The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-04
POLITICS IN NORFOLK.

the political sympathies of the people OF
Norfolk and the public sentiment in
other portions of the State and the
South. Here there is a real and undis-
guised Union feeling among the major
ity of the people. There are no repin-
ings over the downfall of the Confed-
eracy, and no disposition is manifested,
by either the mass of the people or the
leaders of public opinion, to oppose the
march of events, and place themselves
in an antagonistic position to the Gov
eminent. citizensar real U nionists,
as n general thing, and are content to
be considered such. Good feeling per-
vades all classes, and even our returned
Confederate soldiers are as good natured
a set of young fellows as we would wish
to meet with-and we feel satisfied that
their professions of loyalty are sincere.
They do not stand sullenly aloof from
association with their -citizens,
who were opposed to them during the
war, but freely associate with them in
all the relations of life. They appear by
their conduct to be anxious to obliterate
every vestige of the past five years, and
to fraternize with their old friends,
as in days of yore This happy result
is mainly due to the healthy state of
public opinion which has been gradu-
ally developed by the wise system of
mutual concession and forgiveness, long
since adopted, and the constant ming
ling of our people in business pursuits,
as well as in the social walks of life.
By meeting together and calmly discuss
ing the questions of the day in fair
and conciliatory spirit, good under
standing has been arrived at, and we
have become almost a unit in feeling.
But other portions of our State have not
had the same opportunities afforded
them that we have enjoyed in Norfolk.
The long occupation of the city by the
forces of the Government, of course,
exercised mighty influence in gradu-
ally changing the public sentiment; and
when the war ended, it was not here,
like in most places, a sudden transfer
of their sympathies from Govern
ment they had all along been taught to
love and respect to another, which du-
ring lustre of years, they had been
schooled to hold in utter detestation.
The development of Union sentiment
those feelings of returning love and
devotion to the old flag-was, of course,
gradual in this city but there was suf-
ficient leaven found to finally produce
the present happy results. As it has ia
ken time in Norfolk to work this happy
change, so will it require time in other
places, where the Union feeling is just
being born into existence. The child
must be well nurtured and cared for un-
til it has gained sufficient strength to
walk alone. But, at the same time, it is
the duty of the government to see thatit
grows up well-formed and perfect in all
its parts. The saying that as the twig
is bent the treeinclines," may beapplied
to the present condition of the infant
now in its fourth month, which was born
amid the burning ruins of Richmond ON
the third Of April last. The nurse must
see that it is not deformed by in
cautious handling-that its tender limbs
are not twisted and bent by untimely eff
forts to progress beyond its powers of
physical endurance.
Norfolk is all right in its feelings, and
will keep step to the music of the
Union" with cadence as perfect as In
the most loyal portions of the country:
but, thus far, her people have, through
their native modesty, no doubt, failed to
give any very affirmative assurances of
the faith that is in them. Thev have
been too negative in their manifestations
Of returned love and loyalty. As lead
ing city of Virginia and the princina,
mart of commerce in the State, it emf.
nently becomes her citizens to take .
leading part in the restoration of the
"old order of things" Our people should
at once come boldly out, and give such
an expression to theirsentiments as could
not be mistaken. Everything in these
times is accomplished by agitation. and
by agitation we can restore Virginia IN
sound loyalty. Let us have series of
mass meetings throughout the State, in
vite good speakers to address the people,
and, by that means, endeavor to discover
the real sentiments of the masses. The
first meeting of the kind should be held
in Norfolk. We favor this mode of agi
tation, because public meetings, where
able men fearlessly express their views
always exercise a powerful influence
upon the minds of men. From what they
there hear they are led to think upor
and discuss thequestions of the day AND
whenever we can get the people so fal
interested as to induce them to argue the
point, half the victory is achieved. II
they will but divide and take sides upon
the great political issues, all will be we'll,
and, for this reason, it is good policy to
keep up continual agitation. Full, free
and fair discussion is whatwe want; and
that is the only way we can put a ter
animation to this oppressive, this sullen,
and almost ominous silence OH political
affairs that the people of Virginia, at
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