Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-11-13
VISIT OF TIE PRESIDENT.

VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT.
It being understood that President Davis had
left Charleston on yesterday morning for Florence,
our people looked for his arrival here about or
o'clock last evening, and as consequence Market
street from the dock up to Second street. was filled
by an immense concourse of people, while rosin,
tar-barrelS and all other modes of illumination lit
up the darkness.
About o'clock Presidential salute from the
guns of Southerland's battery announced the arri-
val at the depot of the Wilmington and Manchester
Railroad of the President and suite. He had been
met on the road, at Florence, we presume, by
delegation OF the citizens, and received at the
depot by Gen. Whiung and staff, and by the Mayor
and committee of citizens As as the boat
which conveyed him over the river, touched the
wharf on this side shout went up that made the
welkin ring, and thus escorted by the authorities
and accompanied by the people, President Davis
proceeded to the residence of Gen. Whiting, on
Market street below Second.
In few minutes the President with the COM
mittee, ETC., made his appearance on the balcony,
where he was welcomed il an appropriate manner
by WIN. A. Wright Esq, who spoke of his distn-
gushed services to the country and returned to
him the Acknowledgements of the people Of Will
mngton for the measures adopted for their defence
in armament and fertilization, we'll in placing
these in charge of a skiilful General and other
proper officers.
The President in reply returned his thanks to
the people of Wilmington and to Mr.. Wright as
their organ, for the cordial welcome they had given
him. He was proud to be welcomed, by such an
enthusiastic concourse of North CarOlnians to the
soil of the ancient and honored town of Whining
ton. He hoped that Wilmington, although fire.
quently menaced might be forever free from the
tread of an invading foe. He knew well the i'm
portanee of her harbor, now the only one through
which foreign trade was carried o. and he trusted
that the Valor of her people, assisted by the means
which the government would send to her defence,
would be fully adequate for that purpose He had
given for the defence of Wilmington one of the best
soldiers in the Confederate arny-ODe whom he
had seen tried IN battle, and who had risen higher
and higher as dangers accumulated around him
What other means the government could command
had been sent here and in case of attack such ad-
ditions would be made to the garrison in men and
arms as would, he believed enable Wilmington to
repulse the foe, however he might come by land
or by sea-
The, President urged upon all their duty to do
full part In the present great struggle the issues of
which were, the one hand, freedom, indepen-
dence, prosperity-on the other hand subjugation,
degradation and absolute ruin. The man who
could bear arms should do So The man who could
not bear arms, but had wealth, should devote it
freely to the support of the soldiers and to taking
care of their widows and orphans. Those who. for
the necessities of civil government or for the car.
rying on of industrial pursuits deemed essential to
the country, were exempt from the general service
were still bound to take part in the local Defence
even the old man, who was unable to bear arms
must IN The course Of long years have acquired an
influence, which should be exerted to arouse those
in his neighborhood to fresh zeal and renewed ex-
ertons support of the cause in which all are SO
deeply interested. If we were unanimous if all
did their duty manfully, bravely, disinterestediy
then our subjugation would be impossible; but if,
neglecting the interests of the country, and only
tn
only to his own private interests, then would it be
found that such gains were accumulated only to fall
into the hands of the plundering Yankees The
soldier who had fought brsyey for his country, al
though he could leave his children no other for
tune, would leave them rich in an inheritance of
honor, while the wealth gathered and beaped up in
the spirit of Shylock, in the midst Of bleeding
country, would go down with a branding and
curse.
Since the President had last passed through VIII
mington he had travelled far and visited many DOR
tionsof the country, and in some he had found min
and devastation marking the track Of the Yandal
foe. Blsckened chimneys alone remained to mark
the spoORhere happy homes once stood and smoul-
dering ashes replaced the room that had sheltered
the widow and the orphan. Wherever the invader
had passed the last spark of Union feeling had been
extingushed, and the people of the districts which
the Yankees had supposed subugated we're the
waFmsst and most devoted friends of the Con-
federacy. ~... ....t
He had visited the army of the West. had gone
over Che bloody battle field of Chickamauga and a
survey OF the ground had heightened his admiration
for that Valor and devotion, which, with inferior
numbers had overcome difficulties so formidable,
and after two days fighting had achieved clorious
victory, the routed foe only finding shelter under
the cover Of night =. -
shad visited Charleston, where the thunder n
the enemys guns is heard day and night hurlino
their fercest fire against Sumter and still the grand
old fortress stands grim, dark and silent biddinO
defiance to the utmost efforts of the foe He had
visited the other points about Charleston, and had
found the spirit of the people aud of the troops
alike rosolute and determined. The Yankees were
anxious TO crush what they called the nest Of. tn,
rebellion. He believed that it would stand spite
oftneir utmost efforts for its capture. 1t had hi
best prayers for its safety. God bless the noble
old cityl
The President said that in North Carolina. a:
elseYhere, the contact of the Yankees had thor
eughly exlinguished every spark of Union feeliu,
vhereVer they had come The eastern portion o
State which had suffered most from the enemy
was perhaps the most loyal and devoted portion Of
the whole State; and NORTH. Carolina as a State bsd
not been. behind any other in the number of troops
she had given to the armies of the Confsderaey.-
In sgsry aeld from great Bethel the irst to Chick