He was accompanied to the executive mansion and introduced to President Lincoln by Senator Samuel Pomeroy. The room in which he received visitors was the one now used by the President’s secretaries. Fredrick Douglass entered it with a moderate estimate of his own consequence, and yet there was to talk with, and even to advise, the head man of a great nation. They had said that it was a good thing there was no vain pomp and ceremony about him. Fredrick was never more quickly or more completely put at ease in the presence of a great man, than in that of Abraham Lincoln. He was seated, when he entered, in a low armchair, with his feet extended to the floor, surrounded by a large number of documents, and busy secretaries. The room was full …show more content…
Lincoln’s brow, and his strong face, full of eager lighted up as soon as Fredrick douglass name was mentioned. As Fredrick approached and was introduced to him, he rose and extended his hand, and bade me welcome. He at once felt that he was in the present of an honest man – on whom I could love, honor and trust without reserve or doubt. Proceeding to tell him who he was, and what he was doing, he promptly, but kindly, stopped me, saying, ‘I know who you are, Mr. Douglass Mr. Seward has told Douglass all about Lincon . Sit down. I am glad to see you.’ Fredrick douglass then told him the object of my visit that he was assisting to raise colored troops; that several months before he had been very successful in getting men to enlist, but now it was not easy to induce the colored me to enter the service, because there was a feeling among them that the government did not deal fairly with them in several respects. Mr. Lincoln asked him to state particulars. Fredrick douglass replied that there were three particulars which he wished to bring to his attention. First that colored soldiers ought to receive the same wages as those paid to white soldiers. Also that it would have been a good idea to fight with the more better