nited States and the State of Alabama came to see
you at 10 o'clock this morning. The proprietor of the Florence
hotel declined to allow us to visit your room, and said if we
desired to see you we must see you outside of the Florence hotel.
We regret the occurrence, as the committee is composed of the best
colored citizens of the community.

"Yours respectfully,
"A. L. Scott,
"W. R. Pettiford,
"Samuel R. Lowery,
"R. C. D. Benjamin,
"Albert Boyd."

I requested General Warner and Judge Craig to go to the proprietor
of the hotel and ask him if it was true that he had forbidden
certain men going to my room. The proprietor informed them that
it was true; it was against his rules to allow any colored people
to go upstairs except the servants. I said I would not allow a
hotel proprietor to say whom I should or should not receive in my
room. That was a question I chose to decide for myself. I therefore
immediately paid my bill and went to the Metropolitan hotel, where
the delegation made their call. Their only object was to read to
me an address of welcome to the city in behalf of the colored
people. Their address was well expressed and they were evidently
intelligent and respectable men. They welcomed me cordially in
behalf of their race and countrymen, and said:

"While we respect your political and statesmanlike life, not an
event has equaled your manly and heroic conduct in Birmingham,
Alabama, in respect to the persecuted, proscribed and downtrodden
black citizens, on account of their race, color and proscription
in this city and state.

"When you stated to the tavern keeper, if the black citizens were
not permitted to visit you there, you would go to another tavern,
and if not permitted, you would stop with your baggage in the street
and receive them, shows a sympathy and sentiment that you, though
honored and able, feel bound with them and to them. And every
black man, woman and child thenceforward in our state will pray
Heaven's favor shall follow you and yours to a throne of grace for
Sherman, Ohio's noblest, heroic and patriotic statesman."

In reply I expressed pleasure at meeting the colored people, and,
touching the Florence hotel affair, advised forbearance. "Be true
to yourselves," I said, "be industrious, maintain your own manhood,
and they day will come when you can command recognition as men and
citizens of the United States, free and equal with all others."
I assured them that