The Portland daily press., 1865-04-11
Tuesday Morning, April II, 1865.
Letter from Virginia.
NoRFoLK, va, ApriI 4, 1se5.

NOhrOAh, d, AuIA 1OOOs
To the Editor Of the Press.
Las5 evening was the time fixed by the peo-
pie OF Norfork and Portsmouth Tor giving
Vice Admiral Farragut public reception.
Under ang circumstances it would have been
q grand affair, but coming as it did on the
evening OF the day OF our rejoicing over the
capture OF Petersburg and Richmond, it was
Brilliant and jubilant beyond description.
The news OF our successes reacned town
about noon, aud it was curious to see the
evidence OF il spread as one vessel after an
other 1ung to the breeze the glorious stars aud
stripes, and The same emblem OF our nations
soy erignty appeared in various quarters of
our city. How dear and expressive has that
flag come to be in the last four years!
People rushed into the streets from houses
ana shops to get the particulars OF the news,
and ran wild with excitement, especially the
black people, Such a display Of ivory was
never before made in city OF the same size
every coiored face was radiant with smiles
And then you could hear on every side the
expressions, Tank de Lord "'our prayer is
answered..
The coiored people have truer conception
OF the great struggle than some very intelli-
gent white folks. They see the hand OF God
in it, and they know that neither "Massa
Linkum, nor anybody else can stop the war
till Gods purposes are accomplished in the
has so thoroughly demorazed the people OF
the South. Ig was not rhetorical flourish
that defined slavery to be "the sum OF all vii
lainies; we who are here can see how true
was tia: definition.
As soon as artillery from our front could be
brought in, grand salute was fired, both in
Norfolk and Portsmouth, in which some steam
ers in the harbor Joined.
An this excitement and these noisy demon.
or for ar
tainment of the evening, which came off in the
Opera House. That building was crowded
With people, not few ladies gracing the occa.
sion with their presence.
may say thai the receipt on was not only a
complete success, but was unique. The Opera
House is used as a Theatre, and some OF the
company tlat nightly perform there, danced,
aud some sang patriotic songs, the orchestra
playing an accompaniment. A regimental
band, and drum corps, each contributed mu-
sic. Tee stage OF the theatre was occupied
by the committee of arrangements, the Vice
Admiral, and about a hundred officers OF the
army and navy, who were concealed from the
spectators by the drop-curtain. At O'Clock,
the band having played patriotic air, the
curtain rose and disclosed a more brilliant
military tableau then has ever been seen Ia q
theatre.
In the centre Of the stage was the commit
each side and in the rear, filling up the en-
tire stage, were a hundred or SO of officers In
their snowy uniforms, many OF them with
their side arms, and all arranged as ii for
photograph picture. The rising of the cur
tain was followed with an instant bursting
forth of cheers, swinging Of hats and waving
of hsndkerchiefs.
The presiding officer, true Union man, a
rdfG dUiS among the long time residents of
Norfolk, read a series OF resolutions and fol-
lowed them with good speech. Other elo-
quent and telling speeches were made by civil
lians and army officers, and the house fire.
Quently applauding and occasionally varying
the responses with roar of laughter.
The speech in which we all felt the most in
terest was that of our fighting and conquer
ing Admiral He had been for many years
cisizan Of Norfolk, moved here, and from here
was driven for his Union sentiments. He
told us what efforts he made to secure Union
delegates to the State Convention which was
TO settle the question of secession, and thai
he succeeded in having professed Union men
elected; but they betrayed their trust. He
remained in Norfolk till he was told he must
mot express his Union sentiments in that com
munity, ard he replied that he would go where
he could express such sentiments. When he
left Norfolk for the North, the citizens OF the
secret persuasion thought he left the country
for the cduntry's good; and since then great
many Union people have been of the same
Opinon.
The brief speech was received with much
favor.
The gallant Admiral enjoyed the occasion
with much zest; indeed, everything, in place,
circumstances and manner of performance,
c0nspired to make the reception complete
success.
Wine these services were going on in the
Opera House, the colored people We're celt-
brating the fail of Petersburg and Richmond,
in mass meeting at Mechanics HALL. II may
astonish your copperhead neighbor, and those
who have cotton carrying" on the brain, to
hear that Southern negroes think the aboli-
ton OF slavery is good thing. / have cen
versed with many who were slaves before the
war and tried to persuade them that having no
master to take care Of them now, they are
worse Off than before, but have not made a
single convert. Indeed, don't think any of
them thought was much in earnest, for they
usually closed with broad laugh, such as the
freedmen are now extensively indulging in
over the falling fortunes of the Confederacy.
j. S., of Maine.