iiO AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>F J)K. WILLIAM I1KXRY jOlIXSONf. What has been accomplished here can be accomplished South. If the intelligent country and race-loving Xegro citizens join hands with the strong men of both geographical sections in efforts to expand the glorious onward march of our impregnable and com mon country, all would be well. A word upon the subject of representatives to Congress. There has been so much said that is misleading, that, in my way of think ing, an explanation is in order. There are many good people Xortli and South, who assume that the enumeration is made upon the basis of the elector (the voter), and that Congress controls the matter. Such is not altogether the case. Under the Constitution the enu meration is based upon the number of the inhabitants of the States, the word inhabitant meaning citizens, men, women and children, born in the United States or naturalized. See article I, section 2, clause 3, which says: " Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this union accord ing to their respective numbers." Now, take article 14, section 2 of the amended Constitution, it provides that " But when the right to vote at anv election for the choice of electors for President and A ice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes. The 1 basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State." Under this amendment Congress possesses the power to reduce the number of Representatives from the southern States, that in their Constitution abridge or reduce the voting strength of the State for any causes enumerated in article 14. But will this help a Repub lican Congress to enact a law to that effect in view of the fact that, by such reduction, the party s strength in its national convention would also be reduced. I want to say, from long personal experi ence, that neither political party care a rap for the voter, be lie white or black, that doesn t bring grist to their mill ; hence the solicitude of the Republican party for the southern Xegro is in a great measure influenced by the fealty of that element of convention- making power. The friends of every Presidential candidate in national Republican convention look to the Xegro Republican of the South to form the bala.nce of power in their candidate s favor. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. HI When it is understood that the basis of representation to national conventions is based upon the principle that governs the representa tives to Congress, it is easy to understand why neither party is likely to favor a change, that will in the one case reduce its power in Con gress from the South, and in the other cause a reduction of its strength in its national conventions. The logical deduction, drawn from these premises, is that the Xegro citizen must accept the situa tion just as he finds it, just as it is to-day. He must rest his case upon the same foundation that the white citizen does, on the Con stitution as it is to day, and pool his interest with the State and local factors wherever he resides, and that too without regard to previous political affiliation. Self-preservation is, if not the just law of nature, a verv healthy one just the same. This is mv solution of the race question. We made the fight for civil, equal and political rights here upon these lines. This is not party politics. It is common sense, self-reliance, self-protection; it means the full recognition of the Xegro as a man and citizen, not only at the North, but at the South, by the people of the I nited States. I have before me a copy of the Evening Standard, published at \e\v Bedford. Mass., Tune 2^d. It contains the full text of the adopted report read by the chairman, Dr. I). P. Brown, of the Committee on the State of the Country, at a session of the Annual Conference of the New England A. M. E. church. In said report the following reference is made regarding the Governor of New York: " If before his election as Governor of Xew York, Roosevelt called our soldiers brave men and spoke in the highest terms of them, yet, since his election, he calls these same soldiers cowards shame on such a man who could contradict himself; which only shows to the world his only desire was to secure the black man s vote." 1 would like to know what is the matter with my old friend Dr. Brown and the Annual Conference? The assertion that our ( Governor ever called colored soldiers cowards is far from being true. Will the good doctor, or some of his conferrees, tell when, where and under what circumstances the leader of the " Rough Riders " uttered the sentiments they attribute to him? It strikes me that the time is opportune for the Afro-American citizen to cease unpatriotic fault-finding, unfair criticism and mis representation of the government s public servants, and manifest some patriotic sentiment. There has been much criticism because Negro troops, put in the field, are not officered by colored com- 112 AUTOBIOGRAPHY ()K DR. WILLIAM 11KXRY JOHNSON. manders; the writers of this kind of stuff do not know what thev are talking- about. I venture to say that not one of them has ever been under fire. These critics, as a rule, are the ones who stay at home until the danger of invasion drives them into the woods; the rank and file of my raee do not approve of their action. This is apparent by the thousands who enlisted and served through the Spanish-American war, many of whom received honorable mention in general orders, and, valuable medals for bravery in the field along the fire line. I venture also to declare that, if the government wishes, it can in sixty days recruit one hundred thousand patriotic Negroes to help maintain the honor of "Old (ilory," at home or abroad; and that too without stopping to question the complexion of the men placed in command, so long as they are fitted for the service by education, intelligence, experience and discretion. The Xegro eligible to enter the service will do so upon the patriotic principles that actuated the brave men of the Xinth and Tenth Cavalry and the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Tnfantrv. and abide their time to win the shoulder-strap, the bar, the leaf, the eagle and the star. [Everybody s Paper and Magazine, September, 1800. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM J1EXRV IOIIXSOX. CHAPTER VI. UNCONDITIONAL RKITMLICAN CIAT, OF ALISAXV, X. Y. Excursion to the Republican A ational i on i cntwn at Philadelphia-. My tri]> to Philadelphia with the famous Unconditional Club, upon the sound steamer, Shinnecock, was delightful. I confess that I was a little under the weather from sea-sickness during our trip from Sandy I look to the Delaware break-water. P>ut that was dis counted by the heart} and earnest welcome that 1 met with upon my reaching the good old town of my young manhood. I mean the most delightful citv that I have ever struck Philadelphia. "\\ e reached there about ten o clock i*. M., Monday, and had a short street parade. M \ heart filled with gratification when the column turned out of liroad street into Pino, where 1 received a most wel come salutation from Misses Dora Cole and Henrietta Fdwards, who were in company with Fred Van Vranken, of this city. It was then about twelve, midnight. 1 left the ranks and wended mv wav to mv sister s, Airs. Martha A. (ames, residence, \^2$ Fit/ water street, who, with her two daughters, Fmma and Martha, and son, William II.. received me in their open arms. This was the night of the eighteenth of June. Earlv the next morning L dropped into the Douglass Memorial Hospital, 1512 Lombard street, where I met Dr. Alossell and his efficient medical staff. After calling mv attention to the bust of Sumner, which occupies a conspicuous place in the office, he invited me to visit his residence, where 1 had the pleasure to be presented to his madam. 1 found her to be a delight ful lady, a deep and sound thinker, and a brilliant writer. Mrs. Mossell is a woman to challenge the admiration of every race-loving" man and woman. 1 next meandered to the business office and residence of mv life long and dear friend. Prof. J. C. White, Xo. 1023 Lombard street. I met the welcome from him and his charming wife that I expected. I dined with them that day. Later on I was furnished with three admissions to the Convention, but I have to acknowledge that I returned home without reaching the promised land, although \ 8 114 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK J>R. WILLIAM HEXRY JOHNSON. viewed it from a distance, while en route to Essington to visit my foster-sistcr, Mrs. George W. Bordley, and her daughter, Mamie. Somehow I got mixed up in the social swim I saw and struck hands with many old friends of days gone by, and many of the children of departed friends. Among those were Mrs. William Stevens, ninety years of age, and her daughter, Madam Samuel Durham, mother of John Durham, ex-Minister to llayti. and her daughter-in-law, the widow of another old friend, the late Andrew F. Stevens, and their son, Major A. P., and daughter, Helen. I met Corbin Taylor, A. S. Gassy, Mr. and Airs. Lewis Mintess, Mrs. John Page, Mrs. Gharles Edwards, Mrs. Susan Lane and family, Mrs. S. Augustus, and Mr. and Mrs. Levi Crumwell, of Lombard street, and spent a pleasant time with all. I found Mrs. Josephine \Yyatt, of 1437 South Nineteenth street, looking as young as she did thirty years ago. 1 did not meet her charming daughters, but would like to have. I met Airs. John Mitchell, who used to live here, and Lizzie Myers; I mean Mrs. S. Govern; also, Tliabertha Smith, sister of my old friend, S. Morgan Smith, the actor; Lena Morgan, the daughter of the man with whom I learned my trade, and St. George R. Taylor s widow, one of my old Banneker friends. 1 also saw Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. Airs. Jackson was once a Miss Llowers; afterwards, Mrs. I. X. Carey. I received a pleasant recep tion from both. The madam is holding her own and shines like a green bay leaf. I met Dr. Clarence Howard, James Xeedham, a first cousin of James C. Matthews, of this city. Both of these gen tlemen were on the General Reception Committee of the city and extended me very pleasant courtesies. I found my old friend, Robt. Xelson, of 2006 South College avenue. He, Corbin Taylor and A. S. Gassy are the only surviving members of the once famous Phoenix Social Club, including the writer of this letter. I met Mr. and Mrs. j. S. Allen, of Camac street, and Mrs. Free man of South Twelfth street: Will Mortimore, of Reading. They are all delightful people. This meeting, after years of absence, brought back vivid memories of the past. When I came home and L did not walk I found some non-de- script reporter of the Evening Journal had been endeavoring to gain some notoriety by poking fun at me after this fashion. I do not blame him for his envy. I had the fun, was in it, and he was not. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 115 "ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. (founded in 1830 by Thurlow Weed.) FRIDAY KYKNING, June 22, 1900. Dr. William 11. Johnson, \vlio lias tackled all corners on all ques tions politically, at his well-known establishment on Maiden Lane, has struck his colors, the trip on the Shinnecock being- just one too much lor him. Yesterday his assistant received word from the Doctor in Phila delphia. Regarding the trip he said: "T didn t go overboard, but all my meals did. 1 will come home bv train Saturday." The Doctor couldn t stand another salt-water trip, and gracefully struck his colors, and decided to travel homeward bv rail. A mem ber of the club says he saw the Doctor leaning over the Shinnecock s railing, looking awful pale and sickly. lie walked up to him and said: " \\liy, Doc, 1. thought you had a good stomach. " Doc looked up sadly and said: " So I have. Don t YOU see that 1 am shooting as far as any of them." Al.l .AXV FVEXINC Jol UXAL. SATURDAY KYKNJNO;, June 23, 1900. Dr. William II. Johnson returned this morning from Philadel phia, loaded down with campaign badges. He is one of the original Roosevelt men, and by the Governor s nomination he is in several bets with State officers." I remained in Philadelphia until Fridav morning, and came home by the Pennsylvania Central and Xew York Hudson River railroads. J stopped over in Xew York city for dinner; called on mine host, John Xail; met Archie Roberts and Fd. Flow. Reached home at night, with a deep and settled resolution never to go on the ocean again. ( )n my way to the Grand Central depot I almost ran down A. l>. Tavlor. the little dark complexioned Adonis of Fairport, Monroe county, lie, like invself, was endeavoring to catch the 6 r. M. train, but he took time to smile at me, and allowed me to smile at him. lie is an assistant janitor of the" State Senate, very popular with his party. We came up the road together, and had a delightful trip. I had the pleasure to drop into several Republican clubs whilst: in the Quaker Citv. The Citizens Club, located at Broad and Lorn- Il6 AUTOinOGRAlMlY OF DR. WILLIAM IIK^RY JOHNSON*. bard, is a daisy; it is in the hotel district. The club occupies an entire house, with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging". This Negro (organization of the City of Brotherly Love has an enrolled membership of i.ooo. Jts founder and first president, now deceased, was A. F. Stevens, Esq. The club turned out in the grand parade on the evening of the eighteenth. Each member wore bronze medals bearing the portrait of the founder, and Xil Sine Lahore inscribed on the reverse side. One of these medals was presented to me as a keepsake, in mem- orv of one of my earliest and dearest friends. 1 had the pleasure to meet Mrs. Thomas Bowers. She is the widow of one of the unique figures of that beautiful city. Her hus band many years ago conducted a first-class merchant tailoring establishment, located on Second street, near Chestnut, in connec tion with his brother, |ohn C. Bowers. Mrs. Bowers was a sister of Joseph Turpin. Brother and sister inherited $35,000 each from their parents. 1 also met her sister-in-law, Airs. Sarah Bell. 1 called at the grammar school on West Lombard street, and had a pleasant visit with Miss Caroline La Count. I entertain great respect and admiration for this lady, because of her unswerving devotion to the memory of the martyr, (.). V. Catto. At the time Catto was brutally shot to death on South street because of his anti- slavery sentiments and utterances, Miss LaCount was his fiancee. Since that tragic event she has devoted her time and study to educa tional pursuits. I did not meet either I. C. Wears or George \V. Bordley. Both have gone to the sweet bye-and-bye since I was in Philadelphia. Miss Mamie Bordley is stewardess of the Corinthian Boat Club, at Essington, on the Delaware river. She is the only woman that 1 know holding such a position. I reached the Quaker City on the eighteenth of June, and left on the twenty-second. I dropped into the Walton Hotel every night and morning, and looked over the crowd and enjoyed the sights presented. The southern contingent was ever present as usual, but was much subdued. I met Lieutenant-Governor Pinchback, looking as well as I have ever seen him. Major John R. Lynch showed the wear and tear he underwent during the American-Span ish war. He grasped my hand, and I felt the hearty pressure of an honest man. I saw Hon. James Hill, of Mississippi. He did not appear to be comfortable. Something weighed heavy upon the Mississippian mind. E. E. Cooper was in splendid trim. He is the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. l\J editor of the " Colored American," Washington, which is doing- splendid work all over the country for his race. T. Thomas For tune, my old New York friend, editor of the " New York Age," an all-around newspaper man, was on hand, looking sad, evidently thinking about what he had written about McKinley and Roosevelt. Tim is a good fellow and ought to have been born North. II. C. C. Attwood looked disappointed. W. Calvin Chase, of irre pressible " Washington Bee," was the happiest representative I struck. He had won out in his fight for representative from the D. of C. Hon. J. C. Dancy wore a troubled look. If the Negroes in North Carolina had listened to and followed his wise counsel, the discriminating law in that State would not have been adopted. I was disappointed in not meeting Hon. Daniel Murray, Assistant Librarian of Congress, the prospective Negro bibliographer, but I did not. Met main- other Xegro American statesmen. I have attended many national conventions, but I must confess that I never seen more subdued politicians than I saw in the Quaker City. They acted with more discretion and better judgment than on former occasions. It struck me that the southern brethren are realizing the fact that they are not the whole thing. They are losing their votes South, and, with that, their influence. The Afro-Americans must learn to know that they, like all other races, must be the architects of their devel opment, that they can lift themselves up to and upon the highest level of human development and political fellowship, through educa tion, industry and experience. The southern colored statesmen are realizing that for them to win in the political swim, they must cross the bridge, when reached, on the tracks with the northern contingent. As the column of the Unconditional Club passed up Chestnut street, whilst we were moving at quick step, under the inspiration of the splendid marching music of Prof. Robinson s band, and just opposite Independence Hall, the grand old Liberty bell pealed out eleven strokes. The sound of that historic bell brought vividly to my mind recollections of scenes that were enacted under its clarion notification of passing time, thirty-nine years ago. It impressed me with feelings of wonderment and joy, the evidence of the change that had been wrought, the improvements in sentiments and action in the Quaker City, under the amended Constitution and just laws of our country, called to my mind the scenes so terrible and impres sive which I witnessed and was a party to through three long eventful days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, during the prog ress of a mockerv trial of the alleged fugitive, Daniel Webster, it Il8 AUTOr.TOGRAPTlY OF DR. WILLIAM TTKNRY JOHNSON. was held in the I nited States C ourt room, located in Independence Hall, under the sound of the Liberty bell. David Paul Brown, a degenerate son of a man of the same name, one of the most gifted, able and consistent anti-slavery advocates, was commissioner, and sitting in judgment over the fate of the Negro, Webster, who had been arrested at Jlarrisburg, Pa., charged, under the accursed fugi tive slave law, of being a runaway, lie was unjustly found guilty and turned over to the slave master. It was during these three eventful davs, ending Wednesday afternoon, that thousands of indig nant anti-slavery people gathered about Independence Hall, with a firm disposition to oppose with force the attempt of government officials to accomplish their unrighteous and devilish work. In that city at that time a well-organized vigilance committee was in existence. It was a secret organization, but was known as the Proscribed American Council. I remember the sound of the old bell when it struck the hour of five o clock. It was just two weeks later than the day when John Brown s dead body passed through, en route for its last resting place at A I alb v, Essex county, this State. The United States marshal had secretly enrolled about two thou sand rough and desperate toughs to assist in the transportation of the unfortunate Xegro. Webster, and used them to advantage at the critical moment: not anyone, living or dead, ever witnessed a more desperate effort at rescue than was made that day by members of the Council, but it failed. The street fight was short, sharp and bitter whilst it lasted; many heads were broken and limbs dislocated. Happily, no lives were lost. The government was too much for us. We were beaten, and nine arrests were made. The accused were locked up in the cells located under Independence Hall, on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets, accused of opposing the fugitive slave law: Jeremiah Buck and Sinclair Burleigh, two of the foremost and bravest Negroes who ever walked the earth, and who were always ready to risk their lives in efforts to strike down the accursed sys tem of chattel slavery: a Mr. White, with six others, including myself. Air. White, who was at that time running a crockery and china store on South street, and I made our escape that evening through the assistance of what has wrongfully been denominated a mob. It was, in my judgment, a rescuing party of white and black patriots. We managed to leave the State for our personal safety. I went East, and located at Norwich, Conn. Buck, Burleigh and their five remaining comrades were held, tried, convicted and sentenced to five vears in the Cherrv .11 ill penitentiary. When their trials TIMOTHY L. WOODRl. FF. Ucuteuaiit-Govcrnor, ADMIRAL DEWEY AND THK BIRTH OF THE AMEKICAN FLAG. HON. J. A. KOSS, Buffalo, X Y. <;EN. DANIEL E. SICKELS. A Hero of (Jottysburg. THE LATIi Dr.. THOMAS ELK INS. OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 123 were over, Mr. \Yliite unwittingly returned to the citv. lie, too, was apprehended, tried and convicted, and also sent to prison. ( )ne of the very first acts performed by President Lincoln, after the Rebellion was well on, was the granting of a full and unqualified pardon to them all. The contrast between that dark and benighted epoch and the improved condition of my race to-day; the sound of old Liberty bell thirty-nine years ago and that to-day, when in the ranks of the old Unconditional Club, the pride of Albany, as we swung proudly by Libert} Hall, amid th<; shouts of applause, of welcome from the gathered thousands that lined the route from start to finish, awakened sentiments of the most grateful and profound thanksgivings to Almighty < iod for the providential liberation from slavcrv, and the investure of my people with equal rights and the disposition to help in the maintenance of the integrity of our country s escutcheon. After remaining in hiding at Philadelphia for about three weeks. one night I was driven to Tacony, and boarded a night train, bound for Xew York citv. My ticket called for a " I> " car, which L entered, and took a seat. \Yhen the conductor came along he looked at me, and then the ticket, and then demanded to know how 1 obtained a ticket to sit in a white man s car. 1 replied that it was none of his business. I Jut, he said that it was, and ordered me to go forward to the car set apart for Xegroes, commonly called, the "Jim Crow" car. This, T positively refused to do. He then informed me lhat at the next stopping station he would throw me off the car. In the same car there were quite a number of white gentlemen, and I was the only Xegro in it. and matters looked to me as if they were a little serious. A gentleman sitting immediately behind me touched my shoulder, and when 1 turned towards him, he asked me where I was born. I told him, at Alexander, Ya. He said: " I thought you were a southern boy by your actions." Then, he said: " Let me see your ticket." I did as requested. Then he said: Y r ou are not a runaway slave?" T assured him that I was free-born, and had resided in the North for a number of years. " AYcll." said he, >% do you mean to resist being thrown off this car? " T told him that " I certainly would, to the best of my ability, and that f knew 1 was alone, but would hold my ground as long as I could." " Oh. no." said he, " you are not alone. You have just as much right in this car as I have. Take this and defend yourself." He then handed me a "six-shooter," and reclined back in his seat again. fust as the train slowed up. the conductor and two train- 124 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM TTENRY JOHNSON. men advanced toward me, and the conductor ordered the trainmen to throw the " d n " nigger off the train. But, as they came to me, they looked into the muzzle of my " six-shooter." I informed them that " I was in that car to stay," and suggested that they had bettcr let the job out to the conductor. This sally of mine brought a decided manifestation of approbation from the other passengers. The conductor and trainmen both retreated, and I was no further molested. Upon a-rriving at South Amboy, X. J., I boarded the ferry-boat for Xew York city. The first man that 1 met on the boat was my old companion, who escaped with me from the cell three weeks before. He had ridden on the same train, but was in the " Jim Crow car." He greeted me, half reproaching, and eluded me for getting in his way when both of us slipped out of the cell together. He said that the turnkey did not intend to let me out, as the turnkey was a Free Mason, and so was he. That explained to me the situation. L was not a Free Mason, but resolved to become one just as soon as I could. Though unwit tingly I had been saved from State s prison by another man s knowledge of the mystic symbols, and saved that night from being thrown off the " B " car by a white southerner, a slave-holder, because I demonstrated a disposition to take care of myself. The gentleman that handed me the revolver informed me that he, too, was a Virginian, and that he would liked to have seen me blow holes all through the d - northern " mud-sill." WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, For the Albany Capitol. July 4th, 1900. The ocean trip of the Unconditional Club on the beautiful sound steamer Shinnecock was delightful. It could not have been bet ter. We left here at 6:30 p. M., Sunday, June seventeenth, and arrived there at ten P. M., Monday, in time to be in at the nomina tion of McKinley and Roosevelt. The Shinnecock is a great and safe seagoing boat, and she carries a most pleasant and accommodating crew. They were all pinks of politeness, from the skipper, Captain Mitchell, to the humble coal heaver. A jollier and well-behaved lot of Albany s representatives never floated on the bosom of old Neptune. There was William Barnes, Jr., the honored and accepted leader of Albany county Republicans and Chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee. Mr. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HKNRY JOHNSON. 125 J>arnes is following close in the footprints of his illustrious grand father, the late Thm-low Weed. Hon. George X. Sonthwiek was l)v his side most all the time, as was also Commissioner Ham; the little corporal, the ever-pleasant James \Y. J>entley, with his dry perfeeto between his lips, meditating and devising plans looking to the defeat of the Democratic party this fall. Judge George Adding- ton, supreme in command of the club, with his able and courteous staff officers, Messrs. Frwin, Mix, Frost, McClelland and Will hrcnnan, were untiring in efforts to accommodate and entertain quests. In 1857, with others, 1 was engaged in the performance of a verv disagreeable duty. It was the expulsion from the city of Philadelphia of a Negro, who claimed to be a gentleman; he was a slave-holder, and while visiting that city made his home with William Still, on South street, below Ninth street. It came about in this way: Joseph Yenning then kept a cigar store on the other side of the street, above Ninth. His parents occupied the residence portion of the house. Many young fellows of my acquaintance made Mr. Yenning s store a place of rendezvous. Among our latest associates was a young man that we would readily have taken for being white had we not also have met his mother. She was a bright mulatto. This young fellow s name was George Steel. We saw him for the last time on a Sunday afternoon preceding the incident that followed. C )n Monday he was missing. His mother was in trouble. On Tuesday morning the secret, of her tribulation was unfolded. She, as well as her son, were escaped slaves from South Carolina. The son had left the city Sunday evening hastilv; his mother on Monday morning. Steel was a waiter at the Conti nental Hotel, Ninth and Chestnut streets. It soon developed that their master was in the city, with officers, looking for their apprehen sion, and that John Francis, also of Charleston, had been in secret conference with the master, and had imparted the information of the whereabouts of the mother and son. When these facts became public, the indignation of the colored people knew no bounds. A mass meeting was held the next evening on Sixth street, near Lom bard, in front of George W. Gomes store. Mr. Goines was chosen as chairman and Thomas Shonock as secretary. Many speeches were made and condemnatory resolutions adopted. A committee of three was appointed to see that Francis left the city or took the consequences of staying. The committee consisted of George F. ij6 AUTOJ .IOGRAl nV OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. Stevens, Parker T. Smith and the writer of this. Backed up bv the indignant people, we immediately repaired to Still s house. We were met at the door by him. He expressed great indignation of the action taken at the meeting, and declared his intention to defend to the bitter end his boarder and the sanctity of his domicile. This did not amount to much; he was pushed to one side, and the com mittee entered the house and Francis room, confronted the base informer with the action of the meeting, which demanded his imme diate expulsion from the house and city, lie attempted to make a defense, but, upon looking out of the front window, and realizing the hostile attitude of the indignant and venturesome citizens gath ered in the street, agreed, if safe conduct was guaranteed him across Gay s ferry bridge, that he would leave the citv before (lav- light. He evidently felt that his life was in danger if he attempted to stay. This was agreed to. The crowd was informed, and imme diately dispersed, and Francis was well on his way South before the sun rose on Wednesday morning. He never was known to return to the good old Quaker City. In like manner, the anti-slavery people were in the habit of treat ing such enemies to humanitv during the days of Robert Purvis. Stephen Smith. Capt. Joe Anderson, Count 1). Cliff, Catto, Turner, Colley, Revels, Simpson, Buck, Burleigh. Basil (ioines, and men of their stamp. The trip to Philadelphia was, as has been said before, exceedingly pleasant to me in many respects, and equallv painful and distressing in others. Among the reminiscences that brought tears to my eyes, and sorrow to my heart, was the vivid recollection of terrible events that I had witnessed, and was a party to, either directly or indirectly. I remember the riots, the burning and pillaging of churches, schoolhouses, and the murdering of inof fensive Xegroes, just because they were such. 1 remember the burning of the old .Bethel church, at Sixth and Lombard streets, and the California House, at Sixth and St. Mary s streets; the murder of the brave young Wainwright (white), of the city lire department, who was shot to death whilst performing his duty with the Goodwill fire engine, by one of the desperate murderers of the howling mob; the attempt of southern students to break up the mass meeting that was being held in the National Guard s Hall, on upper Market street, on the day that the heroic John Brown was judicially mur dered at Charlestown, Ya. The meeting in the Xational Guard s Hall was presided over by Air. Robert Purves; and Miss Lttcretia AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON . 12/ Alott, Theodore Tilton, J. C. White, Sr., John C. Bowen, Miller McKiin and others were seated upon the platform. A bitter fight ensued, in which, however, there were no lives lost; the majesty of the law asserted itself and the rioters were over come. But the most painful reminder was the brutal murder of ( )ctavius A . Catto (principal of " The Institute for Colored Youths ") and his coadjutors, Isaac Chase and Jacob Gordon, on the loth of ( )ctober, 1871, in the election riot of that day. Professor Catto and 1 were friends and companions. He was a brave, good Christian gentleman. The brutal manner of his sudden death aroused the greatest sorrow and indignation, and his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the city of Philadelphia; people of all classes, of both races, attended it, numbering thousands. The annexed clipping, containing the military order and the mayor s proclamation, will explain themselves, furnishing the best testimony of Philadelphia s universal respect and love for the mur dered citizen, educator and soldier. HEADQUARTERS "FIFTH BRIGADE, FIRST Divisrox, XATIOXAI, GUARD OF PENNSYLVANIA. PHILADELPHIA, October 11, 1871. ( ieneral Order Xo. 8. It becomes the painful duty of the Brigadier-General to announce to the troops of this command, the death, on the loth inst., at the hands of a cowardly assassin, of Major ( )ctavius Y. Catto, Inspector Fifth Brigade. Major Catto was born in Charleston, S. C., in 1839, and brought to this city by his parents when a mere child. He was educated at the " Institute for Colored Youth," where, shortly after graduating, he became a teacher of the English branches, and on the appointment of the principal (Prof. Bassett) to the Haytien mission, he was appointed principal of the institute. In this position his energy, integrity and scholastic attainments won for him the universal esteem and con fidence of the managers and the love of his pupils. He was an earnest and hard worker for the education and elevation of his race, and to this end was identified with this brigade from its organiza tion; and it was whilst in the act of obeying an order he had received as a soldier, that the murderer met him. Having been ordered by the Assistant Adjutant-General of the brigade to notify several officers of this command to order their men to the armories, to be ready to aid in the suppression of a riot then in progress, he pro ceeded home to obtain his equipments, and, whilst upon his own doorstep, was ruthlessly assaulted with a bludgeon, knocked down, 128 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM 11KXRY JOHNSON . and finally mortally wounded by pistol shots through the heart, in his right arm, left shoulder and left thigh. He was conveyed to the neighboring police station, but died before medical assistance could reach him. This terminated the life of Major Catto. Conscientious and faithful as an officer, he labored effectively in the organization of this command, and fell an honored and respected soldier of the commonwealth. In civil life, he was known as the accomplished scholar and educator; in literary circles as a distinguished linguist, whose thorough knowledge of languages will render it difficult to fill his professor s chair; he was an upright Christian, whose piety was lofty and sincere; a pure-minded patriot, who served his country in her darkest hour; a courteous gentleman and valiant soldier who died as he had lived, without fear and without reproach. The body will lie in state at the city armory, Broad and Race streets, from 7 until 9 A. M., Monday, i6th inst. As a token of respect, tin- officers of this command \vill wear the usual badge of mourning, and the colors and drums will be draped for the period of sixty da vs. The gold medal to be awarded under the provisions of (ieneral Orders No. 6, C. S., from these headquarters, will hereafter be known as the " Catto Medal," and will be so inscribed. The brigade will participate in the funeral ceremonies, and will form on Broad street, right resting on Cherry street, facing east at 9 o clock A. M., on Monday, i6th inst., and move in columns of com panies, by breaking from the left to inarch to the right. A guard of honor, pall-bearers and a tiring party will be detailed in future- orders. l>\ order of Brigadier-General Louis Wagner. |. R. Ml LLIKIX, Ma /or and Assistant /hljutcint-Gcnct oL ( )FFICK OK Tine MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PillLADKLI IIJA. October 12, 1871. Whereas, Octavius V. Catto, whilst in the act of leaving his own doorstep, and Isaac Chase, whilst in his own home, both peaceable citizens of Philadelphia, were brutally murdered on the afternoon of Tuesday last, loth inst.; and Whereas, It is alleged that two men, one of them known as " Recldy " Dever, the other called Frank Kelly, were implicated in both these dreadful crimes; AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HKKRY JOIIXSOX. 1 2O, Xo\v, therefore, I. Daniel M. Fox, Mayor of Philadelphia, do hereby offer a reward of $1,000 for the arrest and delivery of each of the said Dever and Kelly to me, the said mayor, at my office, in said city. And the officers of the police and the citizens generally are enjoined to furnish their most active vigilance and aid in securing the persons of the two parties named, in order that they may he promptly brought to the bar of justice to answer for the dreadful crimes above stated. Description. The said Dever is about 5 feet, 7 inches high, 160 Ibs. weight, 2^ years of age. light red hair, smooth full face, rather stout built. 1 he said Kelly is about 5 fact 6 inches high, 140 Ibs. weight, 22 \ears of age, dark hair, medium built, lias a fresh pistol seal]) wound on side of his head, hair clipped around the wound. DAXTEL M. F< )X. Mayor of Philadelphia (Our Xational Progress. Philadelphia, Pa.. Saturdav October 31. 1 87 i . ) The assassins never were arrested, but the memorv of ( ). Y. Catto lives. [\Ym. II. Johnson, for the Albanv Capitol. Albanv, August i , 1 900. 9 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM 1IKXRV JOHXSOX. CHAPTER VII. Tin-: PHILADELPHIA SEXTIXKL. (Saturday, May i, 1886.) A \K.\RKR YIHW. Sonic Points About People and Things. (\\\ William Carl P>olivar.) The opening of the fifth decade of this century marked a new era in tl;e life of the colored people of this country, and this was a time, as far as a fixed purpose on the part of parents was concerned, to raise the educational standard, in view ol the possibility of the enlarged exercise of the same, which a prescience told them would come with the abolition of slavery, and its sequence, their recogni tion as citizens. Some parents had sent their children to Mc( irawville, Oberlin. Dartmouth, McGill, and other liberal northern institutions, while others availed themselves of the benefits nearer home, made possible by the philanthropy of the Quaker element in our midst, whose Institute afforded their children educational means far superior to anything granted by the city, which taxed them without adequate return. These lads were restless, and being too voung to become mem bers of the existing literary and debating societies, started one on their own account, which was full of good work for twenty years. Its organization took place September (j, 1853, at the house of Redmond Faucett, who, with the following, were its founders: Davis D. Turner, John W. Simpson, Jacob C. White, St. George 1\. Taylor, John W. Wright, Joel Selsey, Robert Turner, George P>. White, Alexander Randolph, Peter Bnrk, Charles Parker, George E. Stevens, W. IT. Smith, and Jacob I over, who was its first president. It was christened the Young Men s Mutual Instruction Society, the name having been suggested by Isaiah C. Wears, which was soon after changed to the Alexandrian Academy, and again rechristened The Hanneker Institute, which it bore with honor. dignity and profit, until its discontinuation, twenty years after. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM 1IKXRV JOIIXSOX. 1^1 SATURDAY, May 8, 1886. November, 1857, found among its new members the names of \Ym. H. Johnson and Samuel X. Cornish, the first of whom, from the very start, entered into the work, which lie kept up as long as he was a member, with a zeal that was truly infectious. An important episode in the existence of the Banneker took place in 1858. A congress of literary societies having been called, the institute elected Jacob C. White, Jr.. and Win. H. Johnson to represent them. The Banneker felt that they possessed all the qualifications necessary, and, ever alive to the promotion of the interests of the race, determined to make the venture nolens I oicus. All the necessary forms were complied with, which resulted in the selection of John E. Newport, of the Prescott Literary Institute; John 1). Iluhn, of the Philadelphia Literary Institute, and J. G. Allen, M. D., of the Irving Institute, a committee to examine into the merits of the Banneker, and report as to their qualifications. ( )n the night of their visit, the Banneker was holding its regular exercises, with no thought of the effect it would produce upon the minds of the visitors. William H. Minton read a paper on the " Works of Nature, " and a discussion took place on the subject, " lias the Course of Stephen A. Douglass, on the Kansas-Xebraska (Question Been Consistent?" Mr. George E. Stevens welcomed the committee in a clever speech, which was responded to by Mr. |. D. Iluhn. The} then examined the minutes, and asked for a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws, which were freely granted. So far. evervthing worked smoothly, and the wisdom of Win. II. Johnson, in urging the efforts to be made, was seen, even by those who first opposed the measure. The congress met at Ninth and Spring Garden streets. May 5, 1858, where a motion to admit the Banneker brought about ani mated discussion, supported by Messrs. Dunn, of the St. Johns; Thompson, of the Ciceronian; Cornman, of the Adelphian; New port, of the Prescott, and Allen, of the Irving. The negative argument was made by Messrs. Campbell, of the St. John s; Conrad, of the Prescott; Archer, of the Adelphian. and others; in fact, eleven speeches were made in favor, and ten against the admission of the Banneker Institute. To quote from the records: " On the vote being taken, thirteen ayes, and eleven nays. The vote was subsequently reconsidered, and resulted in twelve ayes to twelve nays. The Institute was rejected, a two-thirds vote being necessary to admit." 132 AUTOBIOGRAPHY ()K DR. WILLIAM HKXKY JOHXS<>X. Most of the societies in the congress had been instructed to vote against the admission of colored organizations of a like sort, which evidently shows that they must have expected just such action on the part of the Hanneker, or some similar body of colored men. Several bodies, as corporate bodies, were favorable, and in mam cases, individuals in others favored the admission of the IJanneker. They all agreed that the institution was a bona fide literary society, and was as able a body, if not abler, than any represented in the congress. And yet they were excluded. So much for caste prejudice. The year 1858 was a marked one in the annals of the lianneker, as may be noted in the points chronicled in the " nearer view " of their affairs, as contained in the paper preceding this. The remain ing important incidents now follow in sequential order, and they are so breezy and vital as to be worth a place in these notes, without am* extraneous comments from the writer. On the first of June, 1858, there was a convention held, or rather a council, for the moral, mental, social and political elevation of proscribed Americans, to which J. C. White, John \Y. Simpson and Parker T. Smith were elected to represent the I>anneker Institute. About that time J. P. P>. Eddy, Jr., and Alfred S. Cassey were elected to membership. At the Fourth of July celebration, which was held at Franklin Hall, Jacob C. White, Jr., presided and made a neat speech. After him came the orator of the (lav, \\ni. II. Johnson, who delivered a long and able address in support of the stand the Hanneker took in the matter. The paper was so full of fine thought that it was published in pamphlet form, and found a wide circle of readers. The argument adduced by Mr. Johnson to show why thev cele brated the Fourth of July was based on that clause of the Declara tion of Independence which says: "All men are created free and equal, and endowed with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Even if a dead-letter, the fact of the avowal remained, and it was thus they gloried in the annual return of the day. This celebration was conspicuous, not only by reason of the able oration of Win. H. Johnson, the addresses of the other speakers, and the large and encouraging audience, but on account of a parody on the " Red, White and Blue," written by Miss Charlotte L. Fortin, and sung by the members of the Institute, and the gen eral crowd, as well. The officers for that year were: J. W. Simpson, president; Wrn. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 133 H. Johnson, vice-president; Jacob C. White, Jr., recording secre tary; O. V. Catto, corresponding secretary; Joel Sclsey, treasurer, and R. M. Turner, librarian. About this time William T. Jones and Joseph \\". Brister were elected to membership in the Institute. The Fourth of July and the first of August celebrations were, as customary, made matters of public interest by the Banneker. SATURDAY, May 22, 1886. During iSoi everything was in a chaotic state, owing to the \Yar of the Rebellion, and, per consequence, the activity of the Institute was not as great as in the preceding years. Several of the members were with the army, and others had left the city to try their fortunes elsewhere, among them Parker T. Smith, Win. II. Johnson and George K. Stevens. During that year William Parham, of Cincin nati, and Klwood A I. Thomas, of Washington, D. C., were elected c< ^ responding members. AlJ .AXY KVEXIXO JoTkXAL. (Monday Kvening, March 12, 10,00.) A DINNER AND A PRESENTATION . Thomas II. Diggs entertained the members of the I lome Social Club at dinner yesterday afternoon at the Adams House on Broad way in honor of the sixty-seventh birthday of Dr. William H. John son, the founder and first president of the club which was organized in 1887. After all the good things had been partaken of, Yice-Presi- dent I. W. Price arose and on behalf of the club presented Dr. Johnson with a handsome silk badge, with gold and silver orna ments. In the center of the badge is a silver horseshoe with the monogram " II. C. S." in the center and the words Secretary v on the horseshoe, the position Dr. Johnson now holds. Dr. Johnson responded in his usual style, thanking the members for their gift. Cigars were then passed around and the remainder of the day spent in story telling. THE HOME SOCIAL CLUB. Members. George H. Tumme, president; Joseph W r . Price, vice-president; William H. Brent, treasurer; William H. Johnson, secretary; John 1^4 Ai Ton IOC.KAFMI Y OF nu. WILLIAM HK.VUY joirxsox. P. Price, A. C. Green, R. R. P>urrell, J. II. Clifton, I Yank Pulton, Wm. IP \ an Alstyne, A. ( . (iordon, R. M. Madison, |. P. lU-rrv, Thomas IP I )iggs. I lie 4 constitution ol this social club limits the- membership to fourteen. . //>/// 3, i Si) i . \Y.M. IP JOHNSON, J UHIII \\ X. Y.: DL. \R BROTHKR. 1 write this to congratulate 1 von upon the news just received of the passage and the signing of vuur insurance law in your State. My wife and Mamie joins me in love to yon. GEORGP \Y. BORDLY. 21 14 Samson St., Philadelphia. Pa. The thirty-third annual session of the Sons and Dnughters of Moses convened in the city of Albanv. X. Y., ( )ctober 16. 1900, at Mleecker Hall. Hon. James H. Blessing, Mayor, made the welcome address in behalf of the city, and was responded to bv Messrs. Joseph P. Smith, of Troy, X. Y ., and John A. Kelly, of Xew York. During the open session Dr. William H. Johnson attempted to enter the hall. Owing to a mistaken order the sentinel refused to admit him. When the facts became known to the proper officers amends were speedily determined to be made to the doctor, and Brother John S. Johnson, of Albany, was appointed a committee of one to invite Dr. Johnson to attend the noon session of the encamp ment on the 17th, to secure an explanation to the unfortunate incident. At 1 1 115 A. M., the two Johnsons were escorted to the plat form and the Grand Master Solomon Bond, of Baltimore, Md., satis factorily explained to Dr. Johnson, in feeling and touching terms, the regret of the encampment for the incident, and assured him that it was no intention on the part of any of the encampment to dis criminate against him and desired that he accept the apology of the encampment for the same. Dr. Johnson, in reply, stated that he could not accept an apology from the encampment for this unim portant incident as he had never for a moment held the organization responsible for the unfortunate error of the sentinel. He further stated that he was glad that the same had occurred, as it gave him an opportunity to meet the brothers and sisters who are engaged in the noble work of benevolence and Christian charity, and that he regretted that in the formation of the tabernacle in this the finest city on the continent, he had not became an active member, and as HON. -JOHN IU)YD THACI1EK. JOHN (iKAHAM, >jil Teleirraph and Stock Company, Albany, N. Y. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 137 the Lord had spared him so long for either good or ill, he had passed the age limit, hut that his efforts would tend in future to aid in spreading its borders. At the conclusion of his remarks a vote of thanks was tendered him bv the encampment for his wholesome and instructive remarks. During the singing of a hymn an informal reception was tendered him at which time he shook the hand of all the brothers and sisters assembled, who bid him God speed in the prosecution of his labors in defense of his race. Thus was ended in the most t riendlv feeling an unintentional error. JOSFP1I I . SMITH, (irand Recording Sccrclury. COXCFKT AND RFCFI TIOX Gi\ KX r,v TIIK R. \Y. G. ENCAMPMENT, ORDHR OF MOSES, LAST XKIIIT. A grand concert and reception was given by the 1\. \\ . ( i. Encampment of the Order of Moses at IHeecker hall last evening. So far as the dance was a part of the night s revelry, it was a most brilliant affair. The concert was participated in by A I me. Dill, formerly leading lady in the " Trip to Coontown " company, Miss Delia A. Hunter, of Troy: Miss L. Fennan and Mrs. K. C. Gardner, of this city; and Miss Lilian P>each, Miss Mamie Dorsey, Miss Ida Lpps, Mrs. Ada J. Harder and Mr. John H. Mead, of Troy. Luncheon was served and the dance held open after midnight. The following committees had charge: Auxiliary committee. John S. [ohnson. chairman: Anna E. Taylor, vice chairman; Carrie K. ( Jardner, secretary; Lewis L. Latham, assistant secretary; Henry Pinckney, treasurer; C. L. Me Dougall, assistant treasurer. Recep tion committee. Joseph P. Smith, chairman; Henry Pinckney. assist ant chairman; F. Frisbee, L. K. Latham, \Y. H. lirent. Refresh ment committee, Mary S. Franklin, chairman; Josephine Freman, assistant chairman, of Albany; Mary Mundon. chairman, of Troy; Annie F. Taylor, assistant chairman, of Troy; Rachael Hardy, of Albany, secretary; Charlotte May, Treasurer. [Press Knicker bocker. Albany. Friday, October K;, 10,00. BLEECKER HALL, ALBANY, X. Y., FRIDAY, October 19, 1900. At the regular Grand Encampment of the A. U. ( ). S and D. P>. S. of Moses, officers were elected for the next two (2) years, per con- 13$ A! T T()niOr,RAPJJY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. stitntion, as follows: Grand Master, Brother Solomon Bond, Balti more, M. D.; Deputy Grand Master, Brother E. W. Hamilton, New York city; Grand Vice, Sister Anna E. Howell, Washington, D. C; Past (irand Vice, Sister M. Coulens, New York city; Grand Hi^-h J * o Priest, Brother George Epps, Newark, X. J. ; Grand Marshall, Brother I). E. Latham, Troy, N. Y.; Grand Orator, Brother John Kelley, New York city; Grand Treasurer, Brother John Henderson, Baltimore, Md.: Grand Financial Secretary, Brother James M. Seward, Baltimore, Md.; Grand Recording Secretary, Brother Joseph P. Smith, Troy, N. Y. ; Inside Sentinel, Brother N. Colens, Xew York city; Outside Sentinel, Brother H. Matthews, Philadel phia, Pa.; Right Hand Support, Sister Mary E. Johnson, Albany, N. Y. ; Left Hand Support, Sister Mary C. Jackson, Xew York city; Right Hand Conductor, Sister Ida Epps, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Left Hand Conductor, Sister E. C. Purnall, Easton Shore, Md. The Brothers and Sisters and the Daughters and Sons of Moses is a strictly Christian and benevolent association. It was founded and organized by an intelligent race-loving Afro- American, Peter Paul Brown, in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., thirty-three years ago. It is a secret organization, with signs, symbols, pass-words and grip, having encampments in all the States and territories of the Union, and is exercising a great influence along substantial lines tending to the bettermen of the race and of humanity. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. \\II.LL\M III-:XKV JOHNSON. 139 CHAPTER VIII. 27 MAIDEN LANK, ALBANY, X. V., April 24, J<JOG. [lux. JA.MKS II. BLKSSING, Mayor of Albany: I)I;AR SLR. I have the pleasure to inform you thai citizens of Albany and Troy will observe the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John IJrown, the martyr of Harper s Kerry, by celebrat ing the passage of Senator Elsberg s Anti-Discriminating School r.ill. iii the Hamilton Street A. M. E. church, this city. May ninth, at eight r. M.. and I have also the honor to cordially invite you, in the name of all of the people, to aet on that occasion as honorary chairman of the meeting. Sir. it is with sentiments of high regard and personal esteem entertained that enables me to sign myself. Yours truly, etc., \VM. 11. J( )HXS( )X, Chairman of Committee of Arrangement. P. S. The committee will meet to-morrow evenin. CITY OF ALBANY, MAYOR S OFFICK, ALBANY, April 25, 1000. AY. H. JOHNSON, ESQ.: MY DEAR SIR. I find it will be impossible for me to be with you on the evening of May ninth, and reluctantly am obliged to announce my inability to be present. [ need not assure you I hope that F am in full accord with the spirit which animated those who have made preparations for observ ing the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown, the martvr of Harper s Ferrv. Hie Avork he performed made lasting impression on the affairs of this nation. He did not die in vain. The culmination of his work, so far as the State of Xew York is concerned, may be said io be in the Elsberg bill, which declares that: 140 AUTOTMOGRAPITY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. Xo person shall be refused admission into or be excluded from any public school in the State of Xe\v York on account of race or color." Congratulating you on the fruition of vonr hopes, and again expressing regret that it is impossible for me to be present, believe me to be, Sincerely yours, JAMES II. BLESSING, Mayor. STATK OK X KAY YORK. EXECL~TIYE (/HAM HER, ALBANY, May i , 1900. \Y. H. JOHNSON, Kso., 27 Maiden Lane, *-l!ha)i\\ X. Y.: MY DEAR SIR. I wish 1 could accept your VCTY kind imitation to attend the one hundredth anniversarv of the birth of John Brown, especially as I have just signed the Hlsberg bill, but it is simply out of the question, as I shall be in Washington Alav ninth. Very sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT. STATK. OK X KAY YORK. Ass KM r-i.v CHAM HER, \YKSTKJKI.I). X. Y., Ma\ i, KJOO. WILLIAM II. JOHNSON, 27 Maiden Lane, .llhanv. A". ) .: \\\ ])KAR SLR. 1 am just in receipt of your favor of May first requesting me to be present at the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown on the evening of May ninth. L regret that it will be impossible for me to be in the city at that time. Thanking you for your kind remembrance, I am, Very truly yours. S. V. XIXOX. K OK REPRESENTATIVES, IT. S., WASHINGTON. Ma\ 2, [900. MR. W. H. JOHNSON, .llbany, X. Y.: MY DEAR SIR. T am in receipt of your invitation on behalf of the committee of arrangements to attend the exercises in the IT a ATTOIHOCKAIMIY OK DR. \\ !LLIAM IIKXRY JOJIXSOX. 141 ton Street Methodist church at Albany in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John P>rown. 1 wish to extend to vou my sincere thanks for this kind invitation and to say that if it were possible for me to attend, 1 would be delighted to do so. A pressure of official business here at Washington makes it impos sible for me to accept your invitation. Again thanking you for the honor of the invitation. [ am. with regret , A cry truly, MARTIX II. GLYXX, Member of Congress. Twnliclh AVu York District. Tin-: COLOR HI > AMERICAN. (Published bv The Colored American Publishing Co., at 45*) C Street, X. \Y.) \YASIIIX<;TOX, .l/</v -?. 1000. MR. \YiLi.iAM IT. ]onxsox, 27 Maiden Lane, MIhan\\ A". ) .: Mv DF.AR SIR. Your note of the 1st inst. is to hand, and I am glad to have a line from you. I am glad to know that the citizens of Albany and Troy have united to observe the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Pro\vn. J shall make mention of the same in this week s paper. You ought to be a subscriber to " The Colored American." as you were one of the old readers of " The Freeman " and have stood by me all along". T shall be glad, not only to receive your subscrip tion, but to have an article from you and a picture or a cut of you to run in "The Colored American" at an early date. f wish it were possible for me to be present at the exercises of this anniversary entertainment on the c;th inst., but I am afraid it is out of the question. Yours very truly, E. E. COOPKR. TFII-: JOURXAL COMPAXY. ALP.AXY, X T . Y.. Men 1 5, KJOO. DKAR SIR. Upon my return, after several days absence from the city, I find your favor of the first inviting me to be present on the evening of the ninth at the Hamilton Street Methodist church, where the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John l>rown will be fittingly celebrated. I shall certainly be present upon this occasion, if my duties in tin- city of Xew York do not call me out of town, as they usually do during the middle of the week. However, otir friends may rest assured that I appreciate the courtesy of the invitation, and that I am heartily in accord with the spirit which animates this meeting. Very truly yours, WILLIAM rJARXES, JR. WILLIAM H. jonxsox, Eso., 27 Maiden Lane, .\!han\, \. ) . LAW OFFICE OF [ACOP, A. CAXTOR, BANK OF COMMERCE lU:iLi>- i\(i, 31 NASSUA STRFFT. XFW YORK, Ma\ /, i<;oo. DEAR SIR. I am in receipt of vonr vcrv kind invitation to be with you on the evening of the (jth hist, in order to observe, in conjunction with the citizens of Albany and Trov, the one hun dredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown, and also to cele brate the passage of the Anti-Discriminating School Hill of this year. I extremely regret, however, that my engagements here are such that it will be impossible for me to be present. 1 hope, how ever, that the affair will most satisfactory and fitly celebrate two of the most important events in the history of the colored people. I am, Faithfully yours, JACOB A. CAXT( )R. \YlLLL\M .11. JOHNSON , ESO., \(). 2/ Maidc/l LilllC. .///></?/V, A . Y. STATF OF XFW YORK, SENATE CHAMHFU, ALIJANV. AT SYRACUSE, X. Y., .l/</y 7, KJOO. WILLIAM H. [OTINSOX, Eso., 27 Maiden La tic, Alban\, X. Y.: Mv DEAR SIR. Your esteemed favor in regard to the meeting to celebrate the passage of the Elsberg bill, has just reached me. I greatly regret that it will be impossible for me to attend, but I earnestly hope this occasion ma\ be a memorable one, for it is devoted to an excellent cause. As chairman of the Committee on Public Education, I was very glad, indeed, to promptly report this Al TOl .KHikAl II Y OF DR. WILLIAM HFNRY JOHNSON. 143 bill, and subsequently to vote for it. I, therefore, feel that I may share in the celebration. Congratulating you upon the success of your efforts, and again regretting my inability to attend. I am. Very cordially yours, HORACE WHITE. NATIONAL AFRO-AMERICAN COUNCIL. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 8, 1900. MR. W.\r. H. JOHNSON, Albany, X. Y.: MY ])I-;AR FRIEND. Your very kind invitation to be present at the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown, to be held in your city May ninth, and take part in the exercises, was sent to my home while I was away. My clerical force being here with me in attendance on our general conference, was the occasion of my not receiving your communication sooner. 1 regret my inability to be present on account of my duties at conference, which will not adjourn until the 2ist inst. We hope to have a successful and profitable meeting here to-morrow night in honor of John linnvn. Besides a number of distinguished ministers who will speak, L rof. Kelly Miller, of Howard Iniversity; Mr. Archibald ( irimke, and other distinguished citizens of this city, will address the meeting. To my mind there is no person more worthy to be honored bv our race than the hero of Harper s Ferrv. The race owes him a lasting debt of gratitude for his heroic service. I trust yon will have a pleasant and profitable meeting. Yours for the furtherance of our common cause, A. WALTERS. No. 1 1 16" SLvfli Street, N. E. DISTRICT ATTORXKY S OFFICK, ALT.ANY, X. Y., May a 10,00. MR. WILLIAM H. Jonxsox, Albany, X. Y.: MY DEAR SIR. - 1 deeply regret my inability to be present at your meeting to-night. I expected until the last moment to be able to attend, but some business matters, which must be attended to to-night, prevent my attendance. Sincerely hoping that your meeting will be a success, I remain. Very truly yours, - "ZEB A. DYER. 144 Al TOl .KXiU. \1MIY OK Dk. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOIIXSOX. Xo. 1032 LOMBARD STREET, PHILADELPHIA, Ma\ 5, 1900. \\\ DK.AR FRIEXD Jonxsox. Please accept thanks for invita tion to participate with the citizens of Albany and Troy in the cele bration of one hundredth anniversary of the birthday of John Brown, and the celebration of the passage of the Flsberg Anti- Dis criminating School Hill. I am sorry that it will not be convenient for me to be present. 1 have taken the liberty to send to Mr. Daniel Murray, Washing ton, I). ( ., a copy of the celebration of the Fourth of [uly by the Banneker Institute. You will remember you made a speech on the occasion. My wife joins me in the expression of sentiments of the highest esteem for you and Mrs. Johnson. Very truly yours, 1. C. WIITTF, Mr. Wears died yesterday. F have sent you a copy of " The Press." 1C. W. TrsKECKK, ALA., Mav 3, 1000. MR. WILLIAM II. Joiixsox, 2~ Maiden Lane, .llhuny, X. }\: MY DEAR SIR. I thank you for your kind letter of May first. inviting me to be present at the exercises in connection with the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Brown, the martyr of Harper s Ferry. Xothing would give me greater pleasure than to be present with you on this occasion if I could do so, but I have just returned to Tuskegee after an extended absence of many weeks. At some other time I trust I niav be able to serve you and the others who join you in extending this invitation. The passage of the bill by the Legislature of the State of .Yew York, and the approval of same by liovernor Roosevelt, is cause for gratification. Your celebration should be doubly interesting, and I wish that T could be with you. Yours truly, B( )( )l\Kk T. \VASH1XGT( >X. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 145 CHAPTER IX. FROM DOCTOR JOHNSON S POCKET ALP.UM. \V.\i. II. JOHNSON: \Yith kindest regards and best wisbes of (i86u KREDERICK DOTGLASS. Our acquaintance lias made us friends, OCTAVIUS V. CATTO. Ni-:\v HAVKN, si n gust 6, 1861. "At nos non imperium neque divitias petimus, qnarum reruni causa bella atque certamina omnia inter mortales stint: sed libertatem quam nemo bonus, nisi cum anima sinnil amittit." E1JEXE/ER I). P.ASSETT. Xe\v Haven. August /. 1861. Trul v vour friend, CHARLES P. SMITIF, Sereant of tbe joth Col. Vols.. X. Y. "Duui I ii inins I ri l ; uii-:.\i) IOIINSOX. ( )ur acquaintance has been short, but of such a nature as to insure you a firm place in my memorv. Sin cerely hoping that yon may ever meet with >uccess on life s stormy billows, I remain Your sincere friend, DR. C. VAX REXSSELAER CREED. Xew Haven. ( t.. August 8. 1861. 10 146 Al TOtlLOGRAFllY OF Dft. \VlLLlAM HENRY JOHNSON 1 . My friendly wishes to you. May you re walks be as conducive to the age as the rod of Moses was to the Israelites. Your friend, truly, J. C. BISHOP. Annapolis, Aid., November 22, [861. .With the highest considerations of respect and esteem, 1 am your friend, J. C. \VHITK, JR. Philadelphia, March 26, 1862. DAVIS T). Tl RXKR. Philadelphia. Pa. Don t forget Norwich, New Haven, the steamer Cahamba, Wash ington city, Camp Welles, Russell s School, Brown s Hotel, Taylor s Tavern, Camp McDowell, Falls Church, nor Your sincere friend, F. S. CHKSTKR. WASHINGTON, 7///V /, i8(u. WM. H. JOHNSON: With sincere gratitude for all your faithfulness to my dear son in the camp and on the field, 1 am, very trulv, your friend, A. V. CHFSTKk. Buffalo, August 20. 1861. GRAY GABLES, BUZZARDS BAY, MASS., August 8, 1892. WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, ESQ.: MY DEAR SIR. I desire to thank you for sending me a copy of the " Calcium Light." You are certainly engaged in a most laud able undertaking in your attempt " to obliterate the odious and senseless color line in politics." Very truly yours, GROVER CLEVELAND. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK DR. WILLIAM IILXKY J ( ) 1 1 XS< ).\. 147 ( )n the afternoon of December 30, 1898, while Dr. Johnson was Imsily engaged at his well-known establishment, an old friend and patron. "Jack" O Brien, entered the plaee with a plump i8-pound turkey in his hand. Mis face was lit up with smiles, and, addressing the doctor, he said: "Doc, Monday is Xew Year and everyone eats turkey on that day. Take this one and I hope you, your wife and the children will enjoy it." The doctor stopped work a minute and shot a glance at O Brien, and said: " 1 think this is a game of bluff, but. if you mean it, just lay that bird down." ( ) J-)rien did so, and, after a farewell salutation, departed. With a quick eye to business, the doctor made haste to get the turkey up to his house and within an hour after its arrival there, it was already to go in the oven for Monday. About 11.30 o clock that night, ()T>ricn walked into the estab lishment and asked for the turkey. Doc" looked at him and said. " \\liy man. that turkey is a goner, sure; what do vou mean? 1 It was all up with ( )T>rien. and he knew it. and, true to his Irish wit, he strolled out without a murmur. The story leaked out a few days later. It seems that Fred Rauscher and George Herrick had purchased the turkey to be raffled off at the White Elephant on Xew Year s eve. and that O Brien, thinking it would be a joke, stole the turkey that afternoon. He took it over to Sheriff William II. keeler. and asked him to hide it. Sheriff Keeler \viselv referred him to Johnson with his prize, knowing" how the doctor could hide turkeys or anything 1 else that had feathers. He took it to the doctor, who didn t do a thing to it Monday, and who washed it down with a little wet stuff. ( )T>rien settled for the turkey and has ever since warned everyone he met to beware of Dr. Johnson when they had turkeys to hide. Those who were on to the game, christened it the Tiger Hunt, and made Doc the hero of it. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHXSO.V. CHAPTER X. " BE You A NIGGER? " This question was asked us more than a score of years ago by a little Irish lad of about five years. There was a bitter feeling existing against the Xegro by the Irish inhabitants of the ward which we had recently moved into. It had been said that a colored man could not live in the street upon which we had moved, nor anywhere in the neighborhood, because of the hostility of the Irish people, and they abounded in that vicinity; there seemed to be an insurmountable barrier existing between the Irish and the Xegro races. So high did the feeling run against the Xegro that the little boys upon certain streets, just as soon as they saw a colored man put in an appearance, would insult him in any and every manner possible; would call out to him: " Xigger, nigger never die. black face and shiny eye. This was tantalizing, and often the irate and imprudent subject of the attack would retaliate upon the boys. l>y retort of words, or by blows, either of which was certain to bring to the reserve of the boys sufficient re-enforcement in the persons of half-grown men, to speedily demolish the object of the first assault, and \ve blacks were always getting the worst of it, whether we were right or not. \Ye had lived on the street at the time of the incident we are about to relate, about six or eight months, and had been greatly annoyed by the small boy, but apparently had paid no atten tion to it, determined to live the prejudice down, and, believing that by judicious treatment of the matter, the bad case of Irish prejudice against us could be cured. As we came down the street one after noon, the little boy, above-mentioned, stepped briskly out from a group of other boys who were sitting upon the front sloop of a house at whose windows we noticed several young men and some women. The little shaver stopped immediately in front of us and said: " I>e you a nigger?" We hesitated a moment; then, raising our voices so that those at the window could hear us, asked him if he had a mother. The little fellow seemed somewhat surprised, but answered in the affirmative. Then we asked him if they went to church. He again answered in the affirmative. " What church?" we asked. " St. Mary s." " Well, then, my good little boy," said we, " when you go home, you tell your mother, for she must be a AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 149 in joil woman if she regularlv attends Father Walworth s church, huw vou accosted a ])eacefnl, well-behaved colored man, who wants to live in this street, and thinks he can, because lie means to be civil and treat even-body like Christians, and that he told you to ask her if he is a nigger; if she tells you to continue to so call him, it will be all right: children ought to obey their parents." A few days later we passed down the same street and was again accosted by the same little boy, whose face was illuminated by smiles; reaching up his trim little hands, he said: " Mister, my ma says that you don t be a nigger, you be a man, and that me was naughty to say that to vou toder dav." \Ye took the little fellow s hand and pressed it warmlv, realizing more forcibly than ever that the Godly precept to return good for evil was of divine origin. The Xegro problem, as it is called, has been solved in this ward, citv and State. To-day the Afro- American has no warmer or more consistent friend than the Irish citizen, the Catholic church. [The Calcium Light, \Yilliam If. Johnson. Albany, X. Y., February 6, 1892. Tin-: FJHCTIOX OF DR. JOHNSON. The Color Line Drawn Applied for Seats in the Trimble Opera House in 18/0 and Insulted. Question of Color in Our Theatres The Following is a Tran script, and Tells Its Own Story of Persecution. On Thursday evening, Mr. Johnson, a colored barber, doing busi ness in Maiden Lane, having procured three reserved seat tickets for the dress circle of the Trimble Opera House, attempted, with his wife and child, to gain admission. The doorkeeper refused to admit him to the dress circle; he appealed to Mr. Lucien Barnes, the mana ger, insisting upon his right to the seats, as he had bought and paid for them. Mr. Barnes informed him that colored people were not admitted to the dress circle, but that a place was set apart for them in the family circle, and gave him the alternative of going there or leaving the theatre. Mr. Johnson, we understand, made consider able noise in insisting upon what he considered his rights, and was finally peremptorily ordered out of the building. At first he was not disposed to go, until he was ejected by force; but, yielding to the advice of friends, he left without further trouble. It is said that Johnson intends to prosecute Mr. Barnes for ejecting him from the opera house, and that the affair was got up purposely to make a 150 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DK. WILLIAM IfENRY JOHNSON. case in court, that the (|iicstion as to the rights of Negroes in thea tres may be determined. Mr. I James insists upon the justice of his rule, as it would utterly destroy the popularity of his place of amusement to admit colored people to the dress circle, and to per mit them to mingle indiscriminately with the whites. Whatever may be the abstract merits of the question, it must be confessed that, looking- at it from that point of view, Mr. Barnes makes a strong point on the basis of interest. However, our lawyers will doubtless have a pleasant time over it, if no one else does. [Albany Kvening Journal, Saturday evening, January 22,. 1870. THE EJECTMENT OK M R. JOHNSON KK<>M THE TKIMIH.E OPERA HOUSE. We have received the following card from Mr. Johnson, the col ored man, who was ejected from the Trimble Opera House- on Thursday last: ALBANY, January 24, 1870. MR. EDITOR. As there seems to be a disposition on the part of some, to misrepresent the circumstances attending the very unpleas ant affair which took place at the Trimble Opera House, on the- evening of the twentieth inst.. when my wife, child and self were forcibly ejected, and as there seems to be a determination to mould public opinion against me, by representing that I procured tickets through the assistance of a second party, " and that the affair was got up purposely to make a case in court, that the question as to the right of Xegroes in theatres might be decided," and further, that 1 was in league with other parties in a plot to annoy Mr. Barnes, and to disturb the peace and mar the enjoyment of the patrons of the opera hose, justice demands that the truth be told. The facts are simply these: I desired to attend the opera house; I did not know whether persons of color were or were not admitted. 1 had heard that they were, and I also heard that they were not. admitted; yet. I did not at any time believe that they would be refused admission ; neither did I believe that an orderly, respectable colored citizen, with his family, would be denied admittance to any proper public place. I thought, also, that the proper way to gain admission was by the purchase of tickets in person, at the box-office, and if there were any objections to be made to my admission, they would be made there, and that we would not be subjected to insult and outrage in the presence of the public. So, desiring to see the FATHER WALWORTH, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM 11HXKY JOIFXSOX. 153 opera house, and to witness Mr. Kddy s personation of the " I olice Spy," I stepped into the box-office about noon Thursday last, and bought two tickets for reserved seats in the dress circle and, then, upon reflection, 1 bought a third. The first two were bought for my son and myself: but, becoming satisfied that there were no objections to our entrance, and being still farther desirous that the seller of the tickets should have sufficient opportunity to discover mv color (which, by the way, is unmistakably dark), I purchased a third ticket, intending to invite Mrs. [ . to accompanv us. Having appeared myself at the box office, and having bought three tickets, two at lirst, and afterwards another all doubts, if anv existed, of my uninterrupted admission were removed. In the evening, mv wife, boy and self attended the opera house, and were forcibly ejected. These are the facts in the case. 1 had no thought of making this a test question for the courts, neither was 1 advised to do so. I acted for myself, and in perlect good faith. I purchased mv tickets at the box-office, in mid-day, and felt then, as I feel now, that at the box-office, and not at the entrance to the dress circle, the question of our admission ought to have been decided. WILLIAM II. JOHNSON. [Albany Evening Journal, Monday evening, Januarv 24, 1870. Dr. Johnson brought suit against the Trimble, laying damage at $2,000, in the Supreme Court. The case was referred to Counselor Kdward Xewcomb, whose report was in favor of the claimant. A compromise, however, was reached between the parties, without further litigation, the defendant agreeing to do business in the future upon equal rights principles and break the color line. The doctor withdrew his damage claim, and was admitted free to the opera house during the management of the Trimbles. The counsel tor the claimant were Messrs. Hand, Hale and Swartz; those for the defense were Messrs. Smith, Bancroft and Moak. Since then all theatres have been doing business upon the equal rights plan, until now, Mr. Jacobs sees fit to draw the " color line " in Harmanus lUeecker Hall, without consulting the trustees, and, regardless of the fact that the site upon which the Hall is built, was purchased by popular subscription. Dr. Johnson s $5 were received by the then managers as being as white as anybody s and, when he wants to enjoy a performance there, he will come pretty near doing so, or will learn, in a proper and legal manner, the reason why. 154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF t)R. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. WOMAN. There is in session, in this city, at this time, a convention whose duty it is to revise the Constitution of this State. As the organic law stands to-day, the women of the State are not in it. They are not recognized, excepting as citizens. This is not as it ought to be. She is as much entitled to the right of election as are men. The right to vote is not a natural right, possessed by all, but a conven tional one; as it stands to-day, men are the lords and masters of the suffrage that meet in conventions, and vo.te themselves, at the exclusion of their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters the abso lute right and privilege of election. This, I regard as a cowardly advantage taken. They plead the lame excuse that the best women don t want to vote, and that, if they did, their voting would lower the moral standard of the suffrage. Nonsense! As far as the prin ciple involved in this matter is concerned, it is none of their business, or mine, whether the best women want to vote or not. If there is one woman in ten thousand who wants to exercise the elective fran chise, she ought to possess that privilege. Now, as to her lowering the moral standing of the suffrage by going to the polls, it is the sheerest "bosh," and all history cries out against the outrage per petrated against our mothers, wires, sisters and daughters. Woman s influence has always been exerted for good. Gentlemen lift their hats to ladies on the highway and surrender their seats to them on the street cars and in crowded churches, the lecture-room and places of amusement. Men the common, every-day man, he that lays no claim to refinement or culture, does the same in the presence of woman in public places, and that, too, without stopping to determine the moral character of the representative of the sex that his mother belongs to. If women were allowed to vote, little time would be lost from the performance of their domestic duties, and there would be thrown around the voting places a halo of woman s beautiful moral, religious and elevating influence. I hope that the wise men constituting the Constitutional Con vention will do themselves justice by securing and awarding equal rights to their sisters. For a thousand years or more efforts have been expended in civi lized countries bv good, true and grand men for the lifting up of woman, from the degradation of serfdom and political oppression, to the high plane of sisterhood and equality; efforts in this line are being made to-day with bright and flattering prospects for success. Then let the good work go bravely on. This country has been ArTonior.KAPii v OF DK. WILLIAM HKXRY joiixsox. r^ transferred from slave to free. The Xcgro from a slave to a free man, and all of us eitizens. \Ve. therefore, turn our attention for a moment to the cause of woman. She is our mother, wife, sister and daughter. There is an unwar ranted prejudice against her. It, like slaverv. is the creation of ignorance and bigotry. It must, sooner or later, give wav to a broader and more comprehensive acceptance of woman for all that she represents and the enlargement of her sphere. As she is the companion and the helpmate of man, and as she has been so decreed by the laws of ( iod. she ought, also, to be accepted as his peer in all things. The women of this country, white and black, contribute materi ally to the cause of freedom. Among those that distinguished themselves, and earned hv their devotion to the cause of liberty, the imperishable gratitude of mankind, mav be mentioned Lucretia Mott. of Philadelphia: Filcn \\~atkins Harper, Llizabeth Cadv Stan- ton, Kdmonia Lewis, the sculptress, and Madame Louise l)e Mou- trie. of Hoston, who proved to be a Florence Nightingale doing nurse duty on the bivouac, the tented field and in the army hospitals in the citv of Xew ( h leans and elsewhere. \\oman! (iod bless her: she was and always is true, always on the side of mercy and justice. She cared for and helped the panting fugitive in his efforts for freedom. She cared for and nursed the sick, the distressed and the indigent: and she did so without regard to their color or their sex. She furnished money and provender out of her scant} means to the I nion soldiers on their way to the war for freedom, and she followed them with her prayers to the battlefield. When the cruel war was over she stretched forth her open hands and her warm heart in greetings to the returning veterans. She is entitled to the highest commendations of her fellow-men. Her efforts are not to be despised. She has kept green the graves of all the heroes that fell in all the battles for freedom. She has nobly fulfilled her mission as a patriotic citizen. She has helped ennoble and unfold the beauties of the human character. \Ye have before us in our review the life work of intelligent, educated and Christian classes, both women and men; those that have demonstrated their aptitude to comprehend and master the problems of the hour. In my judgment, deliberately and consider ately formed, :*. < ///</// is the equal and peer of man. Individually and collectively, their paths lie in the same direction: they are to go on and upward side bv side, gathering strength and force as they proceed. 1 56 ArTor.ior.KAriiY OF DR. WILLIAM IIEXRY JOHNSON. Society, by their joint, united and intellectual teaching, and bv the lorce of their practical example, is to be purified, beautified and unfolded, in its highest perfection, made blessed before heaven and in the sight of Almighty God. Freely ye have received; freely give." This is the autlmrative mandate of humanity, as well as of Divine Providence and revelation. \Yoman is often and unjustly hindered and discouraged in her reformatory work. She is admonished to halt, to go slow, ller sphere of labor and the line of duty marked out is often abridged and retarded by the mandate of man, because, forsooth, lie, having all the say in the political economy of current events and affairs of State, arrogates to himself the commanding and the dictatorial position in life. But, in the ages yet unfolded when the last pilgrim shall have reached the summit of his glories; when the Beatitudes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John shall attain their deserved admiration; and the Marys, the Marthas, Elizabeths, Ruths and Rachels of biblical history and renown, stretch forth their sainted hands to welcome the pure and just; then, and not until then, will be found the achieve ments of woman inscribed upon the life s book of the angels as true, just and most substantially beneficial. [For the Albany Capitol, by \Ym. H. Johnson. Albany, July 4. 1894. WHAT THE LEADERS SAY. Tlic Republican Colored League, of Alban\\ Wants a Man from the Interior Honored. \Ye have received the following: ALP.AXY, September 19, 1887. To TIH-: ALP, AX Y JOURNAL: The Republican party, in State Convention last week, after plac ing in nomination a most excellent State ticket, and promulgating an unexceptional!} good and strong platform of principles, with unanimity adopted a resolution authorizing the State Committee to select a colored man as a State committeeman-at-large. The State Committee will meet on the twenty-second, and after its formal organization will undoubtedly make a selection. Now, we have to suggest that the man named for that position be one capable and AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 157 worthy of the place, and a representative Republican and not a per sonal favorite. There are about 25,000 colored voters in this State, nine-tenths of whom have uniformly voted the Republican ticket, and in the selection of a man to represent them great care ought to 1)0 taken in naming a man that would prove acceptable to the great est number. The interest of all throughout the entire State should be considered. Two years ago a colored gentleman, a resident of the citv of Xe\v York, Mr. Louis Williams, was appointed to that place; this year the selection ought, by right, to come from the interior, and, in deference to this principle, there will be presented to the committee, among others, the name of a man who enjoys the confidence of the party of both races, equal, if not superior, to any other; a man who, bv his fearless and untiring fealty to the party for the last twenty-five years, entitles him and his friends to recognition at the hands of the committee of the party. WILLIAM II. YOPP, Chairman, WILLIAM IT. CHAPMAN, Secretary, Colored Republican League. XHW YORK, September 22, 1887. DK. \\ .M. H. JOHNSON, 27 Maiden Lane, Albany, N. Y.: Congratulations on your election as State Committeeman; yon received 22 votes; Trower, 4; Derrick. 8. JOHN A. SLKlCIIKk. (From the Albany Evening Journal.) ALHANV, September 24, 1887. Mr. Johnson, in accepting the honor, intends to lay aside all per sonal feeling, and work energetically for the good of the partv. To-dav he sent the following letter to the Rev. William l>. Derrick, and a similar one to |. A. I rower, his two competitors: 1 )R. W. r>. DERRICK: DKAR SIR. I would be pleased to meet and confer with von in the interest of the grand old party when 1 tome to New York city, which will be soon, though I cannot now fix the date. I am, yours truly, etc., YV. II. rOHNSON. 158 AUTOJJIOGRAI HY OE DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSOX. NEW YORK CITY, 218 SULLIVAN STREET, September 26, 1887. ])R. \\". if. JOHNSON, Albany: DEAR SIR. Yours of the twenty-fourth instant came safely to hand. I am with you. Anything" that I can do in assisting the part} to victorv, I stand ready to do. Yours truly, \V. P.. DERRICK. 1>ROOKLYX, X. Y., 382 S. Koi RTII STREET, October 2, 1887. \Y. H. JOHNSON, Eso.: DEAR SIR. Yours of the twenty-fourth and twenty-ninth were duly received. I would have written before, but I have been out for ten days, every night from eight to twelve o clock shaping things for the interests of the Republicans in our count} and State. Sir, as our standard bearer, I congratulate you. Every man of my race- should help to support you as Republican State Committeeman. I shall be more than glad to confer with you concerning the inter ests of the Republican party and my race. 1 will meet you Friday at ten o clock at the Republican 1 lead- quarters, Eifth Avenue Hotel. Yours fraternally, j. A. TROXYKR. AUTOUIOGRA1 J HY OF DR. WfLLIAM IIKXKY JOHXSOX. 159 CHAPTER XI. Tin-: ALT? AN v KXPRKSS. ALP, AX v, October i, 1868. (Circulating Library.) The Albany Library Association purpose, as soon as they collect a sufficient number of books, to open a circulating library in this city, to be used principally as an educator of colored people, thereby helping to fit them to assume the duties of citizenship, which have descended upon them by the will of the American people. Members are solicited, without regard to race or color. Membership, $1.00 per year; or, $5.00 for life. An appeal is hereby made to the friends of progressive education, to contribute to this enterprise, bv giving books, large or small, old or new, few or many. Friends, knowing that, without diminishing your own prosperity, you can assist us in our efforts for self-educa tion, the undersigned ask some donation from you, and for the same will thank you most sincerely. Hoard of Managers: President, William 11. Johnson; vice-presi dent, Leonard H. Jackson; recording secretary. J. O. Allen; treas urer, Gideon Lippitt; corresponding secretary, J. A. Smith; sergeant-at-arms, Charles Van Vranken; librarian, Edward Crosby. Any information desired can be obtained by addressing WILLIAM H. JOHXSOX, 27 Maiden Lane, .llban\. A. ) . THE ARGUS. THURSDAY MORXJXG, October 7, 1869. The first annal election of the Albany Literary Association took place Tuesday evening, and resulted in the election of the following officers for the ensuing year: President, William H. Johnson; vice-president, Thomas Llkins: treasurer, Gideon Lippitt; recording secretary, J. Q. Allen; cor responding secretary, C. H. Van Vranken; librarian, C. H. Butler; master of ceremonies, J. A. Smith. 160 AUTomor.RAPiiY or DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. ALBANY LITERARY ASSOCIATION. The first annual meeting of the Albany Literary Association was held last evening. The attendance was large, and much interest was manifested in the working of the Association. The following report of the president was made: To the Albany Literary Association: The undersigned desires respectfully to report that, under instruc tions of the board, adopted February 15, 1869, he has purchased for the library one hundred and one books in the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Albany, and that he has paid for books $75.82; for transportation of books, $4.00, and for fare to Xew York and back. $6.20. Total amount expended, $86.02. Thirty-five dollars of this amount was drawn from the treasurer, by order of the board, and the balance, $51.02, was obtained by individual subscriptions, and for which members certificates have been issued to both old and young persons, who, owing to adverse circumstances with which they were surrounded, would otherwise have been unable to enjoy the benefits of a circulating library. lie desires further to report that there is in the library at this time, catalogued and in circulation, five hundred and twelve volumes of miscellaneous works; that they comprise subjects of history, ancient and modern; religious and moral writings, works of science, art and agriculture; poetry translated from the classics, etc.; also, choice 1 selections from celebrated and standard romantic and historical nov elists. Four hundred and eleven of these volumes have been gen erously contributed by the friends of education in this city, and to all such the thanks of the association are due, and have been voted by the board of managers. The other one hundred and one were pur chased with a view to complete the classification above enumerated. The contribution of books to the library trom all sources, since 1 January 8, 1869 (when our first appeal was made), to date, have been five hundred and fifty in all. Some of these, although very good books, were quite unfit for the use of a librarv like ours, and many of such were given to the A. M. R. Sabbath School, while others were changed for books more suitable for our purpose. Idie Association was organized October 5, 1868, with eleven mem bers, and legalized by articles of incorporation, March 30, 1 869. The library opened April 13, 1861;, and there has been a total of 241 books drawn therefrom by subscribers. The Association has steadily increased in numbers and influence, until, to-dav, we have no less than 102 financial members, one book- AUToiJlOCkAPll Y OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. l6l case, 512 books, and $53.78 in the treasury, all free from any incumbrance whatever. The undersigned would do injustice to his feelings and bridle the truth, did he not, in closing this report, vouchsafe his unfeigned and heartfelt thanks to the members of the association, the city press, and the public, who have supported the institution from first to last, and, without whose support and influ ence, his efforts would have been fruitless, and to assure the many friends of his and the library movements, who, by their votes cast at the late election, which has resulted in the re-election of himself and his supporters on the association ticket, that he and they esteem it as another mark of the people s confidence and approbation, and it enables us to indulge in the pleasant prophecy that the success of the association, during the incoming year, will comport with the expectations of its most sanguine friends. \Y. II. JOIIXSON, President. ALT, ANY, October 19, 1869. The secretary and treasurer s report shows the total amount received from all sources, since October 5, 1868, to have been $21 !.<)<); amount expended, $158.21; cash balance, $53.78. Al< >RN ixc EXPRESS. WEDNESDAY, Xo-i cinbcr 29, 1871. (Amusements.) Albany Literary Association. This Association will inaugurate its fall and winter series of entertainments with a literary and musi cal fete to-morrow (Thanksgiving) evening, at the Chestnut Street Baptist church. The program comprises readings, addresses, reci tations and vocal music, with piano accompaniment. Wm. H. Johnson, Esq., will deliver an address on "Society," and John O. Allen 011 " Thanksgiving," while Misses Abbie Van Vranken, A. Satchell, Julia E. La Tour, Mary H. Matthews and Julia B. Crosby will read and sing choice selections. The entertainment will undonbtedlv be very interesting and instructive. Admission, twenty-five cents. 11 102 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. I ).\i LY KNICKERBOCKER. ALMANY, KRIDAY MORXIXT., Xoi cinhcr 17, 1871. 7 he A cgro Soldier. Shall llis Services I>e Rewarded? An Application for [anitor of the Senate. During the late war for the t nion, none will (|iiestion that the col ored troops fought bravely. And none among those who entered the service acted with a nobler spirit than William II. Johnson, the well-known barber, of this city. In 1861. when the call for volun teers was made. Mr. Johnson shouldered a musket and proceeded to Washington with the Second Connecticut Regiment on a three months campaign. This was a white regiment, and the mustering officer refused to muster Mr. Johnson. Notwithstanding this fact, he went out anyway, and did faithful duty. When the regiment returned home, Mr. Johnson went to the front with the Righth Connecticut, and with that body took part in the famous battle of Roanoke, under ( ieneral lUirnside. and was commended for his bravery by every officer in the command, lie then came to Albany, and did more towards enlisting colored men than any other. Tn fact, it was under his advice and direction, that all the colored troops left this citv. Me stands high to-day among the colored population of Albany, and devotes the greater portion of his time to the advancement of men of color, as good, law-abiding citizens. He was born in Alexandria, and is self-educated. He is withal an active Republican and hard worker for the principles of that party among his fellows, l/nder these circumstances. Mr. Johnson pre sents himself before the members of the Republican party, and the next Legislature in particular, for the position of janitor to the Sen ate chamber. The question now is: Shall the services he has ren dered to his country and his party be rewarded? Mis claim is cer tainly deserving of recognition, and we hope it will receive due attention. ALHAXY RYKXIXC JOTUXAL. TrKSDAY, January 2, 1871. (Organization of the Senate.) The Republican caucus united upon Mr. Terwilliger, as clerk of the Senate, without the formality of a ballot. This unanimity was Al TOIilOGKAI IIY OF DR. WILLIAM IIHXRV JoHXSOX. 163 a compliment to his experience and skill, which had been earned bv long 1 and faithful service. The subordinate officers are gentlemen of conceded personal merit, who will discharge their several trusts with courtesy and fidelitv. Albanians will verv heartily acquiesce in the selection of William H. Johnson, a colored Republican, for the position of jani tor. It was a just and right thing to do. TIIK PRESS. SUNDAY, January 7, 1872. The Senate appointed a colored man named Johnson, keeper of the Senate chamber. The appointment gives great satisfaction to a large number of our citizens; but it has been intimated that a poorer man would have been more acceptable. ALHAXY, X. Y., May 10, 1873. A RF.M LxisrKxcF OF TIIK LATF WAR. (By \Ym. 11. Johnson, of Albany.) While our regiment, the Second Connecticut, was stationed at Camp Mansfield, on Seventh street, Washington, 1). C., in the early part of lime. 1861, six fugitive slaves came into the cam]); they were one-half of a dozen who had escaped from Flliott Mills, Md., believ ing, as they did, that if they could gain the Cnion lines they would be free: and, acting upon this assumption, six of the number went into the cam]) of the Fourteenth Xew York Regiment, of Brooklyn. commanded by Colonel Wood, and six came into our camp. A few davs later a letter appeared in one of the Washington papers, written by the chaplain of our regiment, in which the writer con gratulated the anti-slaver} cause upon the fact that the slaves were aroused and fully understood the situation, and that they were com ing into our lines and would contribute greatly to the success of the Cnion cause, and instanced the fact that these men were in those regiments. This letter furnished just the information that the mas ters of these slaves most desired, and they at once betook themselves to the task of seeking out and reclaiming their chattel property. They applied to Ceneral Mansfield, then commanding the post of the District of Columbia, and obtained from him an order reclaiming their property, if found within his lines. Being armed with that order thev made a raid upon the camp of the Fourteenth Brooklyn 104 AL TOmOGkAtHY Ot l)k. WILLIAM 1IKNRY JOHNSoK. Regiment, and, with the consent of Colonel Wood, the slaves were captured, placed in irons, and, under escort of a detachment of the regiment, returned to their masters. The news of the return of these men soon reached us, and, in anticipation of a like raid being made upon our camp for the capture of the six therein, it was at once arranged by Messrs. Henry Cross, Edward Huitt and myself that the men should remain in camp during the night, but should be passed over the lines and remain in the adjacent wood during the daytime; and in this way we hoped to be able to successfully frus trate the purposes of the slave hunters. .Hut, almost before we had time to perfect our plans, our camp was visited by the masters of the men, officers of the city government, and an aid from headquar ters, bearing an order from General Mansfield to Colonel Terry, our commandant, demanding the rendition of the slaves, if found in his camp. The colonel (Terry ) thereupon issued an order, commanding all the colored men in the regiment to report to his headquarters upon the instant. This course was suggested by the colonel, who would not allow the camp to be searched, as the slave hunters desired to. The colonel assured the southerners that when the men mus tered in front of his headquarters, if their slaves were among the number, that they would be at liberty to identify and take them away. The order was given to Captain Gore, of a Hartford com pany, to execute. The captain passed the order along the line of the officers and privates tents, and the colored men -their being many such connected with the regiment in different capacities all responded, and at once reported to the colonel, excepting the slaves. Messrs. Cross, Huitt and myself, the former being over the lines in the wood, and we being determined not to obey the order at that time, but to fight the thing " out on that line, if it took all summer." When the captain gave us the order, we flatly refused to obey; this very much enraged him, and I, being spokesman for the other two and myself, he resolved to drive me up at the point of the sword; and, suiting the action to the thought, he drew his side arm, and commanded me to " right about face, and march," and I, in return. drew my revolver, and, placing myself in a position of defense, defied the gallant captain to advance. He, deeming " discretion the better part of valor," left me, and went in search of assistance, and [ went out upon the parade ground, where Lieutenant-Colonel Young was drilling the regiment in battalion movements, and informed my friend. Captain Frank Chester, that my arrest had been ordered, and that, too, at the instance of slave hunters; and, that being at one time a resident of Alexandria, Ya., 1 was not sure but that my personal liberty was AUTonioc.RAprrY OF DR. WILLIAM ITKXRY jonxsox. 165 in jeopardy, and in a loud tone of voice entreated protection for nivself and for the slaves at the hands of my old comrades of the regiment that had marched from the green fields of free Connecticut to uphold the Stars and Stripes of the Union, and to beat back and trample under foot the rebels of the South. The sympathies of the regiment were at once enlisted, and each man resolved for himself not to suffer the same or a like indignity and disgrace to stain the fair escutcheon of his regiment which had besmeared that of the Fourteenth Xew York, and then, in company with Captain Chester, backed by almost the entire regiment. 1 went to the colonel s headquarters, where T was at once confronted with the slave hunters, whom T, in measured tones, denounced and defied. I informed them that they would not find any sympathy or comfort in that regiment in their hellish design to enslave their fellow-man, and that it was our fixed purpose never to allow in our camp a human being to be branded as a slave, let it cost what it might: and that the coat of arms of the good old Nutmeg State of Connecticut protected everv man in his personal liberty, wherever it covered him, N orth or South. This determined action on the part of Messrs. Cross, Huitt and myself, sanctioned, as it was, by the almost unani mous sentiment of the regiment, had the effect of expelling from our camp the slave hunters and rendering their further search in that direction hopeless, and we had the satisfaction of being able to carrv to Connecticut with us on our return north, not only these six fugitives from Klliott Mills, but nine others taken from Falls Church and Upton Hill. Virginia. Some of the same men, I am told, are now worthy and good citizens of Xew Haven and Xew London, Conn. The most pleasant feature of the entire affair is that the course pursued by us in this matter met with the hearty approval of Col. A. H. Terry, a nobler and better man, a more humane soldier, and a more thorough Christian gentleman and philanthropist, I never had the pleasure to meet. At a later date, when in Xew Lon don county, Conn., the question of the colonel s approbation of my course being raised, he wrote me the following note at my request; it speaks for itself (God bless Colonel [now General] A. IT. Terry. of Fort Fisher fame) : XKW HAYKX, August 23, 1861. MR. WILLIAM H. TOHXSOX: DEAR SIR. With a great deal of respect for you, I send you my autograph, as you have desired. Very truly yours, ALFRED H. TERRY. [Progressive American, Xew York, September 31, 1861. [66 Al-Tor.IOr.KAIMlY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRV JOJIXSOX. Ai.i .AXY, December 4, iNh^. This is to certify that \\"illiani II. Johnson, recruiting agent, has presented Thomas Hall, who has been enlisted this day to serve in the Twentieth Regiment I . S. Colored Troops, and has received the county bounty of three hundred dollars. (). COLE, i api. and I ro. Mar. i_|/// Disl. S. X. > ., Mustering Officer. 2^2 \Yl-:ST TwHXTY-Sl NTH STKKKT, XKW YORK, July j<j, 1^/5. WM. H. jonxsox, Eso.: DEAR SIR. I have just returned from Rome. Italy, with a large number of works of sculpture and among them is a life-size bust of our noble Sumner. It is highly spoken of. ! have received orders for a number of them from many friends and old admirers of the deceased, but much loved, champion of freedom. Dear old Mr. Hudson, of this city, has ordered one for himself, and he thinks that you would likely be pleased with a life-size bust of the distinguished patriot. He says that he is led to think so, because you have, to a greater degree than any other colored man, emulated the noble example of Mr. Sumner by your public labor in the civil rights cause in this State, which, by the way. you know, was the home of my birth. Indeed, Mr. Hudson speaks so highly of your worth and public works, that I am deeply interested, and, together with him and other friends here, are most willing to do something toward causing the bust of Sumner to be presented to you. The price of the bust is two hundred dollars ($200). Xow, sir. if yon would like to have one. 1 do not hesitate to assure yon, from what I know of the high esteem in which yon are held by the good old anti-slavery people here and in Albany, that I can, if I would, and 1 TC///, if yon say so, raise by subscription sufficient funds to remunerate me for the bust. Xow, sir, when the bust is subscribed for and presented to you, in some hall or church, as you may see fit, we will expect a good big speech from you, that will carry us back to the best days of our lamented Sumner. A favor able reply is awaited by Yours sincerely, EDMONIA LEWIS. < HAl. LES II. LAXSIN<;. Jii., Of Kinys County, Temporary Chairman of the Cleveland State League Convention, THOMAS II. L>IG<;S. E^}., Colored Leader of Albany Democracy. I THK NEW YOHK S i ATE CLEVELAND LEAGUE At the Stale Street Entrance to the (Government BuilUinir, Albany, N. V., May 26, 1892, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 169 MY VERY DEAR AND MUCH ESTEEMED Miss EDMONIA LEWIS: Your favor of the twenty-ninth ultimo is at hand, and I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the same, and to assure you that I am profoundly sensible of the great honor done me by your distin guished recollections of my unworthy services; you are also pleased to inform me that you have just returned from Rome, with a large number of works of art, and among them life-size bust of the dis tinguished and lamented Sumner, and that you have had orders for several; that it has been suggested to you that I would like to have a bust of our honorable Sumner, and you also inform me that you are willing, with other friends, to undertake the trouble to raise by subscription sufficient funds to pay for the bust and cause the same to be presented to me. Dear Miss Lewis, the information conveyed to me in your kind letter, touching your successful mission, and the happy accomplish ment of your artistic work at Rome, deserves and receives my pro found and heartfelt congratulation, as was also the flattering men tion you make of my fitness to be the recipient of so valuable a mark of esteem of my fellow-citizens of Xew York, place me under renewed and lasting obligations to you and to Air. Hudson and to all others interested. To simply say that 1 would be delighted to be the possessor of a life-size bust of the dead Senator, and to assure you that 1 would be proud to know that that work of art was the creation of your talent and labor, would but faintly express my true feeling; still, language at my command is inadequate to express more. With distinguished consideration, I have the honor to remain Yours truly, W. H. JOHNSON, 27 Maiden Lane. Albany. August 3, 18/5. THE ARGUS. ALBANY, WEDNESDAY, August 25, 1875. (Testimonial to Wm. H. Johnson.) The African M. E. church, in Hamilton street, was last evening the scene of a pleasant gathering. There had collected there before eight o clock a large number of the friends of Wm. H. Johnson, Esq., including a number of our prominent citizens who have admired the course of Mr. Johnson in relation to the emancipation of his race. 170 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM FIEXRY JOHNSON. In consideration of his valuable services in that connection, and as a slight testimonial of their regard and esteem, it was determined to present Mr. Johnson a life-size bust of the late lion. Charles Sunnier, whose illustrious example he was humbly endeavoring to follow. This gift was very appropriate in this respect, not only, but for the reason that it was executed by a colored artist. Miss Fdmonia Lewis, at Rome. The exercises in connection with the presentation were very pleasing, and were opened with an overture on the piano, " Le ( irand Entertainment," by Master S. Lippit. after which a brief, but appropriate, introductory address of welcome was delivered bv Mr. (i. \Y. Johnson, chairman of the meeting. The followin exercises were then one throuh with: Prayer ...................................... Rev. |. A. Solo ........................................ Miss J. M. Latour Reading Freedom ...................... Miss A. X. Chapman Solo ...................................... Mr. I>. F. Combash ( )verture, Piano Grand Honor Le Patriot. .Miss A. M. Chapman During the performance of which the artist, Miss Fdmonia Lewis, of Rome, Italy, unveiled the bust. Presentation and address ...................... F. \Y. Crosby, Jr. Duet Beautiful Venice ........... Misses Latour and Thompson Reading Sunnier ......................... Miss M. (). Crosby Solo .................................... Miss ( ). F. Thompson Recitation Battle .......................... Charles H. Butler Trio. . .Mr. S. H. Mando, Misses J. M. Latour and ( ). V.. Thompson The presentation address of Mr. F. \V. Crosby was most admira bly suited to the occasion, and commanded, throughout its delivery, the closest attention of his auditors. It dwelt upon the character of the late distinguished statesman, and gave a very clear insight into his life and services. In response to the presentation address, Mr. Johnson, the recipient of the honors of the evening, feelingly and appropriately responded at considerable length. He alluded to the humble part he had taken in the grand work laid out by Mr. Sum- ner, remarked that he made no pretensions to being called the cham pion of his race. In conclusion, he read the letter of Miss Lewis, the sculptress, to himself, in relation to the bust and its presentation, and his own response thereto. The exercises, which were a fitting recognition of the valuable services of Mr. Johnson in the emanci pation of his race, were brought to a close with a benediction by Rev. I). Dorrell. At their conclusion the company was served with refreshments, to which ample justice was done. The following gen- \.M IIK.YRY JOHXSOX. I/I tlemen acted as a committee of arrangements: Messrs. Thomas Llk- ins, Julius A. Douge, \\"illiani C. ( iardner, George L. Morgan, Charles II. I>utler. Ceorge \\ . Johnson, J. P. Hardin. Benjamin I ; . Combash (I. Lippit and \\ illiam II. Anthony. I i\ 1 1 >.\y , ./////( jo, i ()(Hi. To flic Editor of the Journal : I Mease permit me to say a word through vour columns, touching the eloquent and well-delivered sermon, last Sunday, bv that great, good man of our city, the Rev. Dr. Prundage. His subject was: Is the Xegro a Man?" The doctor takes high ground, and the basis of his subject was justice to the " Xegro as a Citizen." The doctor is all right, and I want to thanl\ him for the able and appreci ative stand he has taken for equal rights. I le is entitled to the high est commendations of my race, as well as that of all good citizens here and elsewheiv. Mis position is sound and logical on general principles. Still, I cannot be silent, when, by implication, the good doctor is led to criticise and condemn what he regards as social dis crimination on the part of our white citizens. If he knew as much about that subject as I do, he would not have included the mislead ing sentence in his otherwise masterly address. I quote him rvr- bcithn, and denv the truth of the assertion, and am prepared to prove that the reverse is true. The doctor savs: " A Xegro in our city - a high-minded, cultivated gentleman, whose wife is a refined woman, a true lady, has found it almost impossible to secure a respectable home in Albany. Real estate agents will not and cannot rent him a house anywhere except in the poorer quarters of the city." This is misleading. I declare, and that with emphasis, without fear of contradiction from am source, that the city of Albany is as free from social prejudice as any city in the I nited States; that good, industrious, intelligent, well-disposed Xegroes are treated as well, on general principles, as thev deserve or desire to be treated. They can buy property or rent houses in any quarter of the city, if possessed with the collateral and the requisite character and reputation. WILLIAM H. JOHXSOX, 2 1 / Maiden Lane. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY TOfTNSON. TlIl RSDAY, .IllgliSl 2, K/K). ( I Ionic 1 versus Foreign Missions.) To the Editor of the Journal: The other day I was handed a little bi-monthly magazine. Its title is "The Work at Home." It is the official organ of the Albany Citv Tract and Missionary Society. It is the January and ! ; cbruarv edi tion, Vol. 25, Xo. i. The title of this little leaflet struck me forcibly. " \York at home." missionary " work at home." I perused its fourteen pages with interest. 1 had been reading the rumors of massacre of Christian missionaries in far-off China. I was thinking what a pity it was to spend so much money and sacrifice so many precious American lives in the useless and fruitless endeavor to Christianize the Chinese, whose origin and development render them almost hopelessly beyond the purview of Christianity. " The work at home " is one that ought to appeal to every Albanian. On page 10, under the caption of " \Yoman s Auxiliary," 1 notice the follow ing 1 item: " Airs. Van Aucken, matron of the Boys lodging-house." The name brought vividly to my mind a Mr. \Y. E. Van Aucken whom 1 knew years ago. He was then engaged with the late S. R. dray, in the Bible and book publishing business on State street. My curiosity was aroused. The work at home" and the Van Aucken name ran pleasantly in my mind. A few evenings later. while meandering along upper Broadway, I observed a lettered sign hanging against the front of the three-story and high basement brick building, Xo. 712. at the head of Spencer street, and opposite the Hotel Yendome. It read: "Boys lodging house; open from five till ten p. M. Accommodations for boys and men." " The work at home and the name " Van Aucken " came fresh again to my mind, and I ventured to mount the high stone steps that led to the main approach and to ring the bell. The door was almost immediately opened, and by my old friend, W. E. Van Aucken. He greeted me cordially and invited me to enter. After a short rest, he conducted me all over the home for boys and men. Eirst we visited the basement. The large front room is used as a dining hall. In the rear is the kitchen and a pantry with an ice chest, and on the other side of the hall is a hot air furnace. It is of sufficient capacity to warm the entire house in the coldest weather. There are also on this floor bath and toilet rooms, with hot and cold water in abundance. Ascending to the principal floor, we AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 173 entered, through the large, airy hall, the parlor, a room twenty-five In forty feet. It contains a large reading table covered all over with good reading matter, a bookcase, easy chairs, looking-glass, a square piano and pictures. I saw a portrait of Gladstone and one of Garfield. These were the gifts of friends. There is room for more. 1 would have been pleased had 1 seen in these boys rooms the portraits of Washington, Lincoln and Grant. There is, how ever, a striking reminder everywhere of the Christian missionary work of this branch of the City Tract and Missionary Society. 1 noticed on the walls such mottoes as "Welcome," "In God We Trust," " Christ said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, ar.d forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God," with other reminders of God s gracious providence. On this floor are recep tion and office rooms, also the living apartments of Mr. and Mrs. Van Aucken, their two children, a son and daughter. On the sec ond floor are the boys sleeping rooms, four in all, containing twenty steel wire cots and as many hair mattresses. On the third floor is the same number of rooms and beds for men. The men and boys are on different floors and absolutely separate from each other. Everything in sight betokened rest and comfort. This is mission ary work at home, as conducted in Albany by the City Tract and Missionary Society, whose office is in Douw s Building, corner of Broadway and State street. Xo clean, hopeful boy need go bedless or without a good warm breakfast if he possesses a dime. The dime is charged only for those whose means are limited, but who are too manly to beg. Mr. Van Aucken assured me that no good boy or sober man, if ever so indigent, is turned away from the home at night, whether the dime is forthcoming or not. God bless these good people those that conduct the City Tract and Missionary work at home. WILLIAM IT. IOJ1XSOX. CLUP. WOMEN AT THE C API Tor.. First Day s Sessions of the Federation Xegro Delegate. Mrs. William Tod Ilelmuth, president of the Xew York State Federation of Woman s Clubs, took up her position at 9 o clock yesterday morning in the chair of the Assembly Chamber, with the very dainty blue and silver bonnet exactly in the center of the coat- of-arms of Xew York State, between the Liberty and Justice figures. The speaker s desk was flanked by g-orgeous bouquets 1^4 AI TOI .IOCK. \1MIV OK DR. WILLIAM IIKNRV JOllXSoX. American IJcauty roses sent by the Albany Mothers Club, and yellow chrysanthemums, and the semi-circle of seats of the mem bers of the Legislature blossomed with rows of millinery. The gathering was not a large one, and the credentials committee had its hands full in distributing the prettv green and white badges lo proud delegates. The morning session was chiefly devoted to the necessary red tape and roll call, but it served to introduce several notable women -Rev. Antoinette Blackwell, who gave the invocation, for instance and it included Airs. Helmuth s address, which occupied two columns in the afternoon papers, reviewed the progress of woman s clubs since 1868, quoted Mrs. Browning, and was from every standpoint just what a woman s club federation president s address should be. The most interesting woman in this gathering, representing the two hundred and four federated clubs of this State, was Mrs. X. Jerome Jeffreys, of the Home Association of Rochester, the onlv Negro delegate to the federation convention. Mrs. Jeffreys is a teacher of music, active in the work of the Rochester association, a refined and earnest woman, and she was courteously received by the club women vesterday, granted every privilege of the floor and was an attentive listener at both sessions, seated in the midst of a group of society women. Mrs. Jeffreys is the only Xegro mem ber of the club she represents. All discussion of the "color ques tion," the one element of possible excitement in this peaceful gathering, had been avoided by the diplomatic decision of the executive committee, which, as before stated, refused to entertain the protests of the Rochester Home Association and the L tica Xew Century Club, anent the Milwaukee convention s action on the color question, on the ground that there had been no official action on the part of the national body, and " no cognizance could be taken of rumors." I nder the head of "important business," at the after noon session, full opportunity was given for motions and speeches from the floor, but the "color question" was not introduced, and Mrs. Jeffreys sat quietly and interestedly till adjournment [The Argus, Albany. X. Y., X ovember 14. 1900. \Ye are pleased to note the honor paid the Race by the Xew York Federation of \Yoman s Clubs, now in session in this city. The courteous and just treatment of Mrs. Jeffreys is especially gratifying, because of the fact that she is well known and highly respected here where she and her husband, Mr. X. Jerome Jeffreys, resided for manv vears. Ai ToniooRAiMi Y OF DR. WILLIAM IIFXRY JOHNSON. 175 STATK FHDKRATIOX KLKCTS ( )FFICKRS AND ADJOTRXS. \\ ith a dinner given last night by Mrs. William Tod Helmuth, to tlie outgoing and incoming officers, the sixth annual convention of the Xe\v York State Federation of Women s Clubs passed into history. The Federation opens upon another year of work with the follow ing new staff of officers: President Mrs. Cornelius Zabriskie, Brooklyn. First Vice-President Mrs. Charles M. Dow, Jamestown. Second Vice- President Miss Lucy C. Watson. L tica. Recording Secretary Mrs. Arthur Ford, ( )neonta. Corresponding Secretarv Mrs. Van Loon Lynch. Syracuse. Treasurer Mrs. William Eastwood, Rochester. ( ieneral Federation Secretarv Miss Anna Maxwell Jones, Saratoga Springs. The four members of the executive board for 1900-1902 Mrs. William Goodridge, Flushing; Mrs. Wolcott J. Humphrey, War saw; Mrs. A. T. Campbell. Binghamton; Mrs. William H. Seward. Auburn. To till the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Dow from the executive board, which holds over another year. Mrs. Harry Hastings, of Xew York, was appointed, which gives the following personnel to the executive board of 1899-1901: Mrs. \\estover Alden, Xew York citv; Mrs. S. H. Lamed, Syracuse; Mrs. George W. Townsend, Buffalo; Mrs. Harry Hastings. Xew York city. Standing committee for the nomination of the four officers of the executive board next year: Miss Ellen Miles, of Xew York; Mrs. Mary Leavenworth, of Syracuse; Mrs. Bertha X. D. Lester, of Saratoga: Dr. Ida Bender, of Buffalo: Mrs. W. C. Gouinlock. of Warsaw. [The Argus, Albany. X. Y., X ovember 17, 1900. HAMPTOX XOKMAL AND AGRICULTURAL IXSTITTTF. HAMPTON. VA.. Xoi ciubcr 13. 1900. M R. j< HIN ( i. MYERS: DFAR SIR. We send enclosed a letter fiom Claudius Pitt, your Hampton scholarship student. He was promoted to the senior class at the close of the school last June, and will, if nothing happens, complete our academic course this year. It is yet early in 176 Al/ roniOGRAPJlY 01- DR. WILLIAM TIEXRY JOll.VSoN. the term to report on his progress, but judging from the record lie made last year, he will do well. Thanking you most heartily for all that your kind gift of two years ago is making possible for him. 1 am, Sincerely yours, M. J. SHERMAN. .HAMPTON NORMAL AND AGRICULTURAL INSTITI:TK. HAMPTON, \ A., November 12, 1900. MR. MYERS: KIND FRIEND. Again I enjoy even more than ever the privi lege of writing to you in the behalf of your kindness which you have shown to me bv paying my scholarship during the time I have been at Hampton. 1 received the letter that you sent to me last term, and my greatest effort is to follow your instructions by preparing myself to be the man that will best meet the demands of my people here in the South. When 1 first wrote to you I did not thoroughly realize what it meant to have some one pay my scholarship, but now I can readily see what a great importance it is to a poor boy to be helped through school, therefore, 1 feel very grateful towards you and send many thanks for aiding me through this school. I have tried, and, to a great extent, have made the best use of every opportunity that has presented itself to me since 1 have been here, and by so doing I have been so fortunate as to be promoted at the end of each term. This is now my senior term, and the one in which 1 am to finish the academic course. Of course 1 found it necessary to study hard while 1 was in the middle class in order to get a broad grasp of things and to come up to the requirements of the class, but this term it means a great deal more than that because I am preparing now to make a start in life, and 1 am to think of the best possible way in which I can do the most for my people and succeed in the effort. J spent my vacation in the city of Norfolk, and while I was there I worked in the cooper shop, as coopering is my trade. It has not been very long since I have returned to school and \ was very glad to get back and find that so man} fellow students have returned. Al TOP.HXlK. \IMIV OK 1>R. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 177 This school is situated on the peninsula, near ( )ld Point Com fort, facing" the Hampton Roads, and besides a great historic importance, it is indeed one of the most beautiful places in the South, and, I think, if you would visit the school, you would wit ness the same, and I am sure you would have no cause to regret your trip. In conclusion, 1 want to emphasize my thanks to you for your kindness, and trust that by it you may receive the richest blessings of Our Heavenly Father. Your respectfully, CLAUDIUS N. PITT. REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE, NK\V YORK, Xwciubcr 15. ujoo. MY DEAR SIR. 1 have your good favor of recent date before me. in reply allow me to say that I have no "cuts" of myself, but you may be able to obtain one by applying to my good friend, Mr. J. F. IJruce. of your city. Let me take this occasion to congratulate you on the great victory of the sixth, in which you took such a prominent part. 1 also desire to express the hope that your forthcoming auto biography will be as profitable financially, as it will be interesting. Few men of the race, now living, have seen so much history made, and few of any race have taken so active a part in the great move ments which have made for larger liberty and more exact justice in this country. Yours truly, CHARLES \V. AXDKRSOX. To DR. \Y\i. 11. JOHNSON. \\ e regret that we did not succeed in getting Mr. Anderson s " cut." His efforts along State, National and Race lines deserve the highest commendation from all the people. Al TOIilOGRAPIlY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. CHAPTER XII. ALBANY EVENING TIMES. (Tuesday, December 5, 187.1.) The committee on the Free Academy reported adversely to the petition of William H. Johnson and others, asking that the gradu ates of the Wilberforce School be admitted to the academy upon the same terms and rules as those of other schools. On motion of Mr. Edwards, the petition and report were ordered printed. 77/t 1 Free Academy. If any new proof were needed of the fact that the " Free Academy " is a misnomer, it was afforded by the action of the Hoard of Public Instruction last evening in rejection of the petition for the admission of colored pupils. There are a number of very respectable colored people in this city, all of whom pay taxes directly or indirectly, and some of whom are men of wealth and pay heavy taxes. Is it not the height of meanness and injustice to take money of these people to furnish to a few privileged white children the " higher instruction " which is denied to the children of colored taxpayers? MORNING EXPR ESS. (Wednesday, December 6, 1871.) THE RIGHTS OE COLORED PUPILS. The Board of Public Instruction of this city have committed an unwise and illiberal act in deciding that graduates of the \Vilber- force Colored Public School shall not be addmitted to the Free Academy. And the decision is not only unwise but, we believe, illegal. The law authorizing the establishment of separate schools for colored children expressly provides that " such school or schools shall be supported in the same manner and to the same extent as schools for the white children, and they shall be subject to the same rules and regulations, and be furnished with facilities for instruction equal to those furnished the white schools." (See sec tion i, title 10, Code of Public Instruction.) AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IILXRY JOHNSON. 170, 1 ) A I L Y K N I C K E R 1 5 C K 1C k . (Albany, December 7, 1871.) A DM ITT IXC, Til 1C XlCdRO. The Board of Public Instruction in this city is, \ve think, assuming- loo much. Where it obtained the power to exclude the children of the colored people from the Free Academy, we are at a loss to know. If colored children advance l<> the decree that, in white children, open the doors of the Academy to them, we do not. understand where the Hoard of Public Instruction obtains the power to shut the negroes out from the schools. This decision of the Board has main warm supporters in quarters they were least looked for. When the quarrel, of admitting colored children into schools, was in progress in other places, manv people in Albany watched the contest with interest, and thought it shameful that so much trouble .should be made over such a matter. Then the quarrel removed a long wavs from them, and they could sympathize with the " poor black" who was struggling for an education. Xow, the "poor black " is knocking at our door for admittance; and those who were wannest in his behalf, when it was thought he would not trouble us for rears, are now the slowest towards opening the doors. ALP.AXY KYICXIXC; TTMKS. ( Tuesday, April 2, 1872.) } I STICK TO I OLORKI) IVl l LS. As there were some inaccuracies in the reports published by the morning papers, concerning the action of the Hoard of Public Instruction, on the question of admitting colored pupils into the Free Academy, we give room to the subjoined official report. It- will be seen that there is not to be an indiscriminate admission of colored pupils, but those who have first successfully passed through the probation of the Wilberforcc School are hereafter to be exam ined in the same manner as the advanced pupils of the public schools generally, and then, if found worth} and well qualified, they are to be received in the Free Academy. We have always under stood that this was all that Mr. Johnson and other representative colored men demanded. If the pupils of the Wilberforce cannot pass a fair examination on an equal footing with white children. thev will not expect to be admitted to the privileges of the Free Academy. .BOARD OF lYi-.ur [NSTRUCTION. At a meeting of the Board of Public Instruction, held on ilie .;th of March, 18/2, Mr. Treadwell offered the following resolution, which was laid upon the table: Resolved, That the resolution adopted June 7. iS6<j. in the follow ing words, viz.: " Resolved, That it is inexpedient at the present time to admit the scholars of the Wilberforce School as pupils into the Free Academy, be and the same hereby is repealed." At a meeting" held last evening (April first), the resolution was called up and adopted. Whereupon, the following report was made and adopted: AlJ .AXY EVEXIXG TlMKS. (Wednesday, April 3, 1872.) 7 //c Hoard o1 Public Instruction History of Hie Movement for . Id mis sion of Colored Pupils in the J : ree .Icaa cinv. At a request of a citizen, who claims to be interested in the Free Academy, we publish from the official records the following proceedings: June 7, 1869. On motion of Mr. Treadwell, it was resolved. That it is inexpedient, at the present time, to admit the scholars of the Wilberforce School as pupils into the Free Academy. Xovember6. 1871. A memorial signed bv William 11. John son and others, asking the Board so to amend their rules to admit competent pupils of the Wilberforce School to the Free Academv. was read and referred to the executive committee of the Free Academy. December 4, 1871. Mr. Carpenter, on behalf of the executive committee on the Free Academy, made the following report, which was accepted, and, on motion of Mr. Edwards, was laid on the table: ALBAXV, December 4. 1871. To the Hoard of Public Instruction: The executive committee on the Free Academy, to whom was referred the petition of William H. Johnson and others, respectfully report that the Board already have taken action upon the subject- matter of the petition and adopted rules and regulations applicable AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. l8f thereto. They do not think that the change would be of advantage either to the petitioners or to the schools. The committee, therefore, ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. ( )n motion of Mr. Eastern, it was ordered that the petition of \\illiam II. [ohnson and others be entered upon and printed with the minutes. HOARD <)! Prp.Lic INSTRUCTION, ALIJANY, April 18, 1872. I he executive committee un the Free Academy, to whom was recommitted a report made by them December 4, 1871, on the petition of William H. Johnson and others, asking that children from the Wilberforce School may be admitted on examination into the free academy, respectfully submit the following report: The committee have been controlled in their action by resolution of June 7, 1869, and at the examinations of pupils for admission into the. Free Academy, have not notified the principal of the Wilber force School. It is proper to say, however, that, in the opinion of the committee, founded upon the annual examinations, there have not been, heretofore, any of the Wilberforce pupils sufficiently advanced to sustain the required test. The Hoard having repealed the resolution of June 17, 1869, and the law now prohibiting any distinction being made between pupils of the different public schools, giving to all that may be prepared, the privileges of the academy, the committee recommend that here after the pupils of the Wilberforce School be examined with those of other schools, and, if found worth} of the promotion, that they be received into the Free Academy. (Signed.) GE( WGE W. CARPENTER, fOHN G. TREADWELL, ROBERT X. WATERMAN, Executive Committee on Free Academy. ALBANY MORNING EXPRESS. (Monday, January 27, 1873.) MEETING OF COLORED CITIZENS RELATIVE TO THE SCHOOL QUESTION. There will be a meeting of the colored citizens held in the vestry f the ( hestnut street Baptist church, this evening at 8 o clock. The IcSj AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HKNRY JOHNS* ).\. object of the meeting is to obtain a free and untrammeled opinion in favor or against the present separate school system as applied to the colored people. All friends of education are earnestly invited to attend. \\iii. II. Johnson. R. H. Jackson, Robert Jackson, \Yni. K. (iardner. \\ m. Storrs, B. 1>. Paul. \Ym. 1.1. Anthony. K. \Y. Crosby, John Chambers. Thomas Sickles, l>. K. Mclntvre, |. 11. Devo, F. \"an Yranken, B. Uariniet. ALBANY MORN INC EXTRKSS. (\\ ednesday, January 29, 1873.) MHKTIXC OF COLORED CITI/KXS AT TIM-: CIILSTNTT STREET l>. \rnsT CiirRui, MONDAY EVEXIXG Disrussrox ox TIII-: RK.MT OF ADMISSION OF COLORED CHILDREN INTO TIIF. Par.Lic: SCHOOLS. A meeting of colored citizens was held Monday evening, at the Chestnut street Baptist church, for the discussion of the question as to the right of admission of colored children into the public schools. The meeting was called to order by Mr. William 11. Johnson: Mr. Robert Jackson was called to the chair, and Mr. I). B. Paul acted as secretary. The chairman stated the object of the meeting in a few remarks and thanked the audience for the honor conferred. Mr. \Ym. .11. (ohnson was introduced, and said he was not in favor of doing away with the \Yilberforce School, but he wished the ques tion of equalitv settled. Me was not particularly anxious to send his children to the district schools, but there was a question of right involved which he desired to see tested, lie wanted the rights of his children recognized and he did not see how he was infringing upon the rights of the white children in asking that a restriction on account of color be abolished. He said that no formal application had been presented to the Board of Public Instruction for admission into the public schools because the law was against us, but he thanked (iod that the time had now 7 come when the Legislature is willing to repeal any obnoxious la\v. We have the assurance from the Board of Education that they will, upon formal application, abrogate the obnoxious restriction. Now is the time to act. Air. Robert Mclntyre moved the following resolution: Rcsoh dl, That we are in favor of sending our children to the schools in our respective districts. JOHN A. HOWE, JR.. lhanv Countv Treasure i JAMES CLARK. L. ftENSLER. PETEK A. ELLIOTT AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 185 Mr. Paul offered the following as a substitute to Mr. Mclntyre s resolution : Whereas, A resolution offered by Mr. McHarg, a member of the Board of Instruction, to admit colored children to the schools, is of paramount importance, and largely concerns the present and future of the colored race of Albany; and. IVhercas, The spirit of the said resolution, in our opinion, is in union with the progressive and liberal tendency of the age, and in accordance with the laws and Constitution of our country; therefore. Resolved, That after mature and deliberate consideration of the effect of the adoption by the board of the said resolution, desire to express, as the sense of this meeting, its unqualified approval of the same. After addresses from Messrs. Mason. Williams, Anthony and Cutter, the substitute offered by Mr. Paul was adopted. Mr. Johnson moved that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair, whose business it shall be to have the proceedings of this meeting properly engrossed and signed by the officers of this meet ing, and by as many of the citizens as may desire, and presented to the Board of Public Instruction, which was carried. The Chair appointed \V. H. Johnson, James Dyer and U. I). Paul, as such committee. A vote of thanks was then tendered the Chair, after which the meeting dispersed. ALIJANY KYKXI.\<; JOURNAL. (Wednesday evening, March 19. 1873.) HOARD OF PUJJLIC INSTRUCTION. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Mr. McPIarg called up his resolution from the table in relation to colored children being admitted to the public schools. Mr. Keyes offered an amendment to the original resolution by adding to the same the words " and after the ensuing summer vaca tion the Wilberforce School shall be abolished." The amendment brought up discussion. It was claimed on the one side that the colored citizens did not wish to have the \Yilber- force School: thev merelv wished that their children be allowed to enter the public schools. ( )n the other hand it was advocated that if colored children were allowed to enter the public schools a school should not be maintained expressly for them anv more than one should be maintained fur Irish. German or French children. The 1 86 ArTOr.lOGRAPITY OF T)R. WILLIAM IIEXRV JOTIXSOX. words after the ensuing summer vacation were finally stricken out, and the words " on the first day of May " substituted. I he amendment \vas then adopted, and the question arose on the resolution as amended. Mr. McHarg hoped that this resolution would pass at it was simply giving our colored citizens justice. Colored citizens .and the taxpayers should be allowed equal rights with the white citizens. It was for this board to decide, and they should lay all prejudices aside and vote for the right, for this resolution. 1 send my children to the public schools and if colored children are admitted they shall not remain at home. Mr. Saunders What would you do if they were placed in the same seat with your children; how would you like that? Mr. McHarg That would make no difference, they would go to the school just the same, if the teachers should so seat them; it is nothing more than justice. (Sensation.) The debate was continued at some length, but no new theories were advanced. Finally, Mr. O Leary rose to a point of order. He claimed that the discussion was out of order, that the resolution should be referred to the committee on rules and regulations. The president decided that the point of order was not well taken. Mr. McHarg then moved that the resolution be referred to the committee on rules and regulations, and that it be reported imme diately to this body. (Lost.) Mr. Saunders moved to adjourn. (Lost. ) Mr. O Leary said that he should vote against this motion, as lie was not in favor of abolishing the Wilberforce School. The colored people had their own churches, and they wanted their own school. Mr. Johnson had told him thev wished this, had told him so to-day. Mr. Hayes Mr. Johnson had said he was well pleased witli the idea of admitting colored children to the public schools, but, as far as he was concerned individually, he did not care for the change. He said, also, very emphatically: We are asking for our rights. Let the \Yilberforce School be abolished, but give us our rights. Mr. O Leary said he understood that, if the Wilberforce School was abolished, the colored citizens would petition for its re-establishment. AfTOT .iOCR. XT IIV OF DR. WILLIAM TIKXRY JOHXSOX. 187 MoRxrx<; EXPRESS. (Wednesday, March in, 1873.) KR KK SCHOOLS. The vexed question whether the colored children shall be admitted to our public schools upon the same terms as other children, was finally decided in the Board of Public Instruction last night. The resolution offered by Commissioner McIIarg some weeks ago. amended upon motion of Commissioner Keves, by providing- for i he abolition of the separate colored school, after the first of Mav next, were adopted by a vote of seven to live. I he vote stood as follows: Kor the Resolution. Messrs. 1). L. Babcock. Kaston, Haves, lloyt. Keyes, Lewi, Mcliarg. Against the Resolution. Messrs. [. L. Babcock. McKenna, / Leary, Sanders, Senrick. All the affirmative votes are those of Republicans, except that of Mr. Hayes. The five negative votes are those of Democrats. And so our schools are at last free to all. They ought to have been so long ago! LKTTKKS TO TH K EDITOR. \ iews of a Colored Citizen Regarding the Abolition of \\~ilberforce School. / c flic Editor of flic .\lhan\ livening I lines: SIR. It having been suggested through the columns of the public press that white children are much exercised over the fact that colored children are to enter the district schools after the first of May, and that some children talk of withdrawing altogether from the public schools when this event does take place, it may not be improper for me (desiring, as T do, always to be properly under stood) to say a word on this subject, in order that the public should be put right on the question of the change, and 1 have to assure you that this state of affairs is by no means to be charged to the account of the colored people. The close of the Wilberforce School was not at any time sought by us. The fact is that a large majority of un people have been, and are now, satisfied by the management of that school, under the present teachers, and did not seek any change, further than the establishment of the principle of equal rights. I 88 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. Sonic were not satisfied to send their children to so great a distance, and they sought to send them to the district schools in their imme diate vicinity, but they met at the door a prohibition on account of their color. This wrong, done to a few. was justly made the cause of all; yet, though we all asked for the removal of the restriction. none asked for the abolition of the \Vilberforce School; and, if it had been continued by the l>oard of Public Instruction, who alone are responsible for its abolition, I feel safe in assuming that, for a time at least, the colored children almost unanimously would have attended that school, and the change, if any. would have been gradual and much of the bad feeling now engendered would have been obviated. \Ye were naturally restive under the stigma of a prohibition, based upon the different color of our faces; but, when that prohibition was removed, the case (as all can see) became quite different. 1 regret, not for mine or for the colored children especially, but for the good feeling which ought to exist between scholars generally, that the amendment offered by Mr. Commis sioner Keyes, to close the Wilberforce School after the summer vacation, did not prevail, and, while 1 consider that the gradual change would have been the better plan, still, 1 am quite satisfied with the change, not sought by us, but made by the board, upon the ground of economy: and, I believe, that the opposition on the part of white children to the colored ones entering the district schools, when this is done by the mandates of the Board of Public Instruc tion, will end in about a nine days wonder, after the thing has to be met. W. H. JOHNSON . Albany. "March 31, 1873. OinOGRAPIIY OF I>R. \VILLTAM IIEXRV JOIIXSOX. 189 CHAPTER XIII. The Honorable Jid-^ in D. Morgan. Chairman National Republican I L. \-ccnti~rc Committee, \ cw York City: SIR. The undersigned have the honor to introduce to von William H. Johnson, an earnest and efficient public speaker and worker in behalf of the Republican party. We recommend him to your favorable consideration as a ht and proper person to canvass ( me or more of the southern States in the interest of the partv. We have the pleasure, etc. Saratoga. X. Y., August 5. 1872. lames Wood, W. S. Dickinson, Thos. T. Chatfeal, Wm. Fos ter. L. L. Lewis, A. C. Mc.Gowan. Aug. Weismann, [. H. Graham, V.. C. Benedict. Henrv Smith. Xelson \\. Hopkins, I. H. Ramsex , (/has. 1. Folger, C. H. Adams, 1. A". Baker. Jr., \\ . H. Robertson. ( ieo. Bowen. E. }d. Madden, fohn C". Perry. Samuel S. Lowery. D. G. Wood., X. Winslow. R. W. Palmer, w". Wagner, \V. Mullen, Matthew Hale, Thomas W. ( )lcott, Chas. R. Dayton, (ieo. S. Batch- eller, Robert Harlan. of Ohio: R. P. Lathrop, president Republican General Committee, Albany county; C. I). Rathbone, vice-president Republican General Committee. Albany county; Charles F. Smith. Albanv Evening journal ; Addison A. Keyes, Albany Morning Express; L. Bradford Prince, chairman of Queens County Republi can Committee; John H. Reynolds, Albany; William E. Matthews. Baltimore, Md.; Thos. J. Powers, Philadelphia, l j a. : James T. Brad ford, Path, Md.; Henry L. Lamb, Troy Times, X. V.; Charles S. Spencer, New York city: H. R. Pierson, Albany; John Hastings, Knickerbocker, Albany, X. Y.: J. M. Bailey. Albany: Thos. Flkins. Albanv, X. Y. MORXIXG EXPRESS. (Saturday. April 13, 1872.) COLORED REPI MKICAX COMMITTEE. At the Colored Republican count} convention, held Tuesday, April 9th, 1872, the following-named citizens were elected perma nent officers, to hold office for one year, and to constitute an execu tive committee: io.o AfToiHodk. \IMIY OF DR. WILLIAM IIHXRY jonxsox. President, Leonard li. [ackson; hrst vice-president, John ( ). Allen, second vice-president, George L. Morgan; third vice-presi dent, Robert F. Mclntyre; fourth vice-president, Isaac II. Benjamin; secretary, George W. Johnson; corresponding secretaries, Menjamin I). Paul, Gideon Lippitt; treasurer, William II. Johnson. \\ illiam IT. Johnson, George W. Johnson and J. ( . Matthews were elected delegates to represent this district in the State Council, to be held in the citv of Trov, Mav eighth. ALP.AXY KVKXINT, POST. (Wednesday, March 6, i8<)5.) ] )o re, LASS M KM o RIAL. The ILvcrcises at I he Meeting Los/ fct ening. (The Address of Dr. \Yni. II. Johnson.) MR. CHAIRMAN. Frederick Douglass was no ordinary individual ; he was not a Xegro, neither was he a white man; his mother was black ; his father was a member of the Caucasian race. I )ouglass was, as has been demonstrated, the best product of both races, owing as much to the one as to the other. He was, take him just as he was, a man. a humanitarian, a statesman, a patriotic American citizen; never drawing the line when dealing with public questions on race, creed or sex. Frederick Douglass was born in Maryland in 1817, died in Wash ington, D. C., February 20, 1895; was twice wedded, first to a black woman, a companion in bondage, who aided him in his escape. When Douglass succeeded in raising money sufficient for the pur pose, he paid for his own freedom, and, also, for that of the choice of his youth. The issue of that union was a daughter and three sons; young Frederick died two vears ago; Louis H. and Charles 1\.. with their sister and step-mother, survive him. His second wife, Miss Pitts, the daughter of a distinguished west ern New York man. who was contemporary with Douglass in the old anti-slave crusade, is a most estimable lady, a woman of educa tion, refinement and literary attainments of no ordinary quality. Ft has been said by some not well-informed gossipers, that Douglass lost caste by wedding a white woman. This is sheer nonsense Douglass was not black. He was a man great and distinguished among his peers, the foremost men of the land, lie married Miss Pitts, the choice of maturity, not to please disgruntled, selfish, Al TOniOGK. \1MIV OF DR. WILLIAM IILXKY JoHXSoX. I () I unprincipled critics, but to emphasize his faith in the principle of equality of the human family. Frederick Douglass could not lose caste by doing a proper thing, taking to his bosom a helpmate capa ble of contributing to his intellectual, social and domestic happiness. The homage that is now being paid to the memory of this distin guished character attests to the love and esteem in which he was held. There is a peculiar fitness and great propriety in the selection of this historical site for the performance of these memorial exercises. It was in the old City Hall, upon this consecrated spot, that Fred erick Douglass delivered a speech of such great power, eloquence and rare oratorv as to command the undivided attention of his hear ers and the universal commendation ol the reading public, causing the then (Governor Washington Hunt to recall from the Legislature a message he had sent that body, recommending the appropriation of 825.000 per annum to defray the expenses of deporting Negroes out of the State of Xcw York to Liberia. This was in 1852. The same vear the fugitive slave la\\ was passed bv a pro-slavery Con gress and signed by Millard Fiilmore. of this State, then President of the Cnited States. Douglass voice of denunciation was again heard in this historic hall, upon this spot, in condemning the passage of the act and its attempted enforcement, as a crime against God and mankind, lie declared, with stentorious voice, with firm and deter mined emphasis, that. " So help me, God," there shall be a stubborn resistance to the enforcement of the law, and that, no slave v\ould be returned to his master without the penaltv of a Mow of human blood. Douglass went from here: he visited almost every town and citv in the State, proclaiming against the outrageous fugitive slave law. So effective was his crusade against the measure that, to the credit of the commonwealth the escutcheon of the great Empire State was not tarnished by the return of a single fugitive slave. These were dark clays for the Xegro. Douglass was not one. but he had been a slave. He was a man built up in the image and like ness of his Creator. His education led him justly to believe in the equality of the human race and the brotherhood of mankind. He liked the white man no less, because he enjoyed superior privileges: he liked the Xegro best, because the black man was the undermost and weaker vessel in the political economy of this then pro-slavery count rv. \()2 AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>K DR. WILLIAM 1LKNRV JOI1XSON. John Brown s raid on Harper s Kerry, in 1859. formed the skirm ish line to the great rebellion. Douglass was a central figure in that movement. It resulted in his enforced abandonment of the country for a short time. The war followed, slavery was abolished, the Xegro enfranchised; the patriots. John Brown and Douglass, are dead, the nation lives and will remain unbroken forever under the banner of freedom and equal rights. In 1862 Douglass recruited the first colored troops enlisted in this city and this State that formed the nucleus of the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment, his sons. Louis H. and Charles R., being among the first to enlist. Lie had been appointed by President Lincoln first assistant to General Thomas, and was entrusted by that officer with the general oversight of the recruiting stations in the United States for the enlistment of colored men. ( )ne of his first official acts was the appointment of Dr. Thomas Llkins, of this city, a general medical examiner. The war hung fire; success was doubtful. Fremont. Hunter. Stanton and other patriots urged the emancipation of the slaves as a necessary war measure. ( )n the 2ist day of September, 1862, President Lincoln issued his first proclamation, notifying the rebels that if they did not lay down their arms within the next 100 days, and acknowledge the supremacy of the Union, that he would, by virtue of the power invested in him as Commander-in-Chief of the I nited States army and navy, issue on the first of Januarv a supple mentary proclamation emancipating the slaves in every State and territory under the domain of the confederacy. Upon this announcement, the oppressed everywhere, and their sympathizers. prepared for a proper celebration of the issuing of this proclama tion. Frederick Douglass was the happiest man in the land; his great services as an orator was in demand in all the great cities. He came to this city at the nominal fee of five dollars and expenses, when, by going to some other place, lie could have demanded from $roo to $200 and expenses. The proclamation of emancipation was issued January i, 1863; the celebration of the event took place in this city January fifth. Douglass delivered the oration in commemoration of the emancipa tion proclaim, which struck, by one sweep of Abraham Lincoln s pen. the shackles from the hands of nearly three million human beings. Every able-bodied male member of that number, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, were clothed, armed, equipped, and added to the armed force of the United States on land and on sea. and turned against their old masters. Thus the supply product AUTOBIOGRAPHY < >F DR. WILLIAM IIKXRV JOHNSON . 1 CJ3 and the fortifying motive power of the South, on which it had depended, were transferred at one stroke to the United States army and navy. Tliis humane act of Lincoln s broke the back-bone of the rebel lion and assured the success of the Union cause. Douglass perora tion on this great occasion culminated in his acclamation, " Cod bless honest old Abraham Lincoln." In politics, Mr. Douglass was first a moral suasion man. refrain ing from voting. Afterwards he affiliated with the more practical Free Soil party; in 1852 he supported with the might of his voice and his vote Hale and Julian on that ticket, against Scott and Graham. \Yhigs; Pierce and I hitler. Democrats. In 1854 he went with John C. Fremont into the then new Republican party. He maintained his membership therein down to his entrance into rest. Still, he was restless, manifested at various times dissatisfaction with the tar diness of the party s dealing in the matter of protecting the lives and liberties of its wards, the freed people of the South. Douglass was a party man; never an offensive partisan; a Christian; never intolerant. The controlling and directing motive of his great life was the untiring efforts to elevate the black side of his humanity to an absolute indivisible standard with the white side. To bring about upon one broad, common, enduring basis the complete unit} of the two races of which he formed the connecting- link. lie never drew but endeavored to break the color line in poli tics, in religion, in everything". " As long as there remains a trace. Of Afric blood that can be seen. So long will members of his race In memory keep him fresh and green. Ilis deeds will bright and brighter grow, A household word will be his name. And future generations know The story of Fred. Douglass fame. Tears of copious grief we shed. Standing by our hero s bier; Peace to the ashes of the dead. If lost to sisrht. to memorv dear." 1 11)4 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J)R. WILLIAM HKXRY JOHNSON. FIRST ANTI-SLAVERY MOVKMKXT. John Brown s intention was to enter Virginia with fifteen hundred men instead of seventeen, but his plans miscarrying, as I will show you, without any fault of his own, he resolved to set a brilliant example which he believed every lover of liberty and humanity would be eager to follow. In order to properly understand John Brown and his famous raid it is necessarv to glance at the position of the anti-slavery movement prior to his taking an active part in it. This movement may be said to have begun shortlv after the revolu tion. The political interests of the new republic fell into the hands of the two great parlies, the Whigs and the Democrats, and each of these split into two factions. ( )f the Whigs the "Silver dreys" were pro-slavery in principle and the "\Yooley Heads" were in favor of a compromise. ( )f the Democrats the "hunkers" were pro-slavery men and the " barn-burners " favored a compromise. The movement was confined to political debates until the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, a young white clergyman, in the streets of Alton, Kentucky, in 1834, for his active opposition to slavery, aroused a storm of indignation throughout the country, especially in the North and some of the most gifted men in the land became active supporters of the anti-slavery movement. In 1840 Fremont, Fred erick Douglass, and a number of other staunch friends of the enslaved black man established the famed " Underground Railroad." This " Railroad " was simply a system for smuggling fugitive slaves from the South up through the North and into Canada. The unfor tunate slaves would run away from their brutal masters and, if they succeeded in eluding the fierce pursuit that was made after them, started on their weary and desperate way to the North and freedom. Men with deep broad marks of the red-hot branding irons in their flesh, women with the red weals and scars of the driver s lash on their backs; some of them, with babes at their breasts, cowered like hunted beasts in swamps by day and toiled along by night following the North star, their only guide to safety, for of the country they knew nothing. When, at length, after fearful hardship and depriva tion, they reached the Ohio or Potomac river, good friends were ready to receive and succor them in Philadelphia, to which 1 had moved from Albany in. 1855, and though Frederick Douglass was my most intimate friend and adviser at the time John I>rown organ ized his National Vigilance League, J knew nothing of it until it was brought to my attention in a startling fashion in August, 1859. A number of the younger men connected with the Underground Al T< HilOCRAI II Y ( > K DR. WILLIAM I1KXKY JOHXSOX. 1 95 Railroad, including myself, had organized a colored military com pany in Philadelphia called the Frank Johnson (iiiarcls, and it was arranged that on August i6th the company should turn out about eighty strong, armed and uniformed, and after holding a street parade should picnic and hold a public meeting at Haddington. John Brown then had his headquarters at Chambersburg, Penn., and when he heard of the proposed demonstration did not at all approve of it as the parading of armed and disciplined negro com panies might put the authorities on the alert, and frustrate his plans. Accordingly he came on to Philadelphia on the day before the parade to see that at least the affair passed off tamely or to prevent it altogether if possible. The hand of fate was against him. On the evening before the parade, ( ieneral J. J. Simons, of New York city, one of Brown s lieutenants, at a public meeting held in Shiloh Presbyterian church, Lombard street, Philadelphia, made a speech in which he commended the Xegroes of Philadelphia for organizing a military company and stated there was a grand project on foot to invade the South, with an army of armed northern Xegroes and free the slaves, lie called for recruits for this invading army from the Xegroes of Philadelphia. lie said they would march through the South with a gun in one hand and a bible in the other. As our military company had been organized more for display than for actual service, I made an address tempering what I thought was a very hot-headed speech on the part of the New Yorker. Though 1 did not know it, John Brown was sitting in the hall that evening listening to Simons utterly destroy ing all his plans by revealing them. Late that night I was called out of bed by a message from Thomas Dorsey, our leader in Phila delphia, asking me to come to his house at once on most important business. When I got there I found Frederick Douglass and about a dozen of the anti-slavery leaders present with a man I did not know. This was an old man of about sixty, tall and thin, but muscular. Me had a very kindly face, but that night there was a shade of deep sorrow on it. I was told that he was John Brown. 1 thought Brown, of whom I had heard before, a most striking man in appearance, and 1 was surprised to see that Douglass, who always took the lead seemed to look up to and defer to him. John Brown spoke of his great project and said that Simons speech had ruined all his plans, but something should be done to offset the effect of the publication of Simons incendiary utterances in the newspapers. Fred C. Revels and myself were slated to speak the next day at the meeting after the parade. Turning to us Brown said in that kind [96 Ai:Tol!lO(;RAf II Y <>! I)k. WILL I AM IIEXRY JOIIXSUX. hut firm and convincing tone of his: " Mr. Revels you will make 1 a very temperate speech at the meeting to-morrow, and vou young- man," to me. " had better stay away from it. Perhaps, however, you can think better than you can talk; sit down and write a letter to be read at the meeting to-morrow." Fred. Douglass also told me that it was necessary to do so, and I wrote a long letter advising the members of the military company that they should not depend upon their arms for the abolition of slavery, but upon good reason ing and a common-sense way of proving the fitness of our people to adorn the higher walks of life, and to the conversion of the American people to a true sense of the many wrongs imposed upon us, The parade, picnic and meeting were held. Revels made his speech, my letter was read and even Simons tried to mend the mischief he made but all without avail. The damage was beyond remedy and John P>ro\vn s great invasion of Virginia was still born. The government believed that a raid was imminent and watched for it. and mobs of pro-slavery men hung Xegroes to lamp posts and burned their property. Predicted Pciilurc. On October 13th, 1 met him again at Dorsey s house, where a meeting of the leaders was again held. Captain Stevens, who was hung with him at Charleston, in the following month, was with him that night. Me told us that he was about to make a raid into Virginia. ".But." said he, "it will be a failure. Our little band will be but the forlorn hope of what might have been a grand expedition, but blood must be shed or the bonds of the colored men will never be broken." Frederick Douglass had a list of voting men from Philadelphia, who were willing to join in the raid. Brown asked him how many of the men were married and Douglass told him. "Are you married?" he asked, turning to me. I told him I had been married for seven years. "Have you children?" he then asked. 1 replied that I had not, but expected to be a father in a few weeks. " Then you can t go," said he with a sad smile. 1 did not go, but would have done so if 1 could. [Albany Sunday Press, May 6, 1900. MAYOR TIIACIIKR S ACTION .IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMISSION- OP COLORED PATIENTS TO THE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL. The little difficulty in relation to the Homeopathic Hospital has been arranged satisfactorily. Dr. \V. IT. Johnson was the first to Al TOmoC.RAPIIY OF DR. WILLIAM HEXRY JO1IXSOX. 197 make complaint to .Mayor Timelier that a woman had been refused admittance because she was black; the Mayor acted promptly, directing Superintendent ,\lcl\enna to send no more city patients I here, white or black. Then the trustees explained to the Mayor that it was the fault of the employes, but the Mayor did not revoke his order until requested to do so by the original complainant in a letter published in another column. The Mayor has shown a com mendable sensitiveness upon this point, and has given an object lesson in civil rights, which is both instructive and beneficial. There must be no color line in the public charities. [Albany Times, Kebruarv 20, 1888. In the Times of the same date under the caption: "An order revoked. C ity patients to be again sent to the Homeopathic Hospital Dr. Johnson s letter to the Mayor, and the Mayor s action." appeared the following: Ax ORDER REVOKED. ( // v }\tticnts to be Sent Again to fJic Homeopathic Hospital Dr. Johnson s Letter to the Mayor, and the Mayor s Action. The following letter explains itself. ( )n its receipt by Mayor Thacher, he revoked the order directing Superintendent McKenna to send no more city patients to the Homeopathic Hospital. He did not do this till so requested by !)r. Johnson, as he was the complainant in the first place: To Box. JOHN Uovi) THACHER, Mu\i>r: DEAR SIR.- 1 trust that you will pardon me for again calling your attention to the matter of the Albany Homeopathic Hospital and its treatment ot colored patients. \ on doubtless remember that <>n the Joth of December last 1 called your attention to the fact that a patient sent to the aforesaid institution by Mr. McKenna. Superintendent of the Poor, had been refused on account of her color, i did not move in this matter until 1 had satisfied myself that an outrage had been perpetrated by the home physician and the matron of the institution against the almost unanimous public senti ment of progressive Albany, a city that I am proud to know stands second to no other in the I nited States on the score of a just recog nition of and the according of equal rights and public privileges to all. regardless of race, color, religion or nationality. Your prompt and manly manner in noticing publicly the injury done to our citizens, and issuing of an order directing the superin tendent to send no more patients to that institution until the wrong 198 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. was corrected, called from the board of trustees of the Albany Homeopathic Hospital an emphatic denial of any knowledge of the action of the inculpated parties until after the injury had been done, and their unmeasured condemnation of the act that tended to place them in open conflict with public sentiment and justice. The board of trustees of the hospital, at a meeting held January 4th, unanimously adopted resolutions condemnatory of the unwar ranted action of the employes in the matter before mentioned, and expressing their loyalty to prevailing public sentiment on the subject of equal rights to all, in such an emphatic manner that there can remain no shadow of doubt of their sincerity. The board also ask your honor to rescind the order in relation to -the sending of city patients to the hospital. I am informed that a copy of the resolutions has been forwarded to you, and in justice to the high and distinguished standing of the gentlemen comprising the board, ever;/ one of them I not only believe, but know, to be entitled to the highest consideration, I have to, and do. appeal to you to do simple justice to those public- spirited and philanthropic citizens by the revocation of the order. In closing this appeal to your favor, permit me, dear sir, to assure you that your action in this matter merits the commendation of all the people and is in keeping with the action of your distin guished father and illustrious predecessor, who, thirty years ago, as Mayor of Albany, protected Frederick Douglass in his effort to speak in public in this city. WILLIAM 11. JOHNS( )\. Albanv, February is. 1888. TRKASIKY DEPARTMENT, \YASII JXGTOX, 1). C., September 23. 1887. WM. H. JOHNSON, Fso., -llbanv, X. ) .: M y DKAR FRIK.\I>. I see bv the morning papers von were elected a member of the State Committee by an almost unanimous vote. Accept mv congratulations. 1 am always proud, as you know, to learn of any deserving honors that my friends may receive. ] was over to Philadelphia to the " Centennial," and saw a great many of your friends. My regards to Mrs. Johnson. I am enjoy ing good health, also my wife. I received the paper you kindly sent me. I am your friend, C1TAS. H. niTLKR, REV. SAMUEL HARRISON, )f I ittstield, Mass., Chaplain of the 54th Regiment, which served with distinction in the War of the Rebellion. Ul liUCllC::UT, N. V HON. J. W. THOMPSON. Chairman of the Douglas Monumental Association. J. A. CROMWELL, Canajoharie, N. Y. HON. JAMES C. MATTHEWS. Ex-Recorder. STEPHEN MEYERS, Of Albany. X. Y., who was associated with Fred erick Douglas and John Brown in conducting the ; Under-sri-ound Railroad. THE SIXTH UNITED STATES COLOEED TROOPS Receiving Colors ;H Philadelphia, Pa., in 18(12. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WTLLTAM ITEXRY JOTTXSOX. 203 XHW YORK Crrv, September 24, 1882. \Yiu.i.\.\i H. Joiixsox, Eso., 27 Maiden Lane, s\lbun\\ X. Y.: I)I-:.\K SIR. I have received your favor of the 2ist instant. Please acce])t my thanks for your congratulations and good wishes. Your very truly, CHAS. J. FOLGER. \\ . \siii NC iox, December 5, 18/3. DKAR SIR. Mr. Colliding and myself were doing what we could for you when your second letter came. 1 return the papers as requested. Yours, L. TREMAIX. \\ \i. 11. IOLJXSOX, Eso. 2O4 AfTOr.IOGR. \PIIV OF DR. WILLIAM 11EXRV JOHNSON. V CHAPTER XIV. AUIANY TIMKS. August 10, 1885. (Extract from Mr. William H. Johnson s Oration, at the Emancipa tion Celebration, in \\atkins, August 4.) J hc following- arc facts from the address delivered at the National Emancipation celebration in \Vatkins, August fourth, by Mr. Wil liam H. Johnson, of this city, the well-known colored orator: Regarding the great anti-slavery work, the enfranchisement of the race and the complete unity of the country as fixed and uncon- trovertible facts, the new citizen finds himself at peace with all man kind. He bears malice towards none, he accepts the issues growing out of the late Civil War as settled; lie has no prejudice against any man or any part} . He will in the future, as he has in the past, prove true and loval to the underlying principles of justice and equality, principles upon which this great superstructure of ours was founded bv the fathers and grandly maintained by their successors. Whilst he will never fail in the requital of every obligation incurred in the past, he will, in the faithful and fearless discharge of his duty to ( iod and his country, not hesitate to form new alliances when fully convinced that such a departure from old established party lines will lead to the better and more substantial consummation of the rights of men, the obliteration of the odious color line, the bless ings of a complete union of all the States and the happiness and prosperity of all the people. [ speak to you to-day, not as a partisan, neither as a Negro, but as a plain American citizen. I congratulate you and mv countrv upon the bright prospects that lie before us. I bespeak for you and for our common country a bright, prosperous and happy future. The issues that forced upon us the late unpleasant, but temporary, disruption of the country are dead and are happily passing into oblivion, there to remain, 1 trust forever. For the past twenty-four years the great Republican party was the trusted custodian of the welfare of the government and of all the people. With what patriot ism, how fully and how justly that great responsible trust has been discharged by it, you know as well as \. I approve, etc. Y OF DR. WILLIAM UKXKY JOHXSOX. 205 Jn the Year 1862, when the life of this nation hung, as it were, in the balance, when the Confederate major-generals were domineer ing- over the I nion army, and were apparently carrying in triumph the stars and bars of rebellion to the front, when the capitol at Washington was in eminent danger of destruction, when the north ern people were distrusting the skill, as well as the loyalty, of some of our military leaders, when President Lincoln was borne down with solicitude for the preservation of the I nion, and the effort to hud a commander capable of leading the Federal army to victory, there resided in the unpretentious village of ( ialena, 111., a quiet, but dignified little man. with strong pro-slavery proclivities. lie had met but few colored people, and was unacquainted with the better qualities possessed bv the race. He was, at that time, unknown to fame; he had graduated at West Point years before the period I speak of. had served a short time in the Mexican War. had retired from the army, and was pursu ing the calling of a private citizen, when his country demanded his services. lie answered, and went to the front, but not before he declared that " if he believed that the war was for the freedom of the blacks, that he would remove his epaulets from his shoulders and throw away his sword." lie was a strict constructionist. a State s-right Democrat. He became a major-general and commanded at Fort Donelson. After the fall of that stronghold, when he found that tlu- Xegroes, slaves as they were, were loyal and true to the northern cause, and were the secret, but reliable, friends of the Union soldiers, his sentiments on the slavery question changed, and he became our friend. The silent, eloquent citizen and soldier, who. after distinguished and unparalleled services rendered his country in civil and military dutv, on the field of battle, ami as chief magistrate of this great republic, retired again to private life, loved, honored and almost idolized by citizens and soldiers alike. In the home of his choice, surrounded bv his loving and devout family, in the midst of peace and prosperity, the hand of illness was laid heavily upon him. disease contracted on the field of battle developed in his system and laid low the first citizen, the foremost soldier of this age. Hhc was removed to Mount McGregor: every effort that skill and devotion could devise was expended in the endeavor to restore him to health, but to no avail. After a long, lingering season of pain 2C>6 Al ToniOGR. \JMIV OF DR. \\MLLlAM jlEXRV JOHXSOX. and suffering", without one murmur of complaint, with faith in God and deep solicitude for his country, he gave up his precious life, a ransom for the restored Union of the States, and the blessings. of the prosperity this country does now enjoy. We pause here to lay a single flower upon his bier, in tearful and in grateful remembrance of the great public services he rendered to our country and to mankind. To no man, living- or dead, are we more indebted for freedom. citizenship and public rights, than to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. His remains were tenderly and lovingly borne upon the shoulders of a grief-stricken nation to their last resting-place at Riverside Park, in the city of Xew York, beside the beautiful Hudson river. where hundreds go dailv to testify their homage, to moisten the sod with tears of gratitude and sorrow. We bid farewell to our illustrious chieftain, he that was. after Washington and Lincoln, " first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." [Or. \Ym. II. Johnson s Tribute to ( icn. ( I rant. THE HEROES OF THE JOHX BROWN FIGHT AT HARPER S FERRY. YA. Twenty-one men marched with John 1 rown on the night of October 16, 1859. That was the fighting array with which he invaded the sacred soil of Yirginia, and began a sympathetic strike against the chattel slavery which enthralled labor, while threatening the peace of the republic and the safety of the L nion. Sixteen of these men were of the master race; five of the one that was in bondage, two only of whom had, however, been born slaves. Three of the white men were sons of the leader; two were related by marriage and years of close and neighborly friendship." Here are the names of those who died in the fight; all were executed, except (). P. Anderson, who made good his escape to Canada, and, later on, told the story of the adventure to Frederick Douglass, who gave the substance of the same, in an interview, to the author of this book. John l>rown, ( Hive P>rown, A. I). Stephens. Albert Hazlett, \Ym. 11. Leeman, Stewart Taylor, (). S. Anderson, F. J. Merriam, J. F. Cook, I). H. Thompson, Edmond Coppoc, Watson Brown, J. G. Anderson, L. S. Leary, Wm. Thompson, J. A. Copeland, Barclay Coppoc, Owen Brown, C. P. Tidd, I. H. Kagi, Dangerfield Xubv. ArTOTHOGRAl IJY OF DR. WILLIAM HRNRV JOTIXSOX. 2()/ I in-: SATURDAY EYKXIXT, POST. PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 10,00. I )KAR A I R. Jmixsox: The candidates of the Republican party nominated at its first con vention in Philadelphia, on the i/th of I tine, 1856, were John C\ I Yemont, for President; William L. Dayton, of Xew Jersey, for Vice- 1 resident. ( )n the vote for the vice-presidential nomination, Abraham Lincoln received i 10 votes. Mr. Dayton was nominated on the first ballot, and his nomination was made unanimous. Expressing 1 our pleasure at being able to give you the desired information, and with many good wishes, we are, Yours very truly Tl-IK EDITORS. llKADOl ARTKRS X. Y. S. L. TROY, MarcJi 18, 1865. W. 1 I . Joiixsox, Lso., . llban\: DKAR SIR. \\m are hereby formally notified of your election as Kirst \ ice-President of the Xew York State League. Yours truly, J. L. BOSKMAX, ( "orrcs ponding Secretary. RICHMOND, YA., December 18, iS<)5- MR. WILLIAM H. Joiixsox, Albany, N. Y.: DKAR SIR. Your favor received, and contents noted. I have read with pleasure what you were kind enough to say about me. I assure you that I appreciate your remarks. You have the ring of patriotism in all you utter, and I accept the declarations in the same spirit in which they arc tendered. I shall continue to do my duty. With best wishes, 1 am, Ycry truly yours, JOHN MITCHELL, IR. 2O8 Al TOlMOdRAIMIY ()K DR. WILLIAM IIKNRY JOHNSON . PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF TIII<: UNITED STATES or AMERICA. AYhereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a Proclama tion was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other tilings, to wit: " That, on the first day of January, in the vear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thence forward and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the Military and Xaval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or anv of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. " That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by Proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof respectively shall then be in rebellion against the I nited States, and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be in good faith represented in the Con gress of the I nited States by members chosen thereto, at election wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testi mony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the peo ple thereof, are not in rebellion against the I nited States." Xow. therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Uhief of the arm} and navy of the United States, in time of actual armed rebellion against the country and Government of the United States, and as a necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do. on this first day of January, in the vear of our Lord 1863, and in- accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the day first above-mentioned, order and designate the States, and parts of States wherein the peo ple thereof respectively are this day in rebellion against the I nited States, the following, to wit: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemine, Jefferson. St. John, St. Charles. St. James. Ascension, Assumption, Terre Bonne, La Fourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and Orleans [including the city of Xew Orleans]). Mississippi, Alabama. Florida. Georgia, North Carolina. South Carolina and Virginia, except the forty-eight conn- AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM. IIKXRY JOHNSON. 2OQ tics designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac. Xorthanipton. Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann and Norfolk and Portsmouth, and which excepted parts are for the pres ent left precisely as if this Proclamation were not issued. And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, 1 do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said desig nated States, and parts of States, are and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive Government of the L nited States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and main tain the freedom of said persons. And J hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free, to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense. And I recommend, too, that in all cases when allowed, thev labor, faithfully, for reasonable wages. And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition will be received into the armed service of the L nited States, to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice war ranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty ( loci. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the L nited .States to be affixed. Done at the citv of Washington, this tirst day of lanuarv, in the vear <>! our Lord one thousand eight [L. s. j hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the t nited States the eighty-seventh. (Signed) ABRAHAM LIXCOLX. I .v the President, WILLIAM i 1. SKWARD, Secretory of State. BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN. August 26. 1899. MR. \YM. H. [OHXSOX: DKAR SIR. St. Augustine s P. E. church, St. Edwards street, the Rev. George Frazier Miller, rector, proposes to give an enter tainment of a musical and literary character at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, October 26, 1899, to increase the building fund of 14 2LO ArTOlMOCK. \IMIY OJ- DR. WILLIAM IIHXRY JOHXSoK. said church. It is the desire of the church to have a citizen com mittee, composed of the representative and public-spirited men of this borough and the Borough of Manhattan, and respectfully ask your consent to use your name as member of said committee. Hoping that you will grant us this favor. 1 am, \ ours very respectfully, WAI. E. CROSS. Jerry, the alleged fugitive slave, was arrested and rescued at Syracuse, X. V., in 1852. The principal rescuers were tried in this city, in the Cnited States Court, ludge Hall presided. They were ably defended by Counselors Hon. Cerrit Smith, of Pctersboro, X". Y., and Cens. Sedgwick and Martindale. of Syra cuse. Enoch Reed and a Air. Cobb (white) were convicted, bin never entered prison. Their sentence was suspended bv l In humane justice. Xallie, another alleged slave, was arrested at Troy. X . Y. He, too, was rescued. The principal actors in his defense being Coun selor Hon. Alartin I. Townsend, the veteran of many heroic struggles for manhood and right James P. Harding, Win. Rich and Peter S. Baltimore. Airs. Harriet Tugman, a stalwart X egro woman, now residing at Auburn, in this State, took Xallie in her arms, placed him in a row-boat, whence he was landed on the west side of the Hudson river and made his escape to Canada, the land of the free. It stands to the credit of the Empire State that.no alleged fugitive slave was ever remanded from the free precincts of the State of Xew York. The Dangerneld case in Philadelphia, Pa., occurred in the spring of 1859. He was released because of insufficient evidence. The Daniel \Yebster case took place in the same city in the fall of the same year. He was remanded, sent to Baltimore, Md., his alleged master s home. It was in the attempt to rescue him that resulted in the imprisonment of Buck, Burlcigh, White and his companions, and which caused my enforced departure from that goodly city. [Wm. H. Johnson, for the Albany Capitol. ( )n another page will be seen a reprint of the Colored A I en s State Convention, which, was held at Albany, X. Y.. in the autumn of 1866, including two white ladies standing in the doorway of the AUTOBIOGRAPHY < > F DR. WILLIAM 1IKXRY JOHXSOX. 211 church. In connection with the same, Dr. Johnson, who was a member of the convention and who is in the representation, relates the following incident: The transaction of the convention s busi ness was progressing smoothly, when Miss Susan P>. Anthony, who was in company with Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. arose in the con vention and after addressing the Chair, Prof. \Y. Howard I)av, of 1 [arrisburg, Pa., proceeded to make a speech. She had been speak ing but a few moments, when, loud and quick as a thunderbolt out of the cloudless noon-day skies, there came an objection to Miss Anthony s proceeding from Father Peyton Harris, of Buffalo, X. Y., the oldest delegate in the convention. This gentleman, who had passed his eightieth year, threw the entire assembly into con fusion. Miss Anthony was surprised and almost paralyzed with indignation, as was her fair companion. The ("hair ruled out the objection and instructed the lady to proceed with her remarks, which she again attempted to do. but Mr. Harris appealed from the decision of the Chair and his objection was sustained. Every member of the entire convention knew the tenacious character of Father Harris, and they feared to meet the crisis. The chairman proceeded to lecture the interrupter but was interrupted himself by the interrupter, who demanded that the call for the convention be read. This was complied with by the secretary of the convention. Mr. John P.osemans, reading the call, which was for a colored man s meeting. .After the reading of the call, which was written by the late Hon. Frederick Douglass. Mr. Harris again addressed the chair, and apologized for his interruption, but declared that if Miss Anthony would demonstrate to him that she was a colored man, then he would cheerfully withdraw his objection. The lady, who had remained standing, waved her hand at the old man. as a recognition of satisfaction, and, amid laughter and applause, resumed her seat. Pater on. upon the motion of Mr. Harris, both she and Mrs. Stanton were invited to address the convention which thev did to the pleasure and satisfaction of all. . //>/-// S. i8<);. Du. \\ M. TT. JOHNSON . -7 .1 /"<//</<// Lane: ])!:. \R SIR. I beg to enclose herewith letter and receipt from Mrs. Adams, acknowledging the reception of the draft of $100 for her relief. I am sure that you will be gratified to learn that she has received it, as well as to know that she is grateful for so generous a contribution in this time of her greatest need. To vour hide- 212 AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>K Hk. WJ LLTAM IIEXRV JO1IXSOX. fatigable and intelligent efforts, she owes more than to anv other man for the benefits which have come to her in her dav of adversity. I am, honored sir, very cordially vours, I. F. BRUCE. HI;;MIJOU>T Co., PETROLIA, C.vi.., March 24, 1897. MESSRS. WAI. H. Jonxsox, F. 15. IKVJXG AXD |. F. I>IU:CK, Alhanv, N. Y.: CiEXTLEMEX. Yesterday [ received your letter of March eighth, with the enclosed draft for $100 from the A. B. A. Association, of Albany. As I had received a letter from Dr. Thomas Feathersten- hough, of Washington. I). C, telling me that it was the wish of the people that the money should be applied on the debt, 1 went imme diately from the post-office, and signed the draft over and had it applied on the principal of the note due. May God s best blessing s descend upon you all for this token of kindness and sympathy for me and respect for my father. Many thanks for the two parcels of papers sent. I was much interested in the Bruce address, and so glad to see the doctrine, that " It is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong." so ably advocated. Would it not be far better to build memorial buildings, named in honor of your cherished heroes, for educational and charitable purposes, than to rear useless masses of stone <>r marble, that will never do the living nor the dead any good? There were five colored men in my father s company and 1 dis tinctly remember seeing a goodly number wearing blue coats dur ing the late war, who laid down their lives for the benefit of their race. Why not " keep their memories green " in some such way? Let me entreat you to take care of your poor; the rich will take care of themselves. So imitate John Brown, by always holding out a helping and sympathetic hand to all the helpless and despised ones. Most gratefully and sincerely yours. ANNIF BROWN ADAMS. In the opinion of Fred Rauschcr, Dr. William If. Johnson, the veteran barber, politician and litterateur, is a man not to be trifled with. Fred and the doctor have been for several years, and still are. mighty good friends. They twit each other incessantly about AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HEXRY JOHNSON. 213 all kinds of things, from the cut of their moustaches to the partings of their hair, right on up to the great affairs of statecraft that now engage the attention of the people. But to the story: The other morning the doctor went to see Fred, who was in his usual genial frame of mind and began twitting the doctor about something that happened many years ago, which the doctor couldn t have prevented if he d wanted to. The doctor listened for a few minutes, and then feigning anger proceeded to carry out the plan of action which is the point of this story. He went back to his shop and took from among a hundred relics of wars and campaign parades an old black revolver case that at a cursory glance appeared to be the very article which it \vas meant to protect. He went back to Fred s place of business and said, pointing the black leather case about three yeards above Fred s head: " Xow, will you take that back? " Fred was scared. His hair stood on end and he made a mad rush for the telephone to call out the police department. But before he got to the instrument the doctor said: " Yes, I mean it, too." Don t shoot! Don t shoot! " said Fred. Yes, I will, if you go to the phone," said the doctor. Finally the doctor burst out laughing and Fred discovered how he had been fooled by a black piece of leather. The two men still have the greatest respect for each other but they won t forget the episode very soon. [Albany Evening Journal. November 3, 1900. A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ATTORNEY His PROMPT AND JUST ACTION. Editorially we speak of Judge Peckham s action while district attorney of this county, in issuing instructions to inspectors of elec tion concerning the registration of colored voters. It gives us pleasure to reproduce at this time the correspondence in relation thereto. Tin-: RIGHTS or COLORED CITIZENS. \Ye would call attention of inspectors of election to the admis sions of the Albany Argus, that colored citizens are now fully invested with all the rights of electors and hence entitled to registra tion. The morning after the Fifteenth Amendment was proclaimed, The Argus said; 214 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 1>R. WI1.L1AM JIKXRY JOHXSOX. " However unfairly made up the Radicals Have the Record Against Us. Xo State has so much right to complain as our own great State; the voice of her four millions of people has been nulli fied by the forced vote of little Honda, given through a bogus legislature." "Nevertheless, Xew York Always Abides by the Declared Law, Promptly (so promptly that the two things are simultaneous) upon the appearance of the President s message, our State prepared to modify her election laws, so that her colored citi7.ens shall find n<> hindrance to the enjoyment of their Xewly Acquired Rights under this amendment. Xo more explicit and indisputable statement of the law can be made than this. Colored citi/ens should insist upon their rights by whomsoever resisted, and, if desired, the law will be prosecuted to its extremes! conclusion. The following correspondence occurred to-day: ALBANY, April 9, 1870. Hon. District Attorney, Albany Count v: SJR. You would confer a great favor upon the colored citizens by a brief answer to the following questions: .First. Is the Fifteenth Amendment ratified? Second. Does it confer the franchise upon colored citizens? Third. Is it the right of colored citizens of this city to be regis tered, with a view of voting on next Tuesday? Your obedient servant, \YM. H. I()HXS< )X. DISTRICT ATTORNEY S OFKICI:. A ui AX y, April 9, 1870. I think that by the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, colored persons have the same right to vote that any other citizens have, and that it is the duty of inspectors of election to register the names of all such per sons as voters who are otherwise qualified to vote and who comply with the conditions of the registry law applicable to citizens generally. R. W. PECKHAM, JR. Under this ruling the colored citizen was admitted to the ballot in this city April 12, 1870; the first exercise of the Fifteenth Amend ment took place. [The Calcium Light, Albany, December 3, 1892. ; I XCONDITIOXAL DflLDING BEAVEK STREET I AKLOK UNCONDITIONAL 151 ILDIM IULL1AKD |{i.)f>M - UNCONDITIONAL n ASSEMBLY IOOM UNCONDITIONAL BIILDLM; HEADING ROOM -UNCONDITIONAL . At TORTOGRAPriY OF DR. WrLLTAM HENRY JOHNSON. 219 CHAPTER XV. L< x >KI.\<; BACKWARD. flic Celebration of the Eighty-third Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence b\ the ftanneker Institute, Philadelphia, Jitl\ 4, 1859. CELL: is RATION. According to previous notice, the Institute met at Franklin Hall, and, after an overture from Johnson s band, the introductory remarks were made bv Mr. Jacob C. White, Jr.. chairman of the meeting". The Declaration of Independence was then read by Mr. William H. Minton. The chairman then introduced Mr. William 11. Johnson, who delivered the following: ORATION. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and (ientlemen. -1 need not inform you that this is the Fourth of luly, and that eighty-three years ago this day liberty was proclaimed to this country and to all the inhabitants thereof. 1 will not exhaust my speech nor tire your patience in the unnecessary attempt to impress upon your minds the great import ance of this occasion to the American government, lo the citizens of the I nited States, and to you who are proscribed. You doubt lessly have heard to-day, as I have, the thunder of the city s artil lery, the music of martial and military bands: you have witnessed, as I have, the display of the national ensign; vou have seen, as I have, the American Hag. the freemen s chosen emblem, floating majestically from the masthead of American vessels in our port; you have seen the same ensign floating above high places; you have met, in passing to this house, hundreds of persons with happy faces and joyous hearts, who throng the thoroughfares, giving vent to those instinctive promptings of nature which accord with the free man s will, to rejoice at the bare proclamation of liberty; you have heard the chiming of church bells and sacred music discoursed in the consecrated temples of the Lord, and this intimates that even the Divinity Himself was pleased with that truthful Declaration which we have assembled here to celebrate, and that He sanctions and approves what men do when thev do rightlv and justlv. 22O AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. You, my friends, have seen and heard all this; you have to-day, as you have years before, witnessed these demonstrations of joy, and you need not be informed that it is in commemoration of the fourth day of July, 1776, and it is well that it be commemorated. N T o\v, that the fathers did rightly and justly in signing and issuing ihc Declaration of Independence, is not to be doubted for a moment, but that the colored people have been deprived of those inestimable rights vouchsafed to all Americans by the letter and spirit of the Declaration of Independence, is evident to all. But, sir. notwithstanding all this, we inherit the same spirit which inspired the writer of these beautiful lines, so expressive of a free- people s sentiments when their rights are taken from them. " Thy spirit, independent, let me share. Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye. Thy steps 1 follow with my bosom bare, Xor heed the storm that howls along the sky." We, of Pennsylvania, are permitted to celebrate this or any other da}~ as we please, and we please to celebrate this 4th day of [uly, 1859, as it becomes disfranchised Americans to celebrate such a day. We are not deprived of the power to meet and speak; so far, thank God, we are free. We have our speech, and we will use it to the best advantage, and in so doing place ourselves in a proper position before the world. The ((uestion has been asked, how can the black man conscientiously celebrate the Fourth of July? The answer is significant of these facts; that it is the oppressed in this country who should celebrate the day that gave birth to a declaration, setting forth that all men are born free and equal, and that declaration emanating from the brain of the father of true democracy, Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the Tnited States, and it also secured the sanction of the best and bravest among statesmen of that age. It was under this declaration that America threw off her allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain. It is under this declara tion she has made herself respected by the known world. It was for the perpetuity of these truths, therein expressed so beautifully, that the Marquis de La Fayette was prompted to hasten to the side of General Washington and to measure swords with the P>ritish soldiers. Are there any in this assembly, are there anv in this State, who are base and vile enough to believe that Jefferson, Adams, Hancock, and all that galaxy of noble patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence lied? And that these good men, who were ready and AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J)K. \YILL1AM IIEXRY JOUXSOX. 221 willing to lay clown their lives rather than remain in a state of vassalage to a king, were treacherous to the extent that they would deceive? Are you willing to believe that they were base enough to have invoked ( iod s presence whilst they committed perjury? 1 hope there are none such here, for if there are, they only at most agree with northern and southern "nigger haters" and Jiible defamers. \\ e believe that the revolutionary fathers were too patri otic, too noble, generous, high-minded and philanthropic for such baseness, and that it is libeling their veracity, their good name and their sacred honor to charge them with such duplicity, or attempt to mystify their posterity. The signers of the Declaration were, to all intents and purposes, anti-slavery men, and their history will bear me out in this assertion. Believing, as we do, in the correctness of the Declaration, \ve are bound in gratitude to its authors, and in respect to the principles there laid down as fundamental basis for this country, to eulogize the day upon which it came to light. Recognizing the truths therein set forth to be self-evident, we rejoice that they have been declared by the fathers, notwithstanding their good consequences have been withheld from us by selfish and unprincipled administrations. Some gentlemen have suggested the propriety of burning copies of the Declaration on each Fourth of July, instead of giving it our applause. Xow, from this suggestion 1 do most respectfully dissent, and I put these questions to all persons who favor that proposition: Is not the Declaration true? Are not all men born free and equal? Do not they inherit the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? And if this is so. whs- shall we burn such a Declaration? 1 am at a loss to see the justice of the suggestion, but 1 can readily understand why every pro scribed American ought to celebrate it. It is because it is true, and that its authors meant just what they wrote and said, and it is not their fault if we do not enjoy our rights as they would have us do. Xow. let me ask these incendiary gentlemen, if there are any of them within the sound of my voice, a question upon a supposition. Should it so happen that some millionaire should die, and that after wards it was found that in his last will and testament he had bequeathed to you a legacy, and it so happened that the administra tors of his affairs dishonored his will, and withheld the legacy from you; now, the question is this: \Yould you, because you failed to get your right, owing to the dishonesty of the administrators, despair of getting it, and abuse the dead, and burn the will, and thus render it impossible for you to obtain it at any future period? Xo, no; 222 AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>! J)R. WILLIAM JIENRY JOHNSOX. you would do no such silly thing-. I Jut you would rather keep the matter before the proper tribunal; you would urge vour honest claim, and you would prosecute it to the last moment of vour existence. Xow, this is analogous to the Declaration of Independ ence, for we all maintain that the Declaration means black as well as white men. and that it means that the oppressed of all nations, being indifferent as to their place of birth (it might be in Asia, Africa, Europe, or our own America), might fly to these l/nited States, and find refuge and succor under the banner of the red, white and blue. \Ye believe this and we have assembled here to-day to pay a tribute of respect to the noble men who gave us the Declaration. \Ye honor the instrument, and hold up to the scorn of the wide world those narrow-minded, small-fisted and bullet-headed poli ticians who have for a number of years traduced and subverted its truths. Celebrated and standard lexicographers define politics as the " sci ence of government," and we rind, from observation, and a practical knowledge of its working, that it is the motive power and machinerv by which governments are propelled. Every form of government has its peculiar character of politics. There is. sir. politics in limited and absolute monarchies, as well as in republics; but the politics of nations are materially different in their modus operand i; hence, poli tics which would suit France, England, Russia, and other European nations, will not harmonize and accord with the much boasted repub lican form in the United States of Xorth America to-day. Propos ing, as I do, to treat politics in its broadest and most comprehensive sense, in a series of lectures hereafter to be delivered before the Institute. I shall now volunteer some thoughts on political economy, and its application to the Tnited States, with particular reference to its former and present treatment of the two contending races, form erly equalizing them, and subsequently dividing them, and oppress ing the weaker, and this oppression continues down to this dav, unwarranted by the established policy of revolutionary date. And to that period we will now turn our attention for a few moments. It is evident to all that there must have been some gross wrong inflicted, and some oppressive and unjustifiable laws imposed upon the sons and daughters of old England, in the colonial settlements in America, to have prompted them to hazard their liberties, their lives, and their sacred honor, in rebelling against their king. They were sensible of the dangers and hardships, to say nothing of the almost certain death which awaited them, if they were unsuccessful in the struggle for their independence. I say there must have been AL TOUIOGRAPIIY OF DR. WILLIAM UKXRV JOHXSOX. 22$ something dreadfully degrading and oppressive in the condition of the revolutionary fathers to have sustained, stimulated and borne them up during that trying crisis, and there was. The Puritans, prompted bv the love of religious, civil and political liberty, forsook their homes, their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers in their fatherland and journeved hither, and settled themselves on the newly- discovered continent, thus placing the broad Atlantic ocean, with its might v rolling billows and its fathomless sea, between them and their tyrant king. Krom oppression, they had. by the hardest and most earnest labor and constancy, transferred themselves to an uncultivated and barren soil ; they encountered savages of a ferocious character, whose jealousies were soon aroused by the invasion of the Puritans and other European emigrants, and, as it was natural to anticipate, a relentless war was the consequence of this hostile meeting. The Puritans bore with Christian fortitude and true, manly heroism, the hardships and the adversities of their new homes, and they preferred that transient state of disorder and rebel lion to the more poignant tyranny they suffered in England. The hope that they would finally overcome the vicissitudes con sequent to a new settlement, and that they would be permitted by the government at home to enjoy uninterrupted liberty, and that their domestic institutions would not be invaded; and that they might be permitted to choose from among themselves their rulers and local officers, nerved them and gave them resolution equal to the emergencies, and they mastered the new world. P>ut they were disappointed bv the mother country, for English oppression followed them to America, and their condition was made worse here than it had been in the East. All their bright hopes and fond anticipa tions were at once blasted; the castles they had built in the air were at one fell swoop demolished, and then they were set upon. Act after act of oppression, which challenged condemnation from the honest and indignant world, and which were of that heinous char acter, revolting and contemptible in the sight of all Christian nations, was imposed upon them. These acts, aye, everv one of them, has been specified in blood. The Declaration of Independ ence, which has been read on this occasion, enumerates them all; hence, it obviates the necessity of my naming them now. It will suffice to say that these acts cause ( ieneral ( ieorge Washington and his noble compatriots to sue for their country, their whole country s liberty; to fight and bleed for liberty, and to gain it. This leads us to discover the real principles upon which this gov ernment was formed and sustained through the revolution, and in 224 ArTOlMOGKAT IIY OF DK. WILLIAM I1KXRY JOIIXSOX". so doing , it is essential that \ve examine and consider the prevailing sentiments of the fathers at the period which gave birth to the Decla ration of Independence, and compare them with those which gave the Tnited States a Constitution, and it will be found that the inter ests of the people were quite different, at that time, to what they were previous to the revolution. The War of the Revolution was over; the battles had been fought; the conflict for freedom was ended; the sword had been replaced in the scabbard, there to remain until another call for its withdrawal; the musket, the weapon of death and destruction, was no more in the field; the soldier was once more the civilian, and peace reigned supreme. The crisis was over, and the American people felt secure, and they came this time for deliber ation. All the selfishness, vanity and arrogance consequent upon man s success were then indulged in. The ambition for self- aggrandizement was then unbridled, and, notwithstanding they had themselves been slaves to oppression, they were willing and ready to make slaves of their fellow-men who had made them free. Yes, sir; thirteen years had rolled around since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Many of the good and patriotic fathers who had figured conspicuously and had played a noble part in the cause of universal liberty, and had acted well the part assigned them in the great tragedy of a seven-years war, had departed this life of vanity and vexation of heart and soul, and their mortal remains lie buried in the recesses of mother earth, but their immortal names shall live unhurt amid the wreck of matter and the crush of worlds until the end of time, and they shall stand out in bold relief as living monuments to liberty. Hence, they could not frown down as the\ would have done, the base attempts to pervert the meaning of the Declaration and to enslave one portion of the human familv in direct violation of the country s plighted faith. hi this convention the discussion of slavery and oppression was tolerated. It was not so in 1/76, when the Declaration was under consideration, when the great Jefferson presented the draft of that document, and it was read in that hall, but a short distance from this spot, whose environs are hallowed by the sacred appellation of lib erty. The soldier, the statesman and the Christian, as well as the cunning politician, were startled with the boldness and independence of the Declaration. They were taken by surprise. It spoke more than they anticipated; it demanded more, aye, much more than thev had prepared themselves to receive, and every head was bowed to the floor, and the entire assembly were at once occupied in dee]) thought and profound meditation. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OK DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOI1XSOX. 225 They were men who loved their country, their homes, their fam ilies, their lives, liberties and their honor; they looked back, and all was gloom and darkness; they had struggled f ()r y^ars under the yoke of oppression, thev had been themselves reduced to a compara tive state of slavery: they were watched and tyrannized over like the Russian serfs. Soldiers had been quartered at their very doors, their streets were barricaded by the IJritish military, and they were forced into seem ing subjection. The white and black man both longed and prayed for the day of deliverance, that they might be free. Slavery at that period was not as it is now. It was then only a state dependence. The black slave and his white master were united in opposing English tvranny, the master held his slave more from the force of circumstances than any real desire to oppress him, and the slave felt sure that his was a transitory condition. They both made a common cause of their grievances. The slave was free to go and come when he pleased, but this was not the case with the owner; for, wherever he went, his steps were watched bv English spies and American tories. and, bv the wav. there are lories to-day, and their business is to hunt down the poor fugitive Xegro, and to handcuff and drag him hundreds of miles from his home to be tried as a slave, and to be remanded, if the commissioner s sense of honor and justice are to be governed by the paltry fee of ten dollars, under the sound of the old State House bell, and within sight of the hall where independence was declared. Hut. to return from this digression to the main subject. The state of affairs was intolerant, and all agreed that some decisive step should be taken to counteract the sea of oppression. The white and black men sent forth their best men to represent them in the Continental Congress, and to advise ways and means, by the aid of which the whole people, irrespective of color or kind, should become free, aye, free, indeed. This fact plainly gives the lie to the new dogma, which has just been put forth by the head of the Supreme Court, namely: "That this government was formed upon a white basis, and that black men have no rights which white men are bound to respect." Xow, sir, I make bold to say it here, that any man who endorses such doctrine must be either illiterate, and, in consequence, has never read his country s history, and then he is a fool, indeed, and needs the sympathies of all good people: or, he is mean and knavish perverter of the true principles of this republican government, and such a man is not fit to be respected, much less obeyed. The fathers 15 226 AUTOiHOGRAPHV OF DR. WILLIAM HE.VRV JOHNSON. saw that procrastination would not do to stand still was to die to strike was, possibly, to die, also (and there was the rub), yet, in the latter case, there was a ray of hope and bright anticipations in the first, death was certain. That profound silence was broken, for John Hancock spoke, and spoke with matchless eloquence and force; all bent a listening ear; their hearts were filled and ready to break. One blow, one blow only, and it was done; one step forward, and there was no retreat. They all saw the impending danger; every man in that Congress knew that if his autograph was on that paper was but attached to the bond for liberty, and defeat should overtake them, death and a rebel s grave would be his reward. That it was too grave a con sideration; it was a hard thought to dwell upon; and even the proud and dignified Hancock hesitated to strike the blow, and he sank down in his seat. And then silence for a time reigned supreme; hope, alas, was almost gone. But, hold, another spoke. When John Adams rose, all eyes were turned upon the noble and majestic form of the Massachusetts patriot. All were anxious to hear everv word which fell from his lips, for it was not his custom to speak often, but, when he spoke, he spoke right from his heart, and every word was like a ball of fire borne on by the power of electricity. Drawing himself up to his full height, his eyes sparkling with the fire of a just indignation, his soul burning within him for liberty, he was ready to fight, if that alone would save his country. If her ransom must be paid with blood, he was ready to contribute his share; he was ready to do all this and more, not alone for himself; no, but for the liberties of his countrymen, regardless of their color or condition. This was, indeed, true noblemen, and John Adams was a nobleman. He knew that the I )eclaration was true, and he fully understood the importance of the step he was about to take; he appealed to his colleagues, he entreated them to rise and strike for liberty and independence; he pictured in glowing colors the value of freedom to man. His appeal was irresistible, for he said, after having spoken for more than four mortal hours: Gentlemen, will you submit to this oppression any longer? Shall we obey a king, who should be to us a father, but who is in reality a tyrant son? They may think that this is, and they may cry, treason, treason, but I care not for their king; he is not mine; I recognize no power greater than that invested in this Congress, and the power of Almighty God, and from this dav, I shall be free unto death, and I shall hold the man AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. \\JLLIAM 1JKXRY JoHXSOX. 227 in my suspicion who shrinks from the responsibility, and refuses to sign, as 1 shall this Declaration." The speech electrified the Congress. There was no more doubts and fears to overcome, but all rose simultaneously, and rent the hall with one mighty shout for liberty. They were then resolved, and each man affixed his name in letters of living light, to the Declara tion of independence, which declares that all men, not a part, but <///, are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among those are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This document is extant, and it is, or should be, in every freeman s library. He should value it next to the Holy Bible. It should console the oppressed of this nation, for it assures him that once, at least, his country was right and just, and its truths are self-evident that there is no material inferiority in the whole human family, but that it is a unity and all mankind are of the same origin, and no part of them were made for slaves by the great Creator. Cpon that Declaration politics for a republican form of govern ment were founded; upon it, the War of the Revolution was fought, and our fathers were successful in that noble enterprise. .Hut thir teen years wrought a fearful change, and men, disregarding their former protestations in favor of universal liberty, sought to rob one portion of their brethren, who had lain down, and had got up with them, in the hour of adversity, of their dearly earned rights, and in framing the. Constitution, they were partially successful, but not fully so. for the revolutionary feeling in favor of right and justice prevented them from entirelv discarding the established policy of 17/6, and this explains the ambiguity of the language of the ( onstitution. When the Declaration was put forth, there was but one unani mous sentiment prevailing, and it was for freedom for all men alike. There was no test of color or condition, but every pulsation, every thought, ever\- word spoken, every blow struck for liberty; all the blood spilled was for liberty. Liberty or death were the words that were passed from cam]) to camp. Liberty was the pass-word for the sentinel, and it ran along the line of the brave volunteers, and every brave soldier drank in the cry, and it bore him on to glory. The mechanic was encouraged and stimulated; he labored with renewed energv. Timber \vas hewn to the ground, and with unparalleled speed and dispatch, it was converted into vessels of war, and within eighteen days after the tree fell, it Moated on the high seas, bearing men and the ammunitions of war. with the banner of liberty floating proudly from its masthead, denoting what the senti ments of the country were. The farmer left his plough and aban doned his harvest and his household affairs, and domestic comforts were for a time forgotten, his only thought being libertv. Washington, Hamilton, (lage, and a host of other self-den ving patriots fought with gigantic energies, meeting and overturning every obstacle which was presented. All this was to establish lib erty, and a great principle which has since been overturned. That precious word, liberty, was sounded by the trumpeter before day and after night; it was sounded and resounded; it echoed over the sterile mountains of Maine; the sound was heard and borne on from town to town, from city to city, and from colony to colony, until it was caught up and resounded with treble force amid the beautiful and fertile fields of sunny Georgia. All responded to the call, old and young, white and black. They buckled on their armor and, after devoutly praying God to assist them, they sallied forth to fight for their birthright, to gain it or die. The blood of the black man was spilt for his white brother; the bones of the black and the white man bleached together on the deserted field. After the war, both having suffered in the conflict, the white man s reward was liberty, while that of the black man was chains and slavery, and it is of this we complain. For it is not in keeping with the true spirit of democracy. Xo, not exactly. For democracy guarantees ecmal rights, laws and privileges, and universal and con tinual protection to men of all colors and climes. It is founded upon the everlasting principle of justice and right, its profession and creed receive their sanction from Providence. It has a God- granted dispensation, ic is constituted by nature and governed by wisdom; it has the entire sanction of all that is good, and. therefore, it is free from clouds and misgivings. Its policy is honesty, and its counsellors are common sense; it has no partiality, it does not plunder the rich, nor defraud the poor, it does not reserve its smiles for the fortunate, and frown down the unhappv; it does not look with ice indifference on the helpless or enslaved, but it sympathizes with all, it loosens the bands, it severs the fetters, it breaks the chains and the slave is disenthralled and made free. Such is true democ racy, such was the democracy of the age of 1776; such were the politics that inspired the noble heroes of revolutionary fame with hope and dispelled their fears, and made their arms invincible. These principles of justice and equity, wide as the universe, and free as the mid-day sun, sustained Washington, and crowned his efforts with a glorious termination at Yorktown. And, then, America was Al TOBTOGRAPTIV OF DR. \\ ILMA.\L 1FKXRY JOHXSON. 229 free, hut all her inhabitants were not, for the Constitution failed to support the black man in his rights, lint he is sensible of this pertinent fact, that the true principles for which he fought and his fathers died, have been perverted and different politics applied to him; and he has hoped and toiled on. and he has been true to his country, and is true to-day. Me believes there is a bright day in the future; he believes that the same (Joel, who was God to the chil dren of Israel, will yet right his wrongs, and that the time will come when he will cry out: I am an American citizen. I say to you, my fellow, disfranchised Americans, go on. The pure doctrines of our fathers must and will eventually prevail. The principle upon which American independence was declared and sus tained will yet ride out of the darkness which has for a number of years hung over it. The day is not far distant when the proper spirit will actuate the American people and render universal emanci pation a matter of necessity, and slavery will be known only in his tory. All the civilized nations in the world are now acknowledging the right of freedom to all mankind, and America must sooner or later follow in their wake. This is encouraging to the American slave, for he is a man, endowed by his Creator with all the attributes that other men have, and should be free. So says the declaration of our independence. I have reviewed, in a hurried manner, the past history of political America. 1 have shown that the revolutionary fathers were actu ated by feelings of true Democracy and love for their fellow-men, when, by the sacrifice of their precious lives, they dedicated the western contingent of the ( Joddess of Libert} . I have shown that the principles of democracy and equality, as enunciated by them, have been most shamefully perverted, and it is patent to all who are familiar with the history of our country, that the time was when the unity of the human family was acknowledged, and then justice was awarded to the black man as well as to the white by legislators in American Congresses; and to that period in the existence of this nation, we turn our thoughts to-day with mingled emotions of joy and pride. Happily, fur this country s honor and fame, that period will never, never be forgotten. Happily, for vou and for me. who labor under the disadvantages of a color, proscription and abuse, the Declaration of Independence is extant, and will never, no, never be obliterated, but it bears us up and gives us hope, and makes firm the faith we have in the justice of an overruling 1 rovidence. It encourages us to live and to labor zealously for our rights here in America, and 2^0 ArTOTJIOr.K. \P1IV OF DR. WILLIAM FfKXRY JOFIXSOX. to turn a deaf car to all the entreaties with which we mav be impor tuned to seek homes in a foreign land unknown to us. Yes, let this Declaration, so true, so frank, so honest and prom ising, he our Rock of Ages, and on it we must anchor. It is our guide. Around it we will rail} . Eighty-three years it has sustained the down-trodden and oppressed. Jt has been our only consolation. It teaches us that we are Americans, and as such we. have rights which ought to be respected. Then, let us resolve this dav never to leave our fatherland and that we will raise up a posterity, and teach them that, in accordance with the Declaration of " 76," the\ are free, and if we need must die bereft of our dearest hopes, let us die like wronged Americans, with the Declaration of American Independence in one hand, and with the other we will unfold to the wide world a scroll containing the history of the wrongs, the oppres sions and the enslavement imposed upon us by this bogus republi can government; then, laying bare our breast, we will bravelv receive the envenomed arrow from the bow in the hands of the Shepherd, who should be our succorer; and in the death struggle may our last, last sad dimmed gaze rest upon the flag the stars and stripes, the red, white and blue which should have been true. but was false, false to us. HON. K. E. rool KR, Kditor of rulon-d Anx-riran," Wa>hiiiL tuii, D. C. ? THE LATH CAPTAIN ROBERT DAVIDSON. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 235 CHAPTER XVI. ix SLAVERY DAYS. (Lecture by \Yni. H. Johnson, delivered in Albany.) Mr. Chairman, Fellow-Countrymen . To-day your children and mine, Anglo-Saxon and Negro-Americans alike, peaceably, happily and eontentedlv inhabit a country upon whose free soil, thank God, no slave again can tread. The very earth under our feet is consecrated anew through the genius of liberty. The indefatigable efforts and untiring devotion of self-denying 1 patriots of past generations to freedom, still, in the natural course of human events, the recollection of the illustrious John Brown, Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Solomon P. Chase, the Lovejoys, Gerritt Smith, Harriet Heedier Stowe, John C. Fremont and other compatriots in the free- soil movement, engaged in the early crusade against slavery and oppression, will live and flourish in the grateful memories of the new citizens as martyrs to freedom and humanity for many generations to come. They furnished the skirmish line in the fight and forced on the rebellion. They loved liberty, abhorred slavery, were patri ots to freedom, believing in the brotherhood of man, the fatherhood of God. They held, too, a higher law doctrine, that the federal Constitution was subordinate to the rights of man. They believed in the truths declared in the Declaration of Independence, namely: That all men are born free, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inseparable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For the maintenance of these principles they were willing to jeopardize liberty and life; still, like Lord Broham and Wilberforce, who contributed more substantially to the emancipation of slavery in the British West India Islands, in 1833, than any others, their names and their deeds will fade out of memory as time rolls on. Such, however, will not be the case with Abraham Lincoln s fame. A hundred and more years hence his name will appear emblazoned in history, together with that of George Washington. Washing- ion s memory will be revered by surviving" generations as the AUTOJlIOr.KAIMlY OF DR. WILLFAM HKXKY JOFIXSOX. father of our country. Abraham Lincoln s name will be canonized as the saviour and restorer of our I nion. It will he as a wise, conscientious, discreet, fearless and patriotic statesman that Lincoln s name will live immortal, not as an emanci pator of slaves or the special friend of the Xegro. That portion of his history will grow dimmer as time grows older. It will eventu ally be blotted from the calendar of events. Mr. Lincoln was a wonderful man. l>orn in Kentucky, a border slave State, of parentage too poor to buy and hold slaves, his educa tion, such as it was, was obtained among the poor whites of that State. He moved across the border line into Illinois before he was rich enough to purchase a slave, if he had been disposed to have done so. In this respect he was unlike George Washington; Washing-ton was a slave owner during his life, emancipating them at his death. Abraham Lincoln never owned a slave, and, as far as we know. never sympathized with the accursed institution. The Constitution of the United States, down to 1865, was pro-slavery. Mr. Lincoln was strangely, truly and emphatically a strict constructionist, never allowing his private opinions on religious, political or humane questions to interfere with the faithful discharge of his public duties to the State and people. Such a man as he was just the man. above all other men, to occupy the presidential chair, to fill the high and commanding position of Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Xavy of the United States, during that eventful period between 1861 and 1865. Mr. Lincoln was elected L resident on the Republican ticket in 1860. The Republican party consisted of a combination of three separate but kindred political elements, the first being the Old Liberty of Free Soil party, a higher law party. Its primary object was the overthrow of slavery and the full recognition of the rights of men upon the broad principle as announced in the Declaration of Independence, the Magna Charta of liberty, and that, without regard to the Constitution and the laws of this land to the contrary. Conspicuous upon their roll of honor were such men as Wendell Phillips, Frederick Douglass, Cassius M. Clay, Male, Julian, (lerrit Smith and Charles Sumner. The second was that wing of the old Whig party, who. while opposed to slavery, recognized and accepted the constitutionality of the institution in the several States where it existed when the Con stitution was adopted and the compact was founded. They did not desire to interfere with the States-right dogma, but were emphati- AI TOIJIOCK. \IMIY OF DR. \\II.LI.\.\1 MF.YKY JOHNSON*. 237 callv opposed to permitting the extension of slavery beyond its then existing limits. Prominent among its leaders were William H. Seward. Thurlow Weed, Horace (ireely, Salmon 1*. C hase, John A. Andrews, Chester A. Arthur and Roscoe Conkling. The third was that aggressive element of the old Democratic party known as Darn Burners or Kree Soilers. They were loyal to the I nion, believed in States rights, but were opposed to the extension of slaverv and against the enforcement of the odious fugitive slave law. Rallied under their banner was Winter Davis, David A. IJroder- ick. Ldward M. Stanton, Martin Van I>uren. I lysses S. (irant. John A. Logan and (leneral David Hunter. Those elements formed the Republican party. They met in con vention at Chicago, 111., in 1860, and nominated Abraham Lincoln for President and Hanibal llamlin for Vice- 1 resident, upon a plat form reaffirming the Declaration of Independence and pledging unfaltering maintenance of the letter and spirit of the federal Consti tution. Thus it will be seen, that when Air. Lincoln was chosen President, he was not altogether in an enviable position. He represented three separate and distinct elements in politics, each holding different views as to the solution of the slavery cities- lion, all opposed to its extension, none, save the old Spartan band of the Libert v party, contending for its total abrogation without compromise. In that memorable presidential contest, that of 1860, there was a quadrangular fight. Bell and Lvarts, native Americans, friendly to slavery; 1 >reckenbridge and Lane, pro-slavery, believing in the Divine right of property in man; Douglas and Litzpatrick, neutral on the subject of slavery as it affected the then slave States, but in favor of the people in new territories determining the slave question by popular vote, popular sovereignty. Lincoln and Hanilin, Republicans, pledged to the restriction of slavery to the then existing slave States. This attitude was regarded by the South as a death blow aimed at the institution. The success of this party upon such a platform was regarded as meaning the smoothening out of slavery by constitutional limitations. The elec tion resulted in a victory for the Republican coalition by a popular vote of 1.866,350, beating the three competitors by a handsome plurality. This aggressive sentiment crystallized into practical offensive movement, in the light of past unfriendly events, alarmed the South, together with her contempt for " Abe " Lincoln, the rail-splitter, whom the southern fire-eaters were pleased to call a northern mud- 238 AL TOnior.KAI HY OF DR. WILLIAM JIKXRV JOIIXSON . sill, precipitated the war of the rebellion; on the i2th day of April. 1861, Fort Su niter was fired upon, and the war for separation and slave domination formally inaugurated by the South. Mr. Lincoln immediately issued a patriotic proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months. The call was cheerfully and with alacrity responded to, but the Xegro volun teers, and they were many, were not accepted. We were plainly told that the war would not be conducted for the liberation of the slaves, but solely for the suppression of the rebellion, the restoration of the Union. We are confronted with stubborn conditions, not theories. What brought on the rebellion is the pertinent question. The federal Constitution protected slavery in the States. The Supreme Court of the United States had so decided. All parties, except the Higher Law party, the Old Liberty party, had assented to that dogma. Still the South saw the handwriting on the wall. The fiat had gone forth that the crime against Cod and humanity must die. The South fought for life and for new dominion, for new breathing places for slavery. The seeds that led to the outbreaking of the rebellion were sown in the forties. Harriet Reecher Stowe s " Uncle Tom s Cabin " had inflamed northern sentiment, fired the northern breast. The passage of the odious fugitive slave law in 1850 and its enforcement in the Anthonv Burns case in the city of Boston, the cradle of liberty, together with the boast of Robert Tooms, of Ceorgia, that he would call the roll of his slaves under the very shado>w of Bunker Hill Monument at Charlestown, Mass., added to the flame of the just indignation that burned in the northern breast. Frederick Douglass s eloquence, his scathing denunciation of the crime against humanity, the brutal attack on Charles Sunnier in the Senate Chamber, by Representative Brooks, of South Carolina, all tended to intensifv just resentment to the unwarranted encroach ment of the South. Resolves were made to stay the onward march of the monster, slavery. The South looked on with dismay and astonishment. She had had things go all her way. She had intimidated the North. She had gone one step too far, and John Brown was allowed to raid the South. He carried consternation and alarm into the stronghold of the South. He attacked with a handful of men their citadel and placed her upon defense. The South saw then that there were two sides to the Xegro ques tion. That the sentiment of the North was crystallizing against her. AUTOlJJOGRAPHY < )1< DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHXSOX. 239 That she could domineer no longer. She became alarmed lest sla very should slip from under her embrace. To save herself, and to gain time, she threw down the gauntlet, defied the North; as a last resort, she repudiated the Constitution, and resorted to arms. The northern heart responded, elected honest old Abraham Lincoln as President. His election fooled both the Xorth and the South in a measure. The South underrated his abilities, counted upon his sympathies and lack of pluck. They called him a mud-sill, a poor white southern renegade, unfit for the association of southern gentlemen, unfit to represent a nation s cause: but, open and suscep tible to southern blandishment, they argued that it was only neces sary for them to make a show of resistance, to have old " Abe " surrender. In keeping 1 with this foolish purpose, they fired on Fort Sumter, tore down and trampled on " Old Glory," ran up in its place the rebel rag to frighten the " rail-splitter " into splitting hairs with them, but the sequel proved that they counted without their host. Mr. Lincoln proved to them and to the country, as well as to the world at large, that as 1 resident he was a statesman devoid of hate. In like manner the northern abolitionists were disappointed. Air. Lincoln gave them no hope, no assurance that he would, as Presi dent, interfere with the institution of slavery other than as a military necessity and under the Constitution. He never did. Would to ( iocl that there were no others in office than such as he. During the time that Mr. Lincoln was President, he seemed to have lost his personal identity. He was the State. He represented the sov ereignty of the people. He stood erect upon the Constitution and for the execution of the laws, not as he would have made them, but as he found them, when he subscribed to the oath of office at tin- east front of the Xational Capitol, in the hearing of sixty millions of his fellow-citizens. He brought the country safely through the throes of cessation and disloyalty to complete restoration and union, and that, too, with the seeds of emancipation planted in the body politic, from which it grew into the Constitution, and forever blotted out from the face of the land the accursed slave system. Mr. Lincoln died, however, eight months and three days before slavery was constitutionally abolished, but he did enough during the brief period of four years, one month and eleven days, to not only endear himself to every American citizen for his fair and hon est statesmanship, but especially to commend himself to the lasting gratitude of Xegro-Americans; because of his manly and lofty atti tude in accounting the credit of the suppression of the rebellion, the 24O Al TOP.HKiKAL MY OK DK. WILLIAM 11KXRY JOII.XSOX. complete reunion of the States, to that contingent of the army and navy of 1863 and 64 recruited to the number of 178,975 black men in blue uniforms, the result of his emancipation proclamation of January i. 1863. armed, equipped and marched against their old masters. According to official figures, 36,847 Xegroes lost their lives upon the field of battle in defense of the old flag. Mr. Lincoln did nothing absolutely tor the Negro as such. He did everything for the Xegro in that he made it possible for the Xegro to participate in the suppression of the rebellion and restora tion of the I nion by mingling his blood upon the same fields with that of his white compatriot s blood. Mr. Lincoln never drew the color line. 1 le was too great for that. I address myself to the younger generation, especially to the voting men of mv race. I tell them that they are free American citizens without unv mortgage resting against them. The country owes you a debt of gratitude for two things; first, for the patient sufferings of \our ancestors during the one hundred years and more of enforced bondage at the South, for which the general government was responsible. Then for the bravery and heroism displayed by the 178,9/5 Xegro soldiers, your ancestors, that turned the tide in favor of the I nion cause. After thirty years of peace the time has certainly come when the truth of history touching the rebellion and the valor of the Xegro should be told. It will then be demonstrated that the stone that was at first rejected became at last " the cope-stone," the key to the situation, " the straw that broke the camel s back," and will silence forever the silly talk by not well-informed parties as to which side the debt of gratitude lies on. The Xegro-American earned his freedom by his valor and his sacrifice on the field of battle, his full citizenship and enfranchise ment as a just bounty freely voted by the people, for his faithfulness to the cause ot a reunited countrv. During the progress of the war. Mr. Lincoln was often impor tuned to emancipate the slaves upon humane principles. He refused. He was not a humanitarian, but was President. Time rolled on, our armies met with defeat after defeat, the cause of the Confederacy seemed to prosper. Southern leaders grew imper tinent, boasted of ultimate success. They were assisted on the field by their able-bodied slaves. Their slaves were utilized in building- fortifications, breast-works, railroads, and growing the provender which the Confederated Army subsisted upon, as well as their AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J>R. WILLIAM HKXRY JOHNSON. 241 families at home, thus permitting every white Southerner to be active on the field. Mr. Lincoln knew all this and more, still he pleaded with the South to cease hostilities, return to the Union and retain all their slaves. He wrote in answer to Horace Greely s appeal, that if he could, as President, restore the Union without freeing a single slave, he would do it. If he found it necessary to free one-half and let the other half remain in slavery, he would do that. If he found it necessary to set them all free to save the Union, he would do that. He declared w r ith emphasis that he was not dealing with the slave question, that it was incidentally a side issue forced upon the country to complicate matters. His mission was to restore the Union. He turned a deaf ear to all entreaties looking to the emancipation of slavery upon any other than military necessity, knowing that that was the highest possible ground to stand upon for the future benefit of the Xegro s manhood. Fremont in the West, and Hunter at Port Royal, commanders of departments, issued proclamations freeing the slaves in their lines; Mr. Lincoln repudiated them both. Slaves were returned to their masters until Benjamin F. Jiutler refused farther to do so, upon the grounds that they were contraband of war. Mr. Lincoln went so far in the interest of the Union cause as to visit Hampton Roads, \ a., in 1865, under Mag of truce. He pleaded with the southern leaders to lay down their arms, return to the Union, and retain their slaves. It is a trueism " that whom the gods would destroy they first make mad." Mr. Lincoln knew that the gods had determined to destroy the South. Me recognized their madness. He was right. ( )n the 22(1 of September, 1862, Mr. Lincoln issued his proclama tion, warning the South officially that if they did not lay down their arms and cease hostilities before the 1st day of January, 1863, he, as President of the United States, would emancipate the slaves in all the States and parts of a State then in rebellion against the government of the United States and would do so upon military necessity. Then light began to break upon us; we realized beyond the perad venture of a doubt that Mr. Lincoln was the right man in the right place. This primary proclamation warning the rebels to lay down their arms and return to the Union, promising compensation to loyal Southerners for the loss of their slaves in consequence of the war and reaffirming his purpose looking to the colonization of 16 242 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. XYILLIAM ifliXRY JOHNSON. all free Negroes that might be found willing to be deported. (See the Proclamation on page 208.) This is the full and verbatim text of Mr. Lincoln s proclamations; there is not one word of sympathy expressed, not one line or syllable touching personal liking or dislike; all is based upon constitutional obligation and military necessity. Mr. Lincoln, as President of the United States and Commander of the Army and Navy, having con cluded upon mature consideration that the rebellion could not be suppressed without the aid of the Negroes as armed allies, said so. and made the declaration over his own official signature without reservation. There is nothing evasive in his utterances, no special pleadings in the case. The issue and the responsibility were met and embraced. He had endeavored to restore the Union without considering the Negro as a factor. He had failed to do so and he knew that two years of disastrous war had proven that the South, with its slaves, as the bearers of burden and drawers of water, form ing the labor contingent to the active men in the field was over balancing and over-matching the forces available on the Union side, bless his sainted memory, did. under the Constitution, draw off Becoming thoroughly convinced of this fact, Mr. Lincoln, God bless his sainted memory, did, under the Constitution, draw off that supply product and motor power and added it to the Union strength. He did so upon unqualified military necessity, thus dignifying in the highest possible sense the services of the freedmen. There was no cant about humanity; the issue was squarely met. The patriotism and valor of the Negro was finally tested; the result justified Mr. Lincoln s highest expectations; the bubble of rebellion burst. In one year the rebellion proved a failure. White and black men divided the honors equally; both had contributed their quota in blood, muscle and life for the restoration of our glorious Union. The new citizens are led to believe that Mr. Lincoln issued his proclamation freeing the slaves through pure love and deep concern for them; the facts do not bear this construction. He did so for no other reason than to use the Negro as a potent instrument tending to the defeat of the rebels and the restoration of the Union. It is seen that Air. Lincoln only abolished slavery in the State or parts of States in actual rebellion against the Union. He left slavery intact in all the States and territories that were at the time loyal to the general government and covered by the grand old flag. It is seen also, that Mr. Lincoln was willing to compensate every L T nion slave owner whose slave was set free because of the circumstance of his, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 243 the owner, being a resident of a rebellious State or part of a State at the time of the proclamation. It is also seen that Air. Lincoln was in favor of colonizing out of the States every free Negro who would give his consent to be deported. Jt is also seen that Mr. Lincoln in dealing with the question of the suppression of the rebellion, expressed not one word of sympathy for the Negro as a slave, or for his comfort and happiness when turned loose and arrayed against his old master. Read for yourselves the proclamations; note their language; then tell me who are the obligated parties. In view of the fact that the success of the Union cause was extremely doubtful, hung in the balance, until Mr. Lincoln by proclamation informed the slaves in the rebellious States that they were free; no longer to be denied admittance into the Union lines; that their liberties would be protected so long as they were loyal to the Union cause. That information drew nearly two hundred thousand Negroes from labor in the rebel States and added that number to the Union army. The proclamation was received by man} with shouts of approba tion. It was regarded by all such as the death knell to the rebel lion. Still there were those who distrusted Mr. Lincoln s policy. They found fault because emancipation had not been general. They could not understand how the President could emancipate the slaves in the rebel lines, and permit those in the Union lines, over which he had control, to remain in slavery. This was regarded as cruel mockery. The Republican party, the war party, divided on that issue. Mr. Lincoln was made the target of the Old Liberty and Free Soil element. Wendell Phillips came to Albany in 1863, and spoke in Tweddle Hall under the auspices of the Young Men s Association. I heard him myself. He criticised Lincoln as being false to the cause of universal emancipation and as trifling with the slave question. Frederick Douglass reluctantly declared that Presi dent Lincoln, in dealing with the rebellion, used his white hand before him and his black hand behind him. In the National Republican Convention of 1864, when a successor to Mr. Lincoln was to be nominated, opposition of a formidable character was developed against his renomination. Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio; Charles Sunnier, Thaddeus Stephens, John A. Logan, Benjamin F. Butler, and many other former supporters were arrayed against him. When Mr. Lincoln was asked what he thought of the situation, he responded by saying " that he regarded it as poor policy to swap horses while crossing a stream." 244 At ToiJior.uAPiiY OF i>R. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOHNSON* Notwithstanding the opposition Mr. Lincoln was renominated and re-elected ; the rebellion suppressed, the Union restored. Then followed the reconstruction of the rebel States. An amendment to the Constitution was speedily passed in the United States Senate early in 1864. It is known as the Thirteenth Amendment, and reads as follows : " Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punish ment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist in the United States or any place subject to its jurisdiction." The final vote was taken on that all-important amendment in the House of Representatives January 31, 1865. It was adopted by a vote of one hundred and nineteen against fifty-six, eight members not voting. Among the Democrats who recorded themselves in the affirmative, were Messrs. F. O Dell and John A. Griswold, of New York; Joseph Bailey, of Pennsylvania; Ezra Wheeler, of Wis consin, and A. C. Baldwell, of Michigan. It \vas submitted to the people immediately for ratification. Upon Mr. Lincoln s learning of the passage of the amendment by the two houses, and that it had been submitted for ratification, said: " This amendment is a king s cure-all for all the evils it winds the whole thing up. It com pletes the new birth of freedom." These were the last utterances Mr. Lincoln was ever known to make on the subject of freedom. On the 1 4th of April, 1865, he was cruelly, brutally assassinated. He died the next morning. The States ratified the amendment. Its adoption as part of the federal Constitution was officially pro mulgated December 18, 1865, by William H. Seward, Secretary of the United States, and human slavery ceased to exist that day in this regenerated land. The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was proclaimed |ulv 28. 1868. It recognized the Negro as a citizen. ( )n March 20, 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the cope- stone to the Negro s enfranchisement and complete investure with all the rights, privileges and prerogatives of full American citizen ship was promulgated and the Negro-American s manhood con stitutionally established. ] have endeavored to show that Mr. Lincoln was not an abolition ist in the sense that the term is understood. That he as President acknowledged the constitutionality and the legality of slavery as far as it existed in the then existing southern States. I desire, also, to show that he so expressed himself in a corre spondence with Alexander H. Stephens, the vice-president of the so-called Southern Confederacy, immediately after his election in AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM ITEXRY JOIINSOX. 245 i8(>o, and before his inauguration in 1861. To this end,- 1 submit the full text of the correspondence and beg you to carefully note the dates as well as the phraseology of the letters: MR. LINCOLN TO MR. STELMIENS. SPRIXGFIELD, ILL., Xo-rember 30, 1860. Ho.\. A. 11. STEPIIEXS: MY DEAR SIR. I have read in the newspapers your speech, recently delivered (I think), before the ( ieorgia Legislature, or its assembled members. If you have revised it, as is probable, I shall be much obliged to you if you will send me a copy. A. LINCOLN. FRO.M MR. STEPHEXS TO MR. LIXCOLX. CRAWFORD VILLE, GA., December 14, 1860. MY DEAR SIR. Your short and polite note of the 3Oth ult., ask ing for a revised copy of the speech to which you refer, was not received until late last night. The newspaper report of the speech has never been revised by me. The notes of the reporter were sub mitted to me and corrected to some extent before being published, but not so thoroughly as 1 could have wished. The report was substantially correct. If I had had any idea that it would have been so extensively circulated as it has been, and been republished in so many places throughout the country as it has been, I should have prepared a copy for the press in the first instance. But I had no such thought, and, therefore, let the report go as it did. There are several verbal inaccuracies in it. but the main points appear suffi ciently clear for all practical purposes. The country is certainly in great peril, and no man ever had heavier or greater responsibilities resting upon him than you have in the present momentous crisis. Yours, most respectfully, ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS. Hnx. A HR. \II.\M Li. \COEX, Springfield, III. REPLY OF MR. LIXCOLX. (For your own eye only.) SPRINGFIELD, ILL., December 22, 1860. Hox. A. H. STEPHENS: MY DEAK SIR. Your obliging answer to my short note is just received, and for which please accept my thanks. I fully appre- 240 Al. TOKIOGKAIMIY OF DK. WILLIAM HENRY JOHXSON. ciate the present peril the country is in, and the weight of respon sibility on me. Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Repub lican administration would, directly or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them about their slaves? If they do I wish to assure you, as once a friend, and still, I hope-, not an enemy, that there is no cause for such fears. The South would be in no more danger in this respect than it would be in the days of Washington. I suppose, however, this does not meet tin- case. You think slavery is right, and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong, and ought to be restricted. That, I suppose, is the rub. It certainly is the only substantial difference between us. Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN. \o comments are necessary here. It is simply historical rex-ela tion, undeniable facts. It has been assumed that the Proclamation of September 22, 1862, and January i, 1863, abolished slavery. l>ut Mr. Lincoln evidently did not so regard it as the letter will attest: Exi XT TivK MANSIOX, .////v 18, 1864. To II Twin it Ma\ Concern: Any proposition which embraces the restoration of peace, the integrity of the whole Union and the abandonment of slavery, and comes by and with ;in authority that can control the armies now at war against the United States will be received and considered by the Executive Government of the United States and will be met by liberal terms, on substantial and collateral points, and the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe conduct both ways. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. It is seen that this letter was written one year, six months and eighteen days after the issuing of the Proclamation, and still Mr. Lincoln is found discussing the question of the abandonment of slavery seeking terms with the South looking to its abrogation. Hon. Henry Watterson, of the Louisville Courier-Journal, in a speech delivered in the West, in which he holds that Mr. Lincoln was a true friend to the South points out how the South could have saved slaves even as late as January, 1865, two years subsequent to the date of the promulgation of the so-called Emancipation Procla mation had the Confederate leaders accepted his preferred terms. Mr. \Yatterson, in speaking of that remarkable interview at Hampton Roads, in 1865, between President Lincoln and Secretary z < a S o ATTOniOGR. \PTIY OF DR. WILLIAM ITRXKV JOUXSOX. -25 I of the State, the Hon. William H. Sewarcl, on the Union side, and Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, representing the Confederacy, said. ! quote him verbatim : "After the formal interview at that famous Hampton Roads con ference, .Mr. Lincoln, the friend, still the old Whig colleague, though one was now President of the United States, and the other Vice- President of the Southern Confederacy, took the slim, pale-faced, consumptive little man, Stephens, aside, and, placing his arm over his shoulder, pointed to a sheet of paper he held in his other hand, and said: Stephens, write Union at the top of that page, and you mav write below it whatever you please. In the preceding conversation, Air. Lincoln had intimated that pavment for the slaves was not outside of a possible agreement for reunion and peace. He based that statement upon a proposal he had already in hand, to appropriate $400,000,000 to this purpose. I am not going to tell any tales out of school. I am not here for controversy; but, when we are dead and gone, the private memora bilia of those who knew what terms were really offered the Con- federacv, within ninetv days of its total collapse, will show that in the individual judgment of all of them the wisdom of the situation said, " accept! " According to this showing two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and just ninetv days before the absolute collapse of the Confederacy, Mr. Lincoln regarded his proclamation only in the light of a patriotic recruiting device warranted by the Constitu tion upon military necessity. I want vou, mv countrymen, to survive, to outlive the odious color line in politics, in cvervthing. 1 want myself to forget, and would if I could, that slaver} ever existed in this beautiful land; that mv people were the subjects of that condition. L want to forget that there ever was a civil war or any unpleasantness existing between the two geographical sections divided by Mason and Dixon s line, in which the matter of slaver}- was involved. Were it not a fact that some of the best blood of the truest, bravest and most lovable young Americans were shed on both sides, and many precious lives sacrificed in the prosecution of a cause which both thought to be right and just, I would, if it were possible, blot from the pages of American History that period dating from 1861 to 1865, inclusive, and only remember that we are a nation of free American citizens, one and inseparable, now and forever. This is mv contribution to the history of slaver}-, the rebellion and freedom; my humble contribution to the greatness of honest A I >raham I .in coin. 252 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM ITEXRY JOHNSON. CHAPTER XVII. DR. JOHNSON S MASONIC RECORD ITEMIZED. Initiated and entered apprentice and passed to the degree of Fellow Craft October 13, 1862. Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason November 27, 1862, in Jepthah Lodge No. 13, Albany, X. Y. Elected S. W., January 3, 1863. Elected W. M., January, 1864-1866-1878. Appointed D. D. G. M. of the Grand Lodge, 1878. Elected G. J. W., 1879. Elected D/G. M., 1880. Elected Grand Master, 1882. The above covers Dr. Johnson s record in the Blue Lodge, and is one of which he is justly proud. The Blue Lodge, however, did not fully satisfy his craving for knowledge, nor his ambition to go to the limit of whatever work he might engage himself in, hence the fol lowing cop\ of a carefully preserved and authentic document will be read with all the particular interest which such a paper is entitled to. It is the diplomat of an A. & A. Scottish Rites, and is the highest honor within the gift of any Masonic body. U. T. O. A. P. P>. J. ORDO. A. B. - CIIAO. The Supreme Council of Sov. Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and Last Degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry for the United States of America and the Territories and Dependencies thereof. Sitting at their Grand East in the Valley of Xew York, near the 1). I)., under the C. C. of the zenith answering to 40 degrees 45 minutes 40 seconds X. L., 2 degrees o minutes 51 seconds E. L., in a place where the great treasure is deposited and the true light is visible. To AH Ineffable Sublime Masons and Illustrious Knights and Princes of Every Degree of the Ancient, Accepted Scottish Rite on the Face of the Globe: UNION, TOLERATION, CONTINUANCE. Know ye, that by the powers vested in us, we have initiated. admitted, constituted and proclaimed our illustrious Brother, Al TOfJlOGRAIMlV OF DK. WILLfAM I1KNRY JOHNSON. 253 William H. Johnson, into "the several" degrees of Secret Master, Perfect Master, Intimate Secretary, Provost and Judge Intendant of the Building, Elect of Nine, Elect of Fifteen. Sublime Knight Fleet, Grand Master Architect, Knight of the Royal Arch and ( irand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason, and do further certify him to be a Knight of the East and Prince of Jerusalem, also a Knight of the Fast and West and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix de-H.- l).-.\l., (irand Pontiff, (irand Master of All. Symbolic Lodges, Patriarch Xoahchite, Prince of Libanus, Chief of the Tabernacles. Prince of the Tabernacle, Prince of Mercy, Knight of the Brazen Serpent. Commander of the Temple, Knight Adept of the Sun, (irand Scottish Knight of St. Andrew, (irand Fleet Knight of Kadosh. Inquisitory Commander, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, and in further testimony of our regard, have invested him with the secrets and elevated him to the rank and dignity of a Sovereign (irand Inspector General of the Thirty-third and Last Degree, clothed with the authority, power and prerogatives appertaining thereunto agreeable to the Grand Constitutions, and elected him an Honorary Member of our Supreme Council afore- >aid. and we hereby enjoin upon all Masons under our obedience, and fraternally request of all other Illustrious Princes, Valiant Knights and Sublime Free Masons to receive and acknowledge our said brother in that High Degree so long as he shall conform and be faithful to the Constitutions, Institutes. Statutes, Regulations and Laws of the Order and of this Council, and we promise to fully reciprocate all and any attention shown him whenever requested of us. accompanied with lawful letters patent, and of credence like unto these which we have granted him by the hand of our Grand Dignitaries, Officers and Members and verified by our Great Seal at our Grand Fast in the city of New York. State of Xew York, on the loth day of the Masonic month Ye Adar. which corresponds to the 19th day of March. A. D. 1883. Dens Mcnniqne Ins. Sealed and signed by Dr. Peter W. Ray. 33d. M. P. Sov. Gr. C.: W. Miller Dutton, 33d. M. 111. L. Gr. C; William A. Mars. 33d, 111. T. G. of the Holy Empire; Samuel R. Scott- ron, 33d, 111. S. G. of the Holy Empire; Peter J. Jewell, 33(1. 111. Mas. of Cer.; R. P. Jauilem. 33d, 111. Min. of State; John Peterson, 33d, K. of Arc. 254 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. THE M. W. GRAND LODGE OF THE MOST ANCTENT AND HONOR ABLE FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF XFAV YORK. ( )FFICE OF THE GRAND MASTER, 27 MAIDEX LAM-:. AIYMANY, June 27, 188.2. l>K\jA.\j IN FLAGLER, Fso., (Jrand Master of the (/. /.. of flic Stale of AY Zi York: M. YY. SIR. You doubtlessly are cognizant of the fact that there exists, and has existed for many years in this State, a respectable organization of men of African descent, with a membership of eighteen hundred to two thousand. They claim to be Free and Accepted Masons, having subordinate lodges fort}- or more in number located in different parts of this State, and a Grand Lodge, holding annual and semi-annual communications in the city of Xew York. This Brotherhood is known as the Most Ancient and Most Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Xew York, and is plumb level and square. The only disad vantage to which we are subjected at this time is the want of union and fraternal intercourse with the great Masonic brotherhood of which you have the honor to be M. \Y. G. M.. and which is our senior. Most Worshipful Sir. As the acknowledged representative of the G. L. of F. and A. M. (colored, of this State), I have the honor in their name and on their behalf, to appeal to vou, and through you to the G. L. of V. and A. M. of the State of Xew York, to accord to us that fraternal recognition due from one brotherhood to another of a kindred nature. I, therefore, respectfully suggest that you name some brother as your representative in or near our Grand Lodge, and accept the credentials of one that 1 may appoint to represent us in your Grand Lodge. I have to suggest that this course be adopted as the pre liminary step looking to a close union and extended fraternal relations between the two most worshipful grand lodges. I anticipate, most worshipful sir, your inquiry touching our origin and the grounds upon which we assume to maintain our Masonic character; permit me to offer the following as my answer: Consulting the ancient record of the mother Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, I find in the year 1/75. and between the months AUTOBIOGRAPHY <>!" Dk. WILLIAM HEXkV of March and December, the following-named men were entered, passed and raised in an English army lodge, then stationed in or near the city of Boston: \Y. M. Robert Bait, Prince Hall, Cyrus Julius, Bueston Singer, Thomas Sanderson. Prince Tyclon, Cato Spain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, John Canton, Prince Reem, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Teber, Duff Buform, Fortune Howard and Richard Telby, sixteen in all, and they were the first colored Masons ever made in this country. Xine years afterwards, in 1/84, and immediately after the announcement of peace, the Grand Lodge of Fngland confirmed the Masonic work inaugurated by Worshipful Master Bait, in 17/5. by its warrant of constitution to Prince Hall and other colored Masons in the city of Boston. That grant has never been evoked bv the grantor, neither has its fair escutcheon been tarnished by a single unmasonic act committed by any colored Mason in the L nited States. The warrant emanating from the Grand Lodge of Great Britain, conferring 1 Masonic privileges upon colored men in the L nited States, furnishes the necessan link in the chain of evidence which establishes onr claim to legitimacy, and it is of so much importance that I. have taken the pains to obtain a verbatim copy, which I sub mit for your inspection: A Grand Master, to all and every our right worshipful brethren: \Ye, Thomas Howard. Farl of Fffingham, Lord Howard, etc., etc.. acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, etc.. Grand A Faster of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of the Free and Accepted Masons, send greeting: Know ye, that we. at the humble petition of our right trusty and well-beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sander son and several other brethren residing in Boston. Xew England, in North America, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title and denomination of the African Lodge No. 459, to be opened in Boston aforesaid, and do further, at their said petition, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be master: Boston Smith, senior warden, and Thomas Sanderson, junior warden, for opening the said lodges, and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this, our appointment of the above officers of the lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeably to such laws of the said lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society, contained in the book of con stitutions, and we hereby will, and require you, the said Prince Hall, 256 Al TOlMOGR. \PIIY OF DR. WILLIAM IfKXKY J()IIXS<)X. lo take especial care that all, and every the said brethren are, or have been, regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, per form and keep all the rules and orders contained in the book of constitutions; and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose, an account of your proceedings in the lodge, together with all such rules, orders and regulations as shall be made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us, or our successors, Grand Master, or to .Rowland 1. Holt. Fsq., our Deputy Grand Master for the time being, an account in writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders and regula tions as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the mem bers of the lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circum stances of the lodge, and reasonably be expected toward the grand charity. Moreover, we will and require you. the said Prince Hall, as soon as conveniently mav be, to send an account in writing of what may be done b\ virtue of these presents. Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonrv, this 2o,th day of September, Grand Lodge 5784. A. I). 1784. By the Grand Master s command. R. HOLT, D. G. M. Attested: WILLIAM WHITK, (i. S. Seal of the Grand Lodge attached. The original warrant is to-day among the archives of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, where it has been seen by thousands, who acknowledged it to be genuine from the antiquity of the parchment, as well as the unmistakable seal of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain. We also find upon the records of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain, that George Washington, ihe Father of Our Country, President of the United States, the first M. \Y. G. M. of the first- Grand Lodge of the State of Virginia, was also entered, passed and raised in an English army lodge in the year of light, 5752. This is my presentation of the origin of colored Masons in this country; our origin is coeval with that of the Father of Our Coun try; we were made in the same manner and under the same author ity, viz., that of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain. The first African lodge, Xo. 456, dispensated and warranted other lodges, established the Grand Lodge in the first three met in con- vention and State of Massachusetts, and from that mother Grand Lodge we to-day date back our authority and the legality as well as the formality of our present existence. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY Most Worshipful Sir. Permit me once more to anticipate a possible objection to our recognition, based upon the assumption that it is unmasonic for two or more Grand Lodges to exist in the same State or territorial limits at one and the same time. I frankly acknowledge that such a state of affairs is undesirable, still the fact exists. It certainly is no fault of ours for, bear in mind, that our origin ante-dates the exclusive jurisdiction dogma, and we stand read} now, as we have stood for many years passed, to obliterate anv and all separate and distinctive features which we may possess and to join with you in cementing the bond of a complete and per fect fraternization under one Grand Lodge in keeping with the spirit of Masonry, which encourages no contentions or strife save that noble contention or emulation as to who shall best work and agree. 1 am not quite willing to admit that the assumption of an exclusive territorial jurisdiction is essentially Masonic I cannot do so in view of the uncontroverted fact that for many years two Grand Lodges existed in this State at the same time composed exclu sivelv of white men, and were finally consolidated. In ( ireat Britain, for manv years, two Grand Lodges existed one at York and the other at London. Preston states that for a series of years the most perfect harmony existed between the two Grand Lodges and private lodges flourished in both parts of the kingdom under their separate jurisdictions. In Germany there were eight Grand Lodges, three of which were located in the citv of I erlin, viz.. the Roval Mother Grand Lodge of the Three Globes, founded in 1/40, having ninety-nine subordi nate 1 lodges; the Royal York in Friendship, founded in 1733. with twenty-seven lodges under its jurisdiction, and the National Grand Lodge of Germany, founded in 1798, with twentv-seven operative lodges. ( )n the uth of April. iSoo,, the Grand Lodge of Lngland resolved that it is not necessary to continue in force the measure resorted to in or about the year 1703. respecting irregular masons. The union did not take place until the J/th of December, 1813. four vears and eight months afterward. Yet we find that the members of both Grand Lodges began to fraternize " as on the 2 i st of July. icSio," says Brother llughan, " the Karl of Moira. the Grand Master of Kngland, invited the Atho brethren on Ancients to dine with him at Freemasons Hall, which offer was accepted." lint, suppose we, admit, Most Worshipful Sir, that this state of affairs no longer exists, and that the doctrine of an exclusive juris diction is true, substantial and holds good against all comers, then, 1 ask. in the name of all that is good and true in Masonry, is it fair, 17 2 $8 ArTOI .irXiRAI HY OF DR. WILLIAM IIEXRY is it just, is it in keeping with that spirit of Masonic charity which is supposed to reach from the center of the eartli to the heavens and extend from east to west, from north to south, embracing within its folds the people of every clime and every tongue, for your grand body, with its superior numerical strength, its immense wealth, its boundless intellect, its ripe culture and Masonic renown, to exclude from Masonic fellowship two thousand master Masons because nature has clothed them with a skin of a darker hue than yours? I cannot believe that you so regard it, and I hope hope, because 1 know that flod lives and reigns; that his everlasting and immutable laws of right and justice must and will sooner or later prevail; that complete justice must be done us, and that we shall be lifted out of the complexional rut of prejudice into the light of a perfect Masonic day. Trusting, most worshipful sir. that you will pardon the length ol this friendlv communication, and give it vour early and thoughtful attention, 1 have the honor to sign myself. Yours fraternally. \YM. H. JOHXSOX. (Jrand Master. The following letter is from the pen of one of the ablest and best- known newspaper men in this or any other country: rROVIDEXCK JorUXAL. (Xevv York Xotes A Distinguished Colored Mason.) XKW YORK. Jai\nar\ 15, 1887. I was shaved the other day by one of the most remarkable colored men in America. It is my luck to run across remarkable individuals in barber shops. This man s name is W. 11. Johnson, and he prac tices his gentle profession in Albany. He pointed to a nondescript looking chart on the wall and said " that illustrates the Scottish Rite lie of Masonry. I have invited a number of white Masons here to challenge them to work it with me or to correct me in inv working of it, but they have declined, mainly because they sav they are not allowed to expose their work to a colored man. We colored men have Masonic lodges in every State of the Union. We got our first charter in 1781 from his lordship, the then Earl of Efrmg- ham. Grand Master in Great Britain. We have kept it locked up in an iron safe ever since. 1 am a thirty-third degree Mason and AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Dk. WILLIAM liKXRV JOHNSOX. 259 when, in 1883, 1 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State, 1 challenged the white Grand Master, Mr. Flagler, to show why we colored Masons were not the equal of the white men, and why we did not possess Masonry as authentic as theirs. 1 sent the challenge by registered letter and hold his receipt for it, but he made me no reply. " We hear so much of equality and we claim a majority of Repub licans in this country," Air. Johnson continued, as he ceased rub bing my chin and wiped the lather from his lingers, " but in only one conspicuous organization, civil, military or religious, in this country is the colored man on a par with his white brother. That cxcepton is the noble order of the Knights of Labor. 1 belong- to that. In my local assembly, Xo. 7845, consisting of seven colored men and one hundred and seventy whites, 1 have been elected to the chief office, that of Master Workman. Ueing sent as a delegate lo the District Assembly, which has one hundred and sixty mem bers, and not one other colored man. I have been elected Worthy Foreman, a position second to that of District Master Workman. We are trying to put up a building for our order in Albany that is to cost $40,000, and I have been elected chairman of the com mittee having that work in charge." Mr. Johnson submitted to a cross-examination which revealed further facts in his honorable and distinguished life. He had been janitor of the Senate and was the first man of his race to hold such a position. He had been janitor of the High Court of Impeach ment in the notorious Barnard case. He had stumped several States for Republican presidential candidates, and had refused pay for so doing, though obliged to neglect his business for months. " I told the part\\" said he, "that my race was not in a position to con- iribtitc money towards its support, therefore 1 would draw none from it." He was the author of the Civil Rights Hill, now a law of the State. He never went to school, l.orn in Alexandria of free parents, in 1833, he was not allowed to go to school there, but was sent in his youth to Philadelphia, to learn the drug business, and to educate himself. He became enamored with the barbering business, and at once adopted it. In various shops he learned to read and write, and pursued his further studies. " I found that I had to learn to write when I got my first sweetheart," he said; " but after 1 wrote my first letter to her I knew she could not read it, so 1 took it myself and read it to her." Xow, ye prejudiced Masons, and all ye others who esteem true merit and hard won victories in life s great battle, learn from W. TT. Johnson, the Albany barber, how 260 Al Tol .KHlkANl Y <>F DR. WILLIAM. HKN KY JOHXSoX. nuicli even a poor and ignorant colored boy can do if he aspires to raise himself, and never flags in his efforts, and ask vourselves with your opportunities, many of you, even of the most successful among you, have succeeded in anything like the degree he has, all things considered. ll LIAX RALPH. Tin-: Friio. I" TIC A, X. Y.. September 18, jK8o. (Masonic Communications.) Masonry and the Reformed Church. The seventy-fourth annual meeting of the ( Jeneral Synod of the Reformed Church in America has devoted much of its time to the discussion of the memorials of the western classes, praving to he released from what they denominate a growing sin, "from Masonry in the church." In short, that their thin-skinned Christian brothers out west demand the exclusion from the church and from the communion table of Free Masons, Odd Fellows and members of other oath-bound associations. They do not admit Free Masons to membership in these churches west, and they ask the church east to do likewise; but the General Synod, in its action just had. said no. Jt said, in substance, your western brothers are at liberty to do as you like in this matter, and we at the east will do as we feel it becomes the followers of the IJlessed Saviour to do, and that is to let the question of Freemasonry alone, and to attend to the upbuilding of the Christian church, and the ingathering of souls redeemed to the fold of Christ. The synod has acted wisely. Masonry has nothing to do with the Christian church. The Christian church has nothing to do with Masonry. Moth have their separate missions to perform. Masonry is a moral and a scientific association, and requires no religious tests save a belief in God and his revealed will. Founded in a belief in the existence of God. the Great Jehovah, the Supreme Architect and Ruler of the l. niverse: a firm and unwavering faith in Mis goodness and mercy, united with the belief in the revelation which he has made to man as contained in the Holy Scriptures, together with an unshaken faith in the doctrine of the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul. It leaves intact the right of -private judgment and public profession, thus bringing all men of all creeds, without attempting to control any, upon one com- AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHXSOX. 26 1 nion platform of reliance upon the goodness of God and Mis divine nature. In Masonry, as in the church, an "atheist" is a monster for whom there can be found no name or abiding place. Free masonry is a moral and scientific institution, subjecting and illus trating the important truths pertaining to our doctrines upon the broad standard of morality, not religion. Masonry leaves religion and stricth religious matters of worship to the church of Christ. Still it endeavored to and does support the advancing interest of the church by its standard of morality. In all matters pertaining to church and State Masonry stands entirely aloof, expending its genius onlv upon man s moral and social life, leaving the church to care for his spiritual and Christian well-being; whilst Freemasonry embraces the idea of a universal liberty, a universal equality and a universal fraternity, it at the same time guards those greatest of blessings, and by an ordination only known to the craft prevents them from degenerating into licentiousness, anarchy and infidelity; and by the application of these and kindred principles, upon which the order is founded, reduces the human character in life to sym metry and beautv. Such is Freemasonry: such is its teachings. Masonrv deals with the moral and loving nature of man. It teaches him how best to be a good citizen, a good husband, a good father, brother, son. and a true and trust}- friend. It teaches him how to live and love and bear life s burdens lightly. It teaches him how to live for others that they might live in turn for him; but it leaves to the church the duty of teaching men how to die, so as to live again and live eternally. Faith in (iod. hope in immortality and charitv to all mankind are the triangular foundation stones in Free masonry. Still the Christian s hope can only be realized through well-founded faith in (iod. the Father, the Son. and the Holy (ihost. To believe in (iod only will not suffice to save a human soul. Xo; we must believe in the Trinity to be saved, if saved at all. through ( )ur Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thus, as a man. a Mason and a Christian, " I would live Till life s dull years are past; Then live forever." WM. H. JOHXSOX. Albanv. Xew York. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKN RV (OI1XSOX. M. \\ . GRAXD LoD.ii-: OF F. AXD A. M., \K\\ YoKK. M(l\ 5, I <)()(). \V.\i. II. JOHNSON, I*. ( i. M.: DKAR SIR AXD BROTHER. The Grand Master, M. \\ . Br<>. E. V. C. Kato, desires that if health will permit, that von be present at the presentation of a banner to the (irand Lodge, on Thnrsdav evening. June seventh, at Zion clmrch. \\ e are arranging a pro- gram to occupy about an hour and he desires that in conjunction with Past (irand Masters Irving. Spanlding and Curtis, that you give a short address of ten minutes. Trusting that von will be able to be present at both the annual session and presentation. I beg to remain. Yours fraternally, BKXJAMIX MYERS. Grand Secretary. 27 MAIDEN LAXIC. ALHAXY, X. Y., June 3, 1900. RKIHT WORSHIPFUL BROTHKR BLXJAMIX MYKRS, Grand Secretary: DKAK SIR. I have at hand your kind favor, informing me that our beloved Most Worshipful Grand Master, E. V. C. Eato, desires to have me present at a banner presentation to the M. W. (i. L., in Zion church, in your city, on the 7th inst., to make a speeeh in company with our illustrious Masonic brothers, Past (irand Masters Curtis. Irving and Spaulding. I would like ever so much to comply with his wishes and be with mv Masonic brothers on that occasion. It would afford me an opportunity to express again my unfaltering fealty and imperishable love for the craft, that years ago gave me the great honor to elect me (irand Master. But circumstances order otherwise. I have just completed arrangements to go to Philadelphia on the 17th inst., to attend the Republican national convention. I go from here by boat and return by same route. My health needs the sea voyage. The trip will occupy a week and I cannot spare more time from my business at this season of the year. Please inform (irand Master Eato that I deeply regret my inability to be at his side on the 7th inst. more than himself, you, or the dear brothers of the Grand Lodge can possibly appreciate. Please accept for yourself, dear brother Secretary, and convev to K K. JRVlN(i, Ks V .. Albany, N. Y. Cir.-md .Mar-trr of Masons, Stjito of Nc\v York. Sin JOSEPH E. S. WILLIAMS, Troy, N. V. Pant Grand Commander, Knights* Templars, State of New York. ETUELBEKT KVANS. ast Deputy (;r;ni(i Ma.<U-r of Masons, Stair of Xc\v York. IIENKY A. SPENCEK. S. G. W. 0;rand Lodjrc, F. and A. M.. Stato of Nt-w York. m Till: .MASTEll MASsU.N S DKUK HON. JOHN J. SMITH. Of Dorchester. l u-i (.iraml Master of Masons, State of Massa chusetts. Sin JOHN E. JiEliliV. Of Troy, N. Y. St. Aiithouy s G oimnamlery No. 8, Knighu Templars. INEFFABLE. ArTOl .KHiK. \IMIY OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRV JOHNSON. 267 ( irand Master Kato and the brothers, the high fraternal regard and profound love of Yours truly, \YM. II. J( )HXSOX. /- . G. M. ALHANV. X. V., January r. i \\ . H. JOHXSOX, Esg., I . M. \Y. G. M. I". AND A. M.: DKAR SIR AND BROTHER. At a regular communication of Jepthah Lodge \o. 13, E. and A. M., held in their rooms, Xo. 3 Xorth Pearl street, bv a unanimous vote you were placed on the Honorary Roll as a member of [epthah Lodge Xo. 13. and the secretary was instructed to notify you of the same. Fraternally yours, etc., C. E. LEWIS. Secretary. BOSTON, November 26. 1888. \\ M. H. JOHXSOX, Eso.: DKAR SIR. I have not been out of doors but once or twice since you were here, so that your note reached me by way of the State house. I should only be too glad to aid you in your endeavor. \\ hat I can do, 1 know not. I say this looking at the fact that the State of Xew York will have more influence in the coming selection of officers than any other State or section. I confidently look forward to the day when vou shall receive your appointment. I remain your obedient servant, LEWIS HAYDEX, I\ G. M . of Masons. State of MassacJutsctts. MASON i r COM M rx i CAT i oxs. ALP.AXY, January 8, 1880. EDITOR WKSTKRX ECHO: At the last communication of the M. \Y. (i. L. of the M. A. and II. E. of l r . and A. M.. the (.irand Master ruled in accordance with 268 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF I)K. WILLIAM FIK.VKY JOJIXSON. the fundamental principles of ancient Freemasonry, that men made Masons in this jurisdiction must be free horn. This ruling, of the (I. M., seems, upon its face and upon the first view, to exclude from Masonry all good and true men of African descent, who were unfor tunately held in bondage at the South, before events growing out of the great civil strife released them. I kit, such is far from being the case; nothing of the kind is meant. The M. \V. G. M. understands, as we do, the words in the ritual, viz., " free born," to apply in a speculative more than in an operative sense, and means the freedom of the mind, the intellectuality, the born spirit, the characteristic manhood of the candidate, and not the mere nominal state of his physical condition over which he evidently had no control, when his ancestors, free men in Africa, were stolen and brought to America and subjected under their manly protest to slavery. You may enslave the body by superior force, still the man and his innate manhood mav assert itself one physically a slave, may and often is an intellectual free man. \\hat is meant and intended by the decision of the M. \\ . G. M. is that the previous condition of servitude suffered under manly protest, without color of law to sanction and legalize the outrage, shall not be allowed to act as a bar to the admission of candidates whose moral characters are sound, and whose intellect is free and unbounded. It means that as good and true men are God s created free men, all such are justly to be regarded as fit and proper material to be used in the construction of our speculative Masonic Temple, whose pillars are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. AVAL H. [OHXSOX. Tin: XHW YORK AC.K. (Xew York, Saturday, Januarv 12, i88(). ) M ASOXIC KXDOKSLM KXT Of Coniinittccman Jolinson s Candidacy for the Recorders/lip .- Annals. (Regular Correspondence of The Age.) Albany, Jan. 8. Hon. \Yilliam II. Johnson has received the following letter, among other strong ones, endorsing him for the position of Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia: Al TOKHHlkAI HY OF DR. WILLIAM IIFNRY JOHNSON . 269 "OFFICF OF GRAND MASTFR OF TMI-: STATF OF XF\V YORK. ALBANY, December 20, 1888. \V. II. JOHNSON, Eso., I*. G. M.: Ai. \\*. SIR AND HOXORFD BROTHF.R. Among the many things which demonstrate that the Masonic fraternity excels all others in the world, is the pride it has always manifested in numbering among its members men who achieved distinction and eminence in all the walks of life. This pride is greatly enhanced, when honors for meritorious service, for pure disinterested effort in behalf of a worth v cause, for the display of abilities, which all men concede to be founded in the highest order of intelligence, are bestowed upon one who has graced with enduring brilliancy almost every station in our mvstic circle. Therefore, sir. upon learning of your candi dacy for the office of Recorder of Deeds for the District of Colum bia. I conceived it to be my duty, as well as a great pleasure. Jo acquaint you of my earnest solicitude in your behalf. < Uid to express my unqualified endorsement of your efforts to obtain that posi tion. Having always been signally consistent in your advocacy of. and your devotion to. every measure looking to the advancement of our race. I am sanguine that in presenting yourself for this or any other position within the gift of President Harrison, yon will be supported b\ the Xegro race not only in this State, but of the nation, with such cordiality and unanimity that should you fail in obtaining the position you are seeking, you will at least feel rewarded in knowing that our people were \\ith you. Assuring you that my services are at your command in your canvass for the high office which you so justly deserve, and wishing you success, I am. verr truh and fraternally Yours. A GRAXD MASOXFC GATHFRINC. Mount Moriah Lodge. Xo. 25. of V. A. M., had a grand celebra tion on the seventeenth inst.. at Troy, X. Y., the occasion being the grand reception given by the lodge to M. \\ . Grand Master K. \ . ( . Rato. of the M. \Y. Grand Lodge of the State of Xew York. The lodge room was appropriately decorated with Mags, banners and floral offerings. The Lodge was formally opened at eight i . M.. bv W. M. John E. Berrv. /O AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WIUJ.Ul IIKXRY jOHXSoX. That veteran champion of his race. Past Grand Master William H. Johnson, who had come up from Albany, was unanimously elected an honorary life member, and was therefore appointed by the M. W. Master of Ceremonies. While business was being 1 trans acted, the outer door was alarmed by the Tiler, and announcement was made by the J. I), that the M. W. ( irand Master, Bro. Eato, P. G. M. Irving, D. G. M. Evans, G. S. Myers and I). I). G. M. Williams craved admission. Upon the order of the W. M.. the Mas ter of Ceremonies, with his aids, who were P. W. M. s, conducted the G. M. and staff to the dais, and were then received by the W. M. Wardens and brothers with grand honors. After the G. M. and G. S. had inspected the Lodge, the Lodge was called from labor to refreshments. The door was thrown open. The invited guests. ladies and gentlemen, were admitted. A beautiful program was performed, of singing, recitations and music. Refreshments being partaken of, the G. M. expressed his high gratification of the warm- ness of the greeting accorded. He was especially pleased to meet the two clergymen of the city in the lodge room, the Revs. Boddy and Jackson. [The Spectator, Albany-Buffalo, X. Y.. April K), 1900. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 1)K. WILLIAM 1IKXKY InllXSOX. CHAPTER XVIII. lU SIXKSS N OTICK. |"ohn (1. Myers ])rincely department store on North Pearl street rivals anything of its kind here or elsewhere. \Ym. AY. Williams & Son s is the plaee to find diamonds. A. B. Van (iaasbeek carries a first-class stock of mattings, oil cloth, rugs and carpets. Airs. Harriet Chapman, 136 South Swan street, has one of the best and well- equipped boarding-houses. G. H. Mayer, 48 North Pearl street, deals in furniture and wall paper of every description. Talmadge, the Tailor. 42 Maiden lane, is first-class in every respect. Marsh & Hoff man, 79 to 83 North Pearl street, carries a fine stock of jewelry and bric-a-brac. Tebbutt & Sons, funeral directors, 84 and 86 North Pearl street. J. R. Nangle, 93 Second street and 67 and 70 Quay street, coal and wood dealer. For fine cigars and tobacco, " Payn s," corner Maiden lane and James street. Winchell & Davis, 504 and 506 Broadway, and 25 James street, wholesale wine and liquor merchants. Killip & Marks, i to 5 North Pearl street, carry a full line of men s furnishing goods. The Cigar Smoker s Headquarters is located at 23 Steuben street. The Thompson Cottage, 61 Hamil ton street, Saratoga Springs, X. Y., first-class boarding, Mrs. Eva T. Marshall, proprietress. St. James Cafe, 6 James street. Peter A. and Fred. P. Flliott, proprietors. W. H. Sample, 40 South Pearl street, carries a full line of cutler}-. Jas. I). Walsh, plumbing and sanitary engineer. 40 Sheridan avenue. Frank Smith, druggist, Clinton avenue and Lark street. William K. Drislane, North Pearl street, carries a full line of groceries. White & Griffin, tailors, 523 Broad- wav. John Doyle, 12 fames street, plumbing and draining. William IHasie, hot and cold baths, 389 Broadway. George A. liailey, 112 State street, represents the Equitable Life Assurance Society, of New York. C. (i. Craft & Co., clothiers, corner Maiden lane and James street. Henry Russell, the flour merchant, 42 State street. Walker & Gibson, wholesale druggists, 74 and 76 State street. The Ten Fyck is a first-class hotel, located corner Chapel and State streets. The Kenmore, on North Pearl street, affords first-class accommodations. Stanwix Hall, corner Broadway and Maiden lane, does a large business. Iveeler s Hotel, corner Broad- wav and Maiden lane, is one of the finest hotels in the State, com- 2^2 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IILXRY JOMXSOX. plete in every ])articular. Mr. Douw Fonda, of State street, carries a full line of drugs. G. \Y. Luther & Sons, anthracite and bituminous coal, 45 Columbia street. Chas. G. Stewart, The Travelers Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., Xo. 7 First street, Troy, X. Y. Garry Benson s Turkish Baths are line, located on State street. J. Cambridge. M. 1)., .102 Waverlv place. Xew York city. John Xeil, Fsq.. wine and billiard parlors. Sixth avenue, Xew York city. R. II. Lansing, fashionable hair dresser and instructor in military tactics, Williamstown. Mass. John Harrigan s Sons, undertakers, Sheridan avenue, city. !>. Payn s Sons, tobac conists, Broadway and Maiden lane. The Albany Business Col lege is a good educational institute. Its methods of education is excellent and commendable. It is a treat to look in to Annesley s Art Store, on Xorth Pearl street. His accommodating assistants are most courteous gentlemen; none more so than Messrs. David Coleman and A. J. Bovlan. The beautiful half-tone illustrations which graces the pages of this little volume is the distinctive work of the Albany Fngraving Company, Maiden lane. We acknowledge obligations to the Sunday Telegram, for the use of the half-tone portrait of Father Walworth and honest Captain Robert Davidson. Captain Slattery s Arcade Hotel is one of the best in the city. P>. \\ . \\oosters Sons furniture is commended to purchasers. Patrick Maher s popular smoking and spellbinding emporium attracts general attention. Christopher Ixeenholtz is a most accom plished guide and lecturer at the State capilol. lie will show you and explain everything appertaining to the State capitol without apparent trouble. "Jake" Doyle is a joker, but he does not know it. Gentlemanly Sam McAlindin is a peach, courteous and accom modating. He has exclusive charge of William II. Keeler s wine room. Charles Parrott is his first lieutenant. Miss Catherine Rilcv, principal cashier of that hostelry, is highly esteemed by the patrons of the restaurant. Miss F. Coiighlin looks after the cash in the main dining-room, llappv William Stroby is ever present, and has general oversight. Frank Settle} has charge of the ladies upstairs ordinary. George Taylor, the veteran, is the general superintendent at night, with Fd. Cooper who looks alter the dining-room at night and Miss (. Lyons at the desk. Mr. keeler is tortunate with the continuous service of his first hotel clerk, Mr. Dexter Brazil. There is no more competent gentleman for that position than he. Mr. Chas. Mann, who has general charge in Mr. Keeler s absence, is a thorough hotel man. and an adept in hotel and business tech nicalities. Young John Keeler. who is following close in his father s AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. 273 footsteps, is studying the hotel business, and some day he will be a full-fledged hotel keeper. Bernard Quinn, the " Silver King," of Maiden lane, is a study and knows all about books and stationer} . Knowledge is not a positive element. It is relative. One man knows more than a nation of men about things that he does know, and they do not. We know that Louis Neubauer, the accom modating night keeper at Sheriff Schifferdecker s Maiden Lane Hotel, better known as the common jail, is an all around catch. He tried to pull us in once, but Jailer Collopy put a veto on the trick. " Crackers and Cheese," M. W. Rogers, wants to have the exclusive agency of this book, but we say " nixey." k> Crackers and Cheese," will go down, whilst this book will go into the libraries of the people. Richard Early, the real estate projecter, saved our life once, and we tip our hat to him. The artist in soap, in the Keeler estab lishment, is Eugene Skinner. Freddie Germain and Frank Hamlin are very pleasant attaches of this popular hostelry. There are many kind friends that we would delight to mention in these notes, but we cannot strike them all with a glad hand. Still, we mention, with pleasure, the successful business career of Charles E. Wolf, the insurance projector, Judge Severance and Sam Goldring, the florist, who are high and dry on the bridge with the festive Elks. Air. Reefer, on Broadway, is making a success of the stationery business. We are greatly indebted to the Albany press, generally, for kind and considerate treatment of our copy. We tip our hat to Messrs. Bishop, Davis, Bert Denison and llutchins, and all the quill drivers. Mr. William Jennings Bryan, whilst here the other night, said some good tilings about Albany, all of which we indorse. Our adopted city is all right and up-to-date, notwithstanding the census takers did not fully take the census here. Mr. Bryan spoke in general of our beautiful hotels, especially the Ten Evck. He ought to have seen our Washington Park, visited the Pine Hills, promenaded on the Northern Boulevard, through the Rural and St. Agnes cemeteries, looked at the new City Hospital, entered and viewed the architec tural beaut}- of the interior of the Capitol, witnesses the nightly drills of the Tenth Battalion, seen the Burgesses Corps on the Fourth of July march to the quick music of Gartland s Band, in company front, on State street, reaching from curb to curb. Speaking of the Fourth of |ulv recalls to our mind the splendid reception and entertainment we received on that day, many years ago, by the old and honored Jackson Corps at their armory; and Captain Blasie being in command we were royally entertained. \Ve happened to be on the street, having been drawn there by the splendid music of IS 2/4 ArTOIJlOORAI ll Y OF DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY JOllX SOX. the band and perfect marching evolutions of the corps, when John Herkimer and big-hearted Charles lilake ])iit heavy hands upon and rushed us into the captain s present, where we were forced to make our second Fourth of |ulv address. \\ e are told that there are some good reliable people living at ( )yster !>av. \Ve believe that to be a fact. Governor Roosevelt and his family residese there. Our good friend AI. F. Townsend, Fsq., an offspring of the Townsend family of this goodly city, resides there, but spends most of his time at the State capitol. Augustus (Jillum. member-elect of The 1 Lome Social Club," resides with his family at 23 1-2 Livingston avenue. James H. Coates, photographer, is doing business at Xo. 9 Xorth Pearl street. To RAISK COTTON IN Ai ; Rrr\. (jennanv (/ets Tuskcgcc Students lo Introduce the Industry in Her Colony. Hooker T. Washington, president of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute for Xegroes, has announced that officials of the ( Jerman government had closed a contract with his school to fur nish students to introduce cotton raising among the natives in the German colonv on the west coast of Africa. A party of students, equipped with cotton ploughs, gins, wagons and carpentn" tools, will sail from Xew York for the new fields Xovember 3. I uoo. The part} will be under the leadership of |. X. Calloway, an instructor in the institute. ( lermany will pay all expenses of the expedition and a good salarv to each man. This expedition is regarded as the beginning of a formidable com petition with America in the cotton raising industry. (ierman agents assert that sections of the African colony can produce a quality of cotton equal to that raised in the Southern States of America, when the industry is understood by the natives, at a small expense. Civilizing the African and educating him is all right. Professor \\ ashington is in line with the best thinkers and practical men and friends of our race. W. H. I. OK DR. WILLIAM IIKXRY jrmxsox. 275 A Message to Garcia, being a Preachment by Elbert Hubbard. A copy of Xo. 25 of the " Four-Track Series," containing- "A Message to Garcia," will be sent free, post-paid, to any address in the world, on receipt of a postage stamp issued by any country on the globe, or it will be sent in packages of 100 each, on receipt of fifty cents for each 100. Address George H. Daniels, General Passenger Agent, Grand Central Station, Xe\v York. A M KSSAC.L TO GARCIA. In all this Cuban business there is one man stands out on the horizon of my memory like Mars at perihelion. When war broke out between Spain and the Cnited States, it was very necessary to communicate quickly with the leader of the insurgents. Garcia was somewhere in the mountain fastnesses of Cuba no one knew where. Xo mail nor telegraph message could reach him. The President must secure his co-operation, and quickly. What to do! Someone said to the President, "There s a fellow by the name of Rowan will find Garcia for you, if anybody can." Rowan was sent for and given a letter to be delivered to Garcia. How "the fellow by the name of Rowan " took the letter, sealed it up in an oil-skin pouch, strapped it over his heart, in four days lauded by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, dis appeared into the jungle, and in three weeks came out on the other side of the island, having traversed a hostile country on foot, and delivered his letter to Garcia, are things 1 have no special desire now to tell in detail. The point I wish to make is this: McKinley gave Rowan a letter to be delivered to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, Where is he at?" Uy the Kternal ! there is a man whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed in every college of the land. It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this and that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae \\hich will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, con centrate their energies: do the thing- "Carry a message to ( iarcia! " ( ieneral Garcia is dead now, but there are other Garcias. Xo man who has endeavored to carrv out an enterprise where man\- hands were needed, but has been well nigh appalled at times by the imbecility of the average man the inability or unwilling ness to concentrate on a thing and do it. Slip-shod assistance, foolish inattention, dowel v indifference, and half-hearted work 276 AL TOlSJOGk. VPHY OF l)k. WILLIAM HENRY seem the rule; and no man succeeds, unless by hook or crook, or threat, he forces or bribes other men to assist him ; or mayhap, God in His goodness performs a miracle, and sends him an Angel of Light for an assistant. You, reader, put this matter to a test: You are sitting now in your office six clerks are within call. Summon any one and make this request: "Please look in the encyclopedia and make a brief memorandum for me concerning the life of Correggio." Will the clerk quietly say, " Yes, sir," and go do the task? On your life, he will not. He will look at you out of a fishy eye and ask one or more of the following questions: Who was he? Which encyclopedia? Where is the encyclopedia? \Vas I hired for that? Don t you mean Bismarck? What s the matter with Charlie doing it? Is he dead? Is there any hurry? Shan t I bring you the book and let you look it up yourself? W 7 hat do you want to know for? And I will lay you ten to one that after you have answered the questions, and explained how to find the information, and why you want it, the clerk will go off and get one of the other clerks to help him try to find Garcia and then come back and tell you there is no such man. Of course I may lose my bet, but according to the Law of Average, I will not. Now if you are wise you will not bother to explain to your "assistant" that Correggio is indexed under the C s. not in the K s. but you will smile sweetly and say, " Never mind," and go look it up yourself. And this incapacity for independent action, this moral stupidity, this infirmity of the will, this unwillingness to cheerfully catch hold and lift, are the things that put pure Socialism so far into the future. If men will not act for themselves what will they do when the benefit of their effort is for all. A first mate with knotted club seems necessary; and the dread of getting "the bounce" Saturday night holds many a worker to his place. Advertise for a stenographer, and nine out of ten who apply, can neither spell nor punctuate and do not think it necessary to. Can such a one write a letter to Garcia? " You see that bookkeeper," said the foreman to me in a large factorv. THE LAST CORONER S Jl RY HELD IN SARATOGA CO I NTY, ATGl ST 31, 1899. AITTOHIOC.R. VI Fiy OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOITXSON. 28f " ^i es, what about him?" " Well, he s a fine accountant, but if I d send him up town on an errand, he might accomplish the errand all right, and on the other hand, might stop at four saloons on the way, and when he got to Main street, would forget what he had been sent for." Can such a man be entrusted to carry a message to Garcia? We have recently been hearing much maudlin sympathy expressed for the " down-trodden denizen of the sweat shop " and the " home less wanderer searching for honest employment," and with it all often go many hard words for the men in power. Nothing is said about the employer who grows old before his time in a vain attempt to get frowsy ne er-do-wells to do intelligent work; and his long patient striving with "help" that does nothing but loaf when his back is turned, in every store and factory there is a constant weeding-out process going on. The employer is con stantly sending away "help" that have shown their incapacity to further the interests of the business, and others are being taken on. No matter how good times are, this sorting continues, only if times are hard and work is scarce, the sorting is done finer but out and forever out, the incompetent and unworthy go. It is the sur vival of the fittest. Self-interest prompts every employer to keep the best those who can carrv a message to Garcia. I know one man of really brilliant parts who has not the ability to manage a business of his own, and yet who is absolutely worth less to any one else, because he carries with him constantly the insane suspicion that his employer is oppressing or intending to oppress him. He cannot give orders; and he will not receive them. Should a message be given him to take to Garcia, his answer would probably be, " Take it yourself." To-night this man walks the streets looking for work, the wind whistling through his threadbare coat. No one who knows him dare employ him, for he is a regular fire-brand of discontent. He is impervious to reason, and the only thing that can impress him is the toe of a thick-soled Xo. 9 boot. Of course I know that one so morally deformed is no less to be pitied than a physical cripple; but in our pitying, let us drop a tear, too, for the men who are striving to carry on a great enterprise, whose working hours are not limited by the whistle, and whose hair is fast turning white through the struggle to hold in line dowdy indifference, slip-shod imbecility, and the heartless ingratitude, which, but for their enterprise, would be both hungry and homeless. Have I put the matter too slronglv? Possibly I luuvc; but when 282 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM HEXKY JOHNSON. all the world has gone a-slumming i wish to speak a word of sympathy for the man who succeeds the man who. against great odds, has directed the efforts of others, and having succeeded, finds there s nothing in it: nothing but bare board and clothes. 1 have carried a dinner pail and worked for day s wages, and 1 have also been an employer of labor, and I know there is something to be said on both sides. There is no excellence, per se, in poverty: rags are no recommendation; and all employers are not rapacious and high-handed, any more than all poor men are virtuous. My heart goes out to the man who does his work when the " boss " is away, as well as when he is at home. And the man who. when given a letter for Garcia, quietly takes the missive, without asking any idiotic questions, and with no lurking intention of chucking it into the nearest sewer, or of doing aught else but deliver it. never gets " laid off," nor has to go on a strike for higher wages. Civilization is one long anxious search for just such individuals. Anything such a man asks shall be granted: his kind is so rare that no employer can afford to let him go. He is wanted in every citv. town and village in every office, shop, store and factory. The world cries out for such; he is needed, and needed badly the man who can carrv a message to Garcia. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. WILLIAM IIEXRY JOHXSOX. 283 FINALE. Xo more pleasant task has ever fallen to the lot of- the undersigned that the compilation of the above sketch of the life of my esteemed friend, Dr. Win. H. Johnson. It affords me particular satisfaction to here give the full measure of acknowledgment which I know is his due, both from an admiration and knowledge of his successful efforts in behalf of our race, along every line of which lie has given his best thought and efforts and the individual benefit which I myself have received bv having been brought in close touch with him. Mere is a sample of the heroic doses he sometimes administers. which ultimately result to the good of the patient who shall have the courage and manhood to try them in good faith: Xot so manv years ago two young men stepped into his place of business, as was their custom, and were met with the terse saluta tion given in dead earnest, " Well, what are vou two loafing around here for? " After they had caught their breath, one said, " I expect to go to work shortly " " I," said the other, " am promised a place at the Kenmore " (the then leading hotel of Albany). " Shame on vou both, you are two fools," came the blows, straight from the .shoulder. " all respectable work is honorable, it is true, but both of you are capable of doing better work for yourselves and incidentally for your race. Get out and be something. Whv, if either of you were competent. 1 could put you in a place worth more than you ever earned in your life and that too within a stone s throw of my slio]), fur the man 1 refer to wants a good bookkeeper. If the brains and ability and willingness to work are there, the color of his skin won t count. Go get a move on yourselves. 1 tell you, and when you have something to sell that somebody wants, bring it to market." Both young men were considerable wrought up by his language and left the place with hurt and angry feelings. They swallowed the drastic dose, however, and walking home together agreed to be something out of the rut into which most of our young people seem to have fallen. One of the young men. now connected with one of the largest music establishments in the city, promptly put himself to and thoroughly learned the tailor s trade laying a foundation for a knowledge of business methods which largely con tributed to placing him where he is now. The other, several months 284 AUTOJUOGRAPTTY OF DR. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. after the conversation took place, walked into Mr. Johnson s shop, and said, " I am ready for that job of bookkeeping, now, where is it?" Again, like a pistol report, came the answer quick and clear, " I )o YOU suppose that man is waiting yet for you? If so, then you know less than I gave you credit for, and are hardly less foolish than when you were .loafing around here last fall. He could have had fifty men while you were were getting ready, but never mind," he added, " the man and the opportunity usually find each other so do not let the fact of his not wanting your valuable services just now discourage von." Sure enough, within two weeks, an opening did come and was immediately taken advantage of. This occurred nearly twenty years ago. Both the young 1 men are well situated to-day and agree they began their life work at the time Mr. Johnson prodded them up to be something. For whatever measure of success which may have come to me (as one of the young men referred toX T certainly date its inception from that strong talk, to put it mildly, which Mr. Johnson, in his constant thought of race progress and elevation, gave us at that time. Others, too, stand ready to do justice to the subject of our sketch, and one of the fairest articles, by a well-known and highly esteemed newspaper man, Julian Ralph, which precedes this, speaks for itself. A few more " Johnsons/ and our young men and women would be made to feel that life was given them for a purpose higher than the level which a great many are content with: and the world personified in the race with which they are identified, and, as in the case of Mr. Johnson, would be the better for their having lived in it. Respectfully, JOHN T. CHAPMAN, Manager of Leonard Publishing Company s Publications. Albany, X. Y., August i, 1900. A LAST WORD. Expressive of our prayerful and grateful thanks given to Almighty ( iod tor his unceasing and unerring" providence, which lias protected, directed and maintained us through the sixty-eight years of our existence, which has been in the main devoted to dutiful efforts looking to the maintenance of the honor of our country s escutcheon, together with the betterment of the Chris tian, moral, intellectual and political conditions of our race in these Tnited States and their dependencies, to-day we feel a conscious ness of being happily at peace with all mankind, and while we will still strive along usual lines to make the world a little bit better for our being in it, we will wait contentedly for the coming of the hour when it mav please God to remove us from earth to the heaven promised the faithful believers in our blessed Saviour, to abide with the Father in the kingdom of everlasting rest. WM. IT. T- MUNICIPAL TELEGRAPH * STOCK CO. JOHN MACK. President STEUBEN AND JAMES STS., ALBANY, N. Y. ALAN P. HILL ^ ^ <* Job Printing of all descriptions. First-class artistic work. Mi BROADWAY, CITY. ORRIN S. COLLINS, ARTIST WATER COLORS, CRAYONS AND SEPIA PORTRAITS 44 NORTH PEARL STREET, ALBANY, N. Y. ==JOHN H. FLYNN^ HOTEL GARDEN CAFE 269 CLINTON AVE.. ALBANY, N. Y. EUROPEAN PLAN VANAI.STYXE & Dl GAN. PROPS THE PEOPLE S HOTEL Telephone 247 chapei Broadway and Maiden Lane, Albany, N. Y. CHAS. O BRIEN & SONS I MPORTING TAILORS Stanwix Hall 48J Broadway, Albany, N, Y. Fine Cutlery Razors from 25c. to $2.00 each. Shears and Scissors from I9c, up. Pocket Knives from lOc. to $10.00 each. Carving Sets from 50c. up. GOOD GOODS LOW PRICES llydrnstis Ca Dr. JOHNSON S Compound llnfusion GOLDEN SEAL 27 Maiden Lane and 309 Orange St. ALBANY, N. Y. JOHN R. IRVING THIRST FI^OOR completed with Pri- 4 1 vate Dining Rooms. Special atten tion paid to Private Dinners. I^unch- eons, etc. Ales, Wines, I.iquors and Cigars. 582 AND 584 BROADWAY OPPOSITE NEW DEPOT , ALBANY, N. Y. DIGGS & IRVIXG, Proprietors, PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Dr. William H. Johnson 3 Mother of William H. Johnson 5 Mrs. William H. Johnson 5 .\I iss Mamie Board 1 }- 5 Mrs. Margarette Harrison 5 Or. Johnson s residence / A Boquet 9 Dr. Johnson s Daughters and Grandchildren; His Honor the Mayor. J. II. Blessing; Judge George Addington. President Uncon ditional Club; Views from the Capitol and Washington Park; the Cruiser Brooklyn: the Steamers Shinnecock and Dean Richmond; Keeier s and the Directory Hotels; John G. Myers North Pearl Street Store: the old X. V. C. & H. R. R. R. Depot: the White Elephant. St. Peter s Church 23 Hon. Charles Sumner 24 Hon. Frederick Douglass . 24 Madonna 25 Hon. Daniel .Murray 26 A Gem 39 Douglass Monument. Rochester; Roscoe Conkling; Grant Club; H. S. C. Badges: A. F. Stevens, Philadelphia. Pa.: Key to the White House on the 4th of March. 1901. etc. Lotus Menand 40 Prof. Jacob C. White 41 Dr. X. V. Mossell 41 The Frederick Douglass Hospital 42 Miss Fdmonia Lewis 55 John Brown 55 O. V. Catto 55 President McKinley and Staff 56 City Flail 57 Prof. Booker T. Washington 58 Rev. A. T. Johnson 71 The Colored Men s Xew York State Convention, 1866 71 Captain Fdgar V. Denison 72 George Robe 73 Mrs. J. St. C. P. Ruffin 73 Rev. Jas. M. Boddy, A. M 73 Hon. Benjamin B. Odell. Jr 74 Representative Newspaper Men . . . . 87 19 290 PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Hon. William H. Keeler 88 Richard Kelley 89 A Penny Short 89 Hon. Lyman H. Bevans 90 The Last Moments of John Brown 103 The White Slave 104 Statesmen 105 Governor Roosevelt 106 The State Capitol 119 Lieutenant-Governor Timothy L. Woodruff 120 Admiral Dewey 121 Hon. J. A. Ross 122 General Daniel E. Sickels 122 Dr. Thomas Elkins 122 Mrs. Elizabeth Cisco 122 Flon. John Boyd Thacher 135 John Graham 1 36 Father Wahvorth 151 John H. O Brien 1 52 Charles H. Lansing, Jr 167 Thomas H. Diggs 167 The New York State Cleveland League 167 Albany County Building 168 Hon. John A. Howe, Jr. 183 James Clark 184 Leo H. Graham 184 L. Gensler 184 Peter A. Elliott 184 The New New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Depot 199 The Rev. Samuel Harrison 200 Hon. J. W. Thompson 200 Tomb of the Late President Arthur 201 J. A. Cromwell 202 Hon. J. C. Matthews 202 Stephen Meyers 202 The Sixth U. S. Colored Troops 202 C. H. Rushmore 215 William B. Mix 215 Unconditional Republican Club House 216 Parlor, Billiard Room, Unconditional Club 217 Assembly Room. Reading Room, Unconditional Club 218 Hon. E. E. Cooper 231 Steamboat Adirondack 232 Captain Robert Davidson 233 Streets of Mexico, Pan-American Exposition 234 Representatives of the Home Social Club 247 The New York State Building, Buffalo Exposition 248 Representatives of the Home Social Club 249 Agricultural Building, Buffalo Exposition 250 E. B. Irving 263 PORTRAITS AXD ILLUSTRATIONS. 2QI Page. Sir Joseph E. S. Williams 264 Ethelbert Evans 265 H. A. Spencer 265 Master Mason s Degree 265 Hon. John J. Smith 266 Sir John E. Berry 266 1 11 effabl e 266 Representatives of the Home Social Club 277 Last Coroner s Jury held in Saratoga 278 I*. S. Government Building, Buffalo Exposition 279 Albright Gallery of Art. Buffalo Exposition 280 INDEX BY CHAPTERS. Page. Introduction H By \Y. H. J., E. E. Cooper, Daniel Murray, Rev. James M. Boddy. A. M., and Hon. John J. Smith. Chapter 1 17 Brief Sketch of the Author s Life. Chapter II 21 Literary Work ; The World s Industrial and Cotton Centennial; Frederick Douglass Thanks; Knights of Labor; Public Printer Benedict; Miss Lottie Tompkins; Albany Raises One Hundred Dollar^ for John Brown s Daughter; Joseph A. Smith; E. B. Wright: Army Matters: General J. J. Hefferman; Professor W. S. Scarborough; Hon. Frederick Douglass and Hon. J. S. Clarkson; Unconditional Republican Club; Female Lundy Society; Female Lovejoy Society; The Banneker Institute: Letters from Aleck Powell. T. McCain Stewart. Alfred Thomas; Thanks, from Booker T. Washington. C. T. Shepherd. Thomas Elkins, and the Citizens Testimonial; Xew York Press Comments on the Author; Philadel phia Press Comments on the Author; Charles Simmer s Bust and the Douglass Hospital; the Author s Mother; Henry M. Wilson, and the African Civilization Society; Letters from D. B. Bowser. Calvin Fairbank, James Redpath ; "The New York Age:" George W. Lattimore; the Rev. J. A. Prime, Charles L. Reason, S. W. Clay. Robert P. Porter: Military Affairs; Colored Military Company. Chapter III 60 Colored Population of Albany County; Letter from the Author s Sister. Chapter IV 70 Fruits of the Author s Legislation: Lecture on Lincoln; John Brown s Birthday; Letters from John G. Myers. Esq.. Col. Frank Chamberlain. Howard Graham, and John E. Bruce. Chapter V 97 The Xegro Citizen s Constitutional Rights and Obligations Discussed. Chapter VI ir.} The Unconditional Republican Club s Trip to Philadelphia; the Author s Letter Descriptive of the Same. 294 INDEX. Pago. Chapter VII 130 " The Philadelphia Sentinel," a Nearer View Some Points About People and Things, by William Carl Bolivar: Dinner and Presenta tion by the Home Social Club; Letter from George \Y. Bordly; The Sons and Daughters of Moses. Chapter VI II 1 3g Letters on the Subject of the Celebration of John Brown s Birth day, and the Passage of the Elsberg Anti-Discriminating School Bill. Chapter IX 145 Looking at the Author s Pocket Album; A Good Joke; How the Author Got a New Year s Dinner. Chapter X 148 " Be You a Nigger?" The Ejection of the Author from the Trimble Opera House in 1870: Woman, Eulogized by the Author; What the Leaders Say. Chapter XI \5<) Circulating Library; Albany Literary Association; The Negro Soldier; Organization of the Senate; Reminiscences of the Late War; Letter from Edmonia Lewis, the Sculptress; the Sumner Bust Testimonial to the Author; Dr. Brundage and Colored Residents; Home versus Foreign Missions; Club Women at the Capitol; State Federation of Women Elect Officers; Hampton Normal and Agri cultural Institute; a Letter from Hon. Charles W. Anderson. Chapter XII 178 The Free Academy, and the Abolition of the Wilberforce School, by the Board of Public Instruction, in 1871. 72 and 73. Chapter XIII , .. . 18) The Recommendation and Endorsement of the Author as a Cam paign Speaker; Douglass Memorial Exercises. March 5, 1895, in the City Hall, and the Eulogy by the Author; First Anti-Slavery Move ment; Mayor Thacher s Action in the Matter of the Admission of Colored Patients to the Homeopathic Hospital; An Order Revoked; Letters from Charles H. Butler, Hon. Charles J. Folger and Hon. Lyman Tremain ; Colored Republican Committee, April 13, 1872. Chapter XIV 204 Celebrating the Emancipation at Watkyns, N. Y., August 4, 1885, and Dr. Johnson s Eulogy on General Grant; The Heroes of the John Brown Fight at Harper s Ferry, Va. ; The Philadelphia Sat urday Evening Post on the Vice-Presidency of Abraham Lincoln; Letters from John L. Boseman, Troy, and John Mitchell, Jr.. and William E. Gross; President Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation. January i. 1863; The Alleged Fugitive Slaves: Jerry, at Syracuse; Nallie, at Troy; Dangerfield and Webster, at Philadelphia; A Col ored Men s State Convention, in 1866, and Miss Susan B. Anthony; Letters from John E. Bruce and Annie Brown Adams; Frederick Rauscher and Dr. Johnson s Leather Gun. INDEX. 295 Page. Chapter XV 219 The Celebration of the Eighty-third Anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence, by the Banneker Institute, Philadelphia. July 4. 1859; Oration Delivered by Mr. William H. Johnson. Chapter XYI 235 Dr. Johnson s Lecture, in Albany, X. Y. : Subject, "Slavery, Rebellion and Freedom ; or. In Slavery Days." Chapter X VII 252 Dr. Johnson s Masonic Record Itemized: His Letter to Grand Master Flagler: Letter from Julian Ralph to the Providence Journal ; Masonic Communication to The Echo; Grand Lodge Communica tion; Letters from Charles E. Lewis, Albany. X. Y.. and Lewis Ilayden. Boston. Mass.: P. G. M. Johnson s Discussion of the Words. " Free Born;" Grand Masonic Gathering in Mt. Moriah Lodge. Troy. X. Y. Chapter XYII1 271 Business Xotes: Booker T. Washington to Raise Cotton in Africa; A Message to Garcia, by Elbert Hubbard. Finale 283 Final Remarks, by the Compiler. Mr. John T. Chapman. A Last \Vord . 28^ RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT TO +* 202 Main Library LOAN PERIOD 1 HOME USE 2 3 4 5 6 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS Renewals and Recharges may be made 4 days prior to the due date. Books may be Renewed by calling 642-3405. DUE AS STAMPED BELOW RECEIVED B> NOV 291986 CWCUIATION OEP JUL061993 AUTOD1SCORC ju;i 23 ^*vBj*tvi\fc?r^ 93 RECEIVED MAY U 9 1995 CiHoULATION DEPT NOV 3 2000 MAY 3 2001 FORM NO. DD6, \tn>t *- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY BERKELEY, CA 94720 GENERAL LIBRARY - U.C. BERKELEY M209381 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY