The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-23
WILL THE PRESIDENT VISIT RICHMOND

WILL THE PRESIDENT VISIT RICHMOND I
1t is little singular that the editors OF
the Richmond papers should be SO soil.
citous to have the President of the
United States visit their city. What
are the inducements they hold out tina
are likely to render such visit on the
part of the Chief Magistrate of the
Nation pleasant and agreeable? Can
they assure him warm and cordial re-
ception by the entire people? Will the
ladies and gentlemen of that capital
throw wide their doors, invite him to
enjoy their Inequalities, or welcome his
coming with smiles and cheers, the
fiuttering of handkerchiefs and waving
of flags; or will they gloomily look on
as he passes through the streets, and
pettishly close their doors and window
shutters, while they silently withdraw
to the innermost recesses of their dwell
ings, and remain therein so long as the
detested Yankee desecrates the soil with
his plebian footsteps. None know bet
ter than these same editors the temper
Of the people of Richmond, and hence
their invitation to the President is a
mockery-an unsubstantial and unreal
tender Of hospitality and respect, that
cannot be freely andsfully given. There
is scarcely particle of love or venera-
ton even for the high office the Presi-
dent fills, much less for his person, felt
by the ladies of Richmond, and nine
tenths of the men hold the same opin-
ions. These assembling editors know
this fact, and yet they would have him
come to Richmond, to be insu]ted,
by silence perhaps, and perhaps as
the Prince of Wales was insulted-
but nevertheless insulted. The ne
groes, it is true, might give him an ova-
ton; but we opine the President would
not feel tlattered by their attentions; nor
does he so earnestly desire such homage
as to warrant his making journey from
Washington to Richmond to receive it.
The lip devotion to the Union, as en-
bodied in the President, which is all the
worth the trip, and the President had as
well remain at home until the people of
I that section can forget few of their
prejudices against the old flag. In any
other quarter of the world he wouldmeet
with a more enthusiastic and hearty re-
ception than in the capital of Virginia.
! This we know to be the fact, and it is
useless for newspaper editors who but
yesterday were denouncing Mr.. Lincoln
as senseless ape and blood-thirsty ty
rant, and invoking the dagger of a Bru-
tus to rid the world of such despot, to
endeavor to induce the people of this
country to believe that they have all
been on the road to Damascus, and that
a great vision of light from heaven has
stricken their rebellious spirits blind, in
order that Saint Andrew might bring
them to the true light. The days of
miracles are past, and therefore their pre-
tentions of loyalty and returned love fol
the Union and its representative, we de.
nounce as a mockery. 1t is, besides, hui
initiating to human nature to see these
proud men now bend with such servility
Shame, where is thy blush? Cease to
write, speak or act if you cannot do il
, uprightly, fearlessly and with sincerity.
The President knows us much already
as it is advisable for him to know
without going to Richmond, and we
fear were he to pay that city a
visit, the conduct of the people
would be so outrageous, and their dis
loyalty would be so openly displayed,
that all his good intentions with respect
to the State might be changed, and our
plans for speedy restoration to the
Union be frustrated. Better keep our
disloyality as much to ourselves as pos
sible, hide it in the recesses Of the closets,
the drawing-rooms, the counting-rooms,
the hotels and fashionable boarding
houses, while we leave to the editors Of
newspapers the task of proving that
there never was people more sincere
in their repentance, or more loyal IN
their intentions than the people OF Rich
mond. In private we may rejoice tina
Mr.. Lincoln was assassinated, and eulo
gize Booth, and regret that johnson ant
the Cabinet did not suffer like fate
while publicly we can extend an in
vitation to the President to visit us il
Richmond, when we will put ourselve
upon our good behaviour and play a par
for the occasion! We trust the Presiden
will not go to Richmond. He is quick t
discover fraud, and one so Transparent
thatproposed by ourconfreres ofthe Rich
mond Press could not escape prompt dc
lection at his hands. The President al
ready knows all about Virginia ana TN
South through his agents, and his IN
tuitive knowledge of the Southern PEG
pie and Southern institutions-and
closer acquaintance is not desirable
nor would it benefit the people of thi'
section.
If Mr. johnson desires to make a po-
litical inspection, we would suggest
that he keep along the seacoast. We
would be very happy to see him in Nor
folk, and although even our loyalty is not