The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-17
From the Wilmington Journal, November 9Th.
VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT.

O'Clock last evening, aud as consequence Market
street from the dock up to Second street was filed
by an immense coucourse of people, while rosin
tar barrels and all other modes of illumination lii
up the darkness:
About seven o'clock presidential salute from
the guns of Southerland's battery announced the
arrival at the depot of the Wilmington and Man
chester Railroad Of the President and suite He
had been met on the road, at Florence, We pre-
sumo, by delegation of the citizens, and was re-
ceived at the depot by General Whiting and Staff,
and by the Mayor and Committee of citizens.
AS soon as the boat which conveyed him over the
river touched the wharf on this side shout went
up that made the wekn 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 in an appropriate manner
by VIM. A. Wright, Esq, who spoke of his dis
:insuished services to the country and returned to
him the acknowledgements of the people of Will
mlngton fer the measures adopted for their de-
fence in armament and fortifcation, as we'll as in
placing these in charge of skillful General aud
| 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
enthusiastic concourse of North Carolinians to the
soil of the ancient and hono-ed town of Whining
ton. lie hope9 that Wilmington, although fire.
quently :nenaced, might be forever free from the
tread Of invading foe He knew we'll the i'm
portance of her harbor, now the only one through
which foreign trade carried on, and be trusted
that the vaor 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 of the
best soldiers in the Confederate army-one 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, aud in case of attack
such additions would be made to the garrison 10
men and arms would, he believed, enable Viii
mlngton to reoulse the foe, however he might
come, by land or by sea.
The President urged upon all their duty to do
full part 10 The present great struggle the issues
OF which were on the hand freedom indepen-
debce, prosperity-on the other hand, subjugation,
degradation and absolute ruin. The man who
could bear should do so. The man who could
not bear arms, but had wealth, should devote il
freely to the support OF the soldiers and to taking
care OF their widows and orphans. Those who for
the necessities OF civil government, for the
ryng 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 neghborhood to fresh zeal and renew
ed exertons In support of the cause in which all
are SO deeply interested. If we were unanimous,
if all did their duty manfully, bravey, dsirterest
edly, then our subiugation would be inrpessible
but if ueglecting the interests of the country, aud
only anxious to heap up sordid gain, each man at
tended only to his own private interests then would
it be found that such gains accumulated only
to fall into the bands of the plunderng Yankees
The soldier who had fought bravely for his
try, although he could leave his children no other
fortune, would leave them rich in inheritance of
honor while the wealth gathered aud heaped u.
in the spirit Of Shy iock in the midst of bleeding
country, would 60 down with branding and
curse.
Since the President had last passed through
Wilmington he had travelled far aud visited many
portions Of the country, aud III he had found
ruin and devastation marking the track of the van
dal foe. Blackened chlmneys alone remained to
mark the spot where happy homes once stood, and
smouldcring ashes replaced the roofs that had shell
tered the widow aud the orphan Wherever the
invader had passed the last spark Of Union feeling
had been cxtingulshed, and the people of the dis
tricts which the Yankees had supposed subjugated
the warmcst aud most devoted friends of the
Confederacy.
lie nau VlSlteu the army oil the w eSt mad gone
over the bloody battle field of Chicksmauga, aud
survey Of the ground had heightened his adu,ira-
tlon for that valor aud devotion which, with infe-
ror numbers, had overcome difficulties so formida-
bic, aud after two days's fighting had achieved
glorious victory, the routed foe only finding shelter
under the cover of night
lie had visited Charleston, where the thunder
of the enemy's guns is heard Gay md nisht hurl-
ing their fercest fire against Sumter. and still the
grand old fortress stands grim, dark and silent,
bidding fiance to the utmost Efforts of the foe.
He had visited the other points about Charlie ston
and had found the spirit of the people and of the
troops alike resolntc arid determined The Yam
kces were anxious to crush what they called toe
nest of the rebellion. He believed that it wnnld
sta1d, spite of their utmost eopfs for it's capture
1t had his best prayers for its Safety God bless
the noble old city
The President said that in North Carolina as
elsewhere, the contact OF the Yankees bad thor
oughly exGnguished~ every spark of Union feeling
wherever they had come. The Eastern portion of
the State which had sutfered most from the enemy
was perhaps the most "ya! and devoted portion of
the whole State aud North Carolina a State
had not been behind any other III the number OF
troops she had given to the arInies of the Confed
eracy La every field, from great Bethel, the first
to Chickamausa the last the blood Of North Caro-
liDiaus had been shed aud their vaor illustrated,
aud if she had fewer truDpeters than some others
10 sound her fame, the list Of killed and wounded