Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-17
The Recantion.

A genel an who came up With the paroed prisoners
says reception they met With at the wharf at Rock
etts and az erwards in the streets and in the Capitol
Sqlale had the happiSst tfc. The long detention at
CITY Point, unayodablea as il was had engaged the
They cursed IT, Davis, the Southern COnederacy, yir
gria Richmond and things generally sHOre that the
authorities and the .ope OF RchmOnd we're Indifferent
10 their sutferngs, aud treated them than
the Yankees Lad done.
This i'll humor disappeared as soon the boats be-
pan 10 move swiftly up the river. The sight OF the
fortihcAlions aud med vessels at Drewrys BIZ f. show
ed them that the Confsderaey alive and kicking
and encouraged them still further. The crowds OF la
dies and gentlemen al Rockets the music Of tie band
the cheering and waving of handkeTcsieis, and the
huzEas for "Ghe nal with the baiteGag, excited them
ID high pitch of enthusiasm. BIT the speeches in
the Square and particularly that of the President cap
ped tho einAx Of their content few words from
.Od J,G" 90 long way with the private soldier, who
will believe in "Je matter what no does, aud no
matter what the Internal editors may say against him
We are in the right path let keep it. The fact
is We must keepit l. will not do to give one install
ment OF prisoners proper weeone and refuse it to
All the rest. N, man who talks with them and learns
What they have suffered and what brides AID tempa
tons they have resisted will not think it troublesome to
greet them joyous'y God knows they hava dcne all
that meu can do and endured all that men can endure
for " and il ID the shecrcst Justice, say nothing Of
gratitude for 90 to d. something land very little is re-
ourt ~ 20 show our appreciation o. their servicss.
But it interrupts the pablo business aud the Presi
dent and Gov Sm lh have not the time to- DO makirg
snee,hey TO every batch Of released prisoners" This
nonsense. Tie var is the public bu iness, and nothing
will so Conduoe to tha of the war as the repc-
ton cuce week OF The inspiring sc.nss OF Tuesday
last Nothing wi SO enhveu the soldiers AID rekindle
the eonfiercs and enthusiasm Of toe people The war
We trust and believe, has reached It's last year, and to
ensure lis termination within the present twelve months
We have only to re kndle the fire If the Spring Of
1861 Ttat fire has never diei entirely, but it has
smoulaered lorg enough We must make it blaze as
high or higher tlal ever, and We can do It easily
enough, if we thOS our boys hai cur hearts are as
warm and our hop as bright az in the beginning of
the war s.
AS for the President aud Gov. Smith, VIII under,
take 10 answer for them. They very busy, doubt
les bat no. TOO buy TO spare fifteen minutes week
to tie soldiers who have fought bavs, aud suffered
so herolcauy. II Is no uouoie W the'u W mhAo u
spe CHI Itis really rellEation; for takes them out
OF the dull, poddug routine OF official iio. L; brings
,heu in contac; with the people and soldiers. The
warmth of the excitemensfues all heart1 aim ites all
minds With common purposs AID sasurss tla. unity
of sentiment aud acou which marked the early stages
Of the war and which il s desirable above all THU s TO
revive, never to die dOEn again. Any way arc ain
for it, now We have put our hand D the plough, aud
cannot turn back. l. will never CO TO clap one party
of returned soldiers the back aud turn the cold
shoulder to all other parties. Thst would be simply
dseraesfuL Worse than that it would be u'jus; and
mean. We must give all the 'boys,' without exception,
glad welcome 10 their nltive land. The gladder the
welcome the harder they will 6ght aud the harder they
fight the quicker will win on: Independence and
the sooner the "0oys will come bSck home "for good