The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-21

looked awhile, and then turned away he1
head as if it was a disgusting sight.
President Lincoln walked in silence,
acknowledging the salutes of officers and
soldiers and Of the citizens, black and
'achae! 1t was the man of the people
among the people. 1t was the great de-
liverer, meeting the delivered. Yesterday
morning the majority of the thousands
who crowded the streets and hindered our
advance were slaves. Now they were
free, and beholding him who had given
them their liberty. Gen. Shepley met
the President in the street, and escorted
him to Gen. Weitzel's quarters. Major
Stevens hearing that the President was on
his way suddenly summoned detachment
OF the Mass. 4th cavalry, and cleared the
way.
After a tedious walk the mansion of
jeff. Davis was reached. The immense
crowd swept round the corner of the
street and packed the space in 'front.'
Gen. Weitzel received the President at
the door. Cheer upon cheer went up
from the excited multitude-two-thirds of
whom were colored.
The President took ride through the
city, accompanied by Admiral Porter,
Gems. Shepley, Weitzel and other officers
Such is the simple narrative of this mo-
mentous event, but no written page Or il
Eliminated canvass can give the reality Of
the event-the enthusiastic bearing of the
people-the blacks and poor whites who
have suffered untold horrors during the
war, their demonstrations of pleasure, the
shouting, dancing, the thanksgivings to
God, the mention of the name of Jesus
as If President Lincoln were next to the
son of God in their affections-the jubi-
liant cries. the cOuntenances beaming with
unspeakable joy, the tossing up of caps,
the swinging of arms of a motley crowd
some in rags, some barefoot, some
wearing pants Of Union blue, and coats
of Confederate gray, rag-a-muffins in
dress through the hardships of war, but
yet of stately bearing-men in heart and
soul-tree men henceiorth and forever.
their bonds cut asunder in an hour-men
from whose limbs the chains fell yesterday
morning, men who through many weary
years have prayed for deliverence-who
have asked sometimes if God were dead
who, when their children were taken
from them and sent to the swamps of
South Carolina and the cane brakes of
Louisiana, criedto God for help and cried
in vain, who told their SORROWS to Jesus
and asked for help, but who have been
whipped, scourged, robbed, imprisoned.
for no crime. All Of these things must
he kept in remembrance if we would have
the picture complete.
No wonder that President Lincoln who
has a childs heart felt his soul stirred ::
that the tears almost came to his eyes as
he heard the thanksggivings to God and ,Je-
suS, and the blessings uttered for him
from thankful hearts. They were true.
earnest and heartfelt expressions of graft
tude to God. There are thousands of
men in Richmond tonight who would lay
down their lives for President Lincoln
their great deliverer-their best friend on
earth. He came among them unheralded,
without pomp or parade. He walked
through the streets as if he were only q
private citizen and not the head of a
mighty nation. He came not as a con-
querer-not with bitterness in his heart,
but with kindness. He came as a friend,
to alleviate sorrow and sutfering-to re-
build what has been destroyed