134

286 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

occasions, it seemed now that freedom had become the law of the republic,
now that colored men were on the battle-field mingling their blood with that
of white men in one common effort to save the country, it was not too great
an assumption for a colored man to offer his congratulations to the President
with those of other citizens. I decided to go, and sought in vain for some one
of my own color to accompany me. It is never an agreeable experience to go
where there can be any doubt of welcome, and my colored friends had too
often realized discomfiture from this cause to be willing to subject themselves
to such unhappiness; they wished me to go, as my New England
colored friends in the long ago liked very well to have me take passage on
the first-class cars, and be hauled out and pounded by rough-handed brakemen,
to make way for them. It was plain, then, that some one must lead the
way, and that if the colored man would have his rights, he must take them;
and now, though it was plainly quite the thing for me to attend President
Lincoln's reception, "they all with one accord began to make excuse." It was
finally arranged that Mrs. Dorsey should bear me company, so together we
joined in the grand procession of citizens from all parts of the country, and
moved slowly towards the executive mansion. I had for some time looked
upon myself as a man, but now in this multitude of the elite of the land, l felt
myself a man among men. I regret to be obliged to say, however, that this
comfortable assurance was not of long duration, for on reaching the door,
two policemen stationed there took me rudely by the arm and ordered me to
stand back, for their directions were to admit no persons of my color. The
reader need not be told that this was a disagreeable set-back. But once in the
battle, I did not think it well to submit to repulse. I told the officers I was
quite sure there must be some mistake, for no such order could have emanated
from President Lincoln; and if he knew I was at the door he would
desire my admission. They then, to put an end to the parley, as I suppose, for
we were obstructing the door way, and were not easily pushed aside, assumed
an air of politeness, and offered to conduct me in. We followed their lead,
and soon found ourselves walking some planks out of a window, which had
been arranged as a temporary passage for the exit of visitors. We halted so
soon as we saw the trick, and I said to the officers: "You have deceived me.
I shall not go out of this building till I see President Lincoln." At this moment
a gentleman who was passing in, recognized me, and I said to him: "Be so
kind as to say to Mr. Lincoln that Frederick Douglass is detained by officers
at the door." It was not long before Mrs. Dorsey and I walked into the spacious
East Room, amid a scene of elegance such as in this country I had
never witnessed before. Like a mountain pine high above all others, Mr.