The President walked through the streets of Richmond--without a guard
except a few seamen--in company with his son "Tad," and Admiral
Porter, on the 4th of April, 1865, the day following the evacuation of
the city. Colored people gathered about him on every side, eager to
see and thank their liberator. Mr. Lincoln addressed the following
remarks to one of these gatherings:
My poor friends, you are free--free as air. You can cast off the name
of slave and trample upon it; it will come to you no more. Liberty is
your birthright. God gave it to you as he gave it to others, and it
is a sin that you have been deprived of it for so many years.
But you must try to deserve this priceless boon. Let the world see
that you merit it, and are able to maintain it by your good works.
Don't let your joy carry you into excesses; learn the laws, and obey
them. Obey God's commandments, and thank Him for giving you liberty,
for to Him you owe all things. There, now, let me pass on; I have but
little time to spare. I want to see the Capitol, and must return at
once to Washington to secure to you that liberty which you seem to
prize so highly.