Prejudice against Color.

Frederick Douglass.ーYou may not be aware that the Freemen of this City have for manny years been in the habit holding a Triennial Procession in celebration of the organization of their Department. Once it was not unusual to have the choice music of the Colored Bands indiscriminately mixed with the White Bands in their parades, but of late years prejudice has succeeded in excluding the former from them altogether. Little less than two years ago, however, the Sons of Temp. having a procession, one of their Divisions essayed to show their appreciation of good music, and brave popular prejudice by the engagement of Johnson's far-famed Band. Their courage, I am sorry to say, was not adequate to the emergency, for upon gaining the line, the threat of the entire White Bands to withdraw, if the latter were premitted to remain, caused their immediate discharge; and thus did prejudice complete its triumph! But one of the Sections of the Cadets of Temperance, the Morning Star, I believe, determining to have them, offered them an engagement; but the Band, remembering their late treatment, declined it unless the Section would agree to preserve the engagement however averse their opponents might be to their retention. They did so, and in a manner the more honorable because they also shared the exclusion with them. This Section, followed the procession in the rear, at a sufficient distance to make the cause obvious. The general attention which this drew, caused many in the ranks to feel ashamed of such proscription, and overtures were made to the Section to take their proper place in the line, but being once excluded, they peremptorily declined. Shortly after this occurence, one of the Fire Companies in review of the Triennial parade of this month, having the courage to employ whom they would, secured at once on terms of perfect understanding, the music of the Band which had been so obnoxious to the other. Subsequently, not only was every one of the Colored Bands engaged but several were sought by companies who were disappointed in finding themselves too late. Meanwhile, the white musicians remembering the triumph of the Cadets, and probably not knowing the permanent character of the engagement which the Colored Bands had made, called a meeting among themselves and unanimously passing a resolution not to play in the procession unless the colored musicians were excluded, and had it published quite in season to have the previous engagement broken. But, not a single company bolted, every one determining not to cower to such a petty spirit. Another card appeared afterwards, purporting to be a refusal, of the Colored Bands to play unless the White Bands were excluded; but this being untrue it was promptly refuted. The opponents rapidly diminishing by several of the dissenting bands making engagements, a final attempt was made by calling a meeting of the opposing delegates, but whether they could not agree, or were ashamed of their proceedings, they have never yet met the public eye. The day for the procession has since come and gone, and though the weather was exceedingly unpropitious, it took place. As in days gone by, the colored bands were indiscriminately mixed in the line, and, so far as the writer knows, not a single deriding remark escaped either the spectators or the musicians who were thus humbled in being obliged to play in the same procession with those against whom they were so much prejudiced. Dodsworth's Band, of New York, however, made it an objection against their joining the procession, and, together with the Diligent Hose Company, which employed them, went over the entire route in advance of the line. It is hoped that they will yet be made ashamed of the distinction which they thus gave themselves.

With sentiments of high regard, I am yours for Liberty and Equality,

Payton.

Philadelphia, March 28, 1849.