The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-02
JEFF. DAVIS IN RICHMOND.
Account Of his Journey and Reception
Speech from the Secession PRECEDENT.
from the Richmond Enquirer. June !.

H.
THE JOURNEY OF PRESIDENT DAVIS TO RICHMOND.
President Davis accompanied By his aid OOl WigfaI,
and lacy, and by hon. Robert Toombs of Georgia, left
Montgomery by cars Sunday evening last. They made
special stoppsge the rou'e and owing TO peviOus
severe indispostion Of tho President II desirable
that his trip to Richmond should be AZ private prac
ticable
At each station his friends endeavored Convey ths
information to the citizens but IL was really 10 no pur-
poee No matter where The stopped even though il
only for wood water th, ongs OF mon,
and children would gather aornd tho cars asking, In
loud shouts, "Where s President Davs2 ''Jef Davis,
the old hero" and he forced to mske his appear
and frequently to address them. Then could sec
When the flute Ike voice Of Davis arose upon the air,
hushed TO stiffness by the profouL respect Of his audi
feeling which gave vent in tornado OF voices these
would break forth in constant succession to the end Of
his address Every sentiment he uttered seemed TO well
up from his heart, and was received with the widest
thusiasm. When nc conducted, three hearty cheers
went up from the multitude.
The crowd then shouted for WigTall, and no excuse
was tolerated In vain he would seek some remote part
Of the cars the crowd hunted him up AMI the weain
pha.c style orato,y Next would be hoard
cry for "Toombs" He, too sought to avoid tho caN
but the echo would ring with the name Of yoornbs''
"roombs, and the sturdy Georgian statesman had 10
respond His frank and open manner came home 10 the
lima In Alabama North Carolina, "Bob roombsn as
they Familiarity called him in Georgia, always well
come when he addres the people.
In Atlanta, Augusta, Wilmington and Gotdsborougii.
the crowds assembled were very large, and the cnths
n
ball OF the hotel the table throDged with bea.iuY
girls and many were bedecking him with ga-ands OF
flowers, while others famed him. II was most ince-
resting occasion. The military had formed into squares
10 receive him from the cavs guns were frei and the
band struck up hspiritng martial airs during tho inter-
val OF supper.
The whole country is camp. On every hand we SEQ
soldiers and every day the crowded with them
From appearance they tho flower Of the south Tho
journey Of President Davis from Montgomery to tho
capital was one continuous ovation The whole soH ON
the South in this war ana the confidence If
pht tran 0Svad
this trip, shows that the mantle of Washington falls
gracefully upon his shoulders.
Never were people more enrspured with their Chief
magistrate than ours are with President Davis and the
trip from Montgomery 10 Richmond will be renem-
Of young and old Of all classes TO catch GLIMPSE
Of him, or take him by the hand Is beyond description.
This trip has infused mutual feeling In people that
KNOWS no bounds
While, however, there is rush 10 the battlefield Il,
our older States, which threatens fill up all the ranks
In our army we must have thought for tho far distant
West and give young sister States opportunity u
unite their names In the history Of our tho
borders Of Virginia.
The President and suite were welcomed to Virginia by
deputatcn of the Governor Of the State and Mayor
Of Richmond. These gentlemen reached the party At
PETERSBURG, and accompanied them to the city.
THE PRESIDENT AT THE NEW FAIR GROUNDS
At about half past five o'clock President Davis accom-.
panied by cortege horseback left his quarters a. the
Spotswood House aud proceeded the Now Fair Grounds
Here large number Of ladies' aud gentlemen had asse.
blcd and on his arrival greeted him with the hertieat
On leaving his saddle the President was surrounded by
on eager crowd OF soldiers and civilians whor, ne IN
duged TO hand shaking performance until tho pressure
became 50 great that he compelled TO retire 10 the
balcony Of the Executive Department. where response
to the demand of the assembage. he delivered the fol.
lowing brief and pertinent speedh:-
Ny FRHNDs AND FELLOW CrrZESs-Iam deeply Impressed
with the Kindness Of your manifestation. / look upon
you as the last best hope Of liberty, and in liberty
alone Is our constitutional government TO BE- maintained
Upon strong right depends the SUCCESS Of our
country, and in asserting the birthright to which
you were born, you to remember that life and
blood arc nothing as compared with the immense
ests you have at stake. (Cheers) nay be that you
have not long been trained and that you have uc to
learn Of the art of but know that there beats IN the
breasts OF Southern determination surren-
dera deteIn nation never TO 90 home but TO tell tale
Of honor (Cres OF "neverl' and appause.) Though
great may be the disparity Of numbers give Us fair
led and free light and the Southern banner win Goat
in triumph everywhere. Cheers The country relics
upon you Upon you rest the pes of people; and
have only TO say my friends that to the st breath OF
my life, am wholly your own. tremendous chee.s)
President Davis then retired from the balcony. Ex-
Senator Wiga, Governor Letcber and Mayor Mayo fol-
lowed with brief speeches. In response The calls Of the
crowd after which the President and suite proceeded tn
the adjoining parade ground where review Of the troops
took place.