The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-21
VIRGINIA RETIaEs TO CONSULT.

Virginians recently called upon Presi
dent Johnson, at the White House, anC
after the President had concluded tn,
business then before him, was addressed
by him in friendly way, with the in
quiry where they were from. A mem
Der OF the delegation, in pompous tone
replied, 1--WE are proud to say that We
are from the city of Richmond" The
President remarked that he did not see
any occasion for pride in that fact, and
turning his back, devoted his attention
to other matters. Thus ended the inter-
view. We can scarcely credit this state
ment, but if it be true, it is high time
that the sensible men of the Old Domin-
ion should come to the rescue, and re-
deem their State from the ridicule W hich
she has 50 long been forced to endure.
through the inordinate vanity of few
pomp0us old fOgies, who really believe
that they and the State have some kind
OF superior claim to the attention and
respect of the country over that of any
other in the Union. This species Of low
bred political snobbery should be frown-
ed upon as severely as social snobbery.
When seedy old fool in society puts OH
extra airs, and assumes to thrive upon
the former wealth or reputation of his
ancestors, he is voted a bore and becomes
justly a butt for the ridicule of men of
sense, who are apt to take verything at
its present value, even toa bank note, no
matter what it may have been worth, OH
some former occasion; and although the
individual may be too dull of intelleet to
see that all the world is laughing athim,
all the world nevertheless enjoys its
laugh at his expense. Count Joannes,
really believes he is great man and
nobleman, and accepts the good-natured
satire of his acquaintance and the pub
lie, as honestly meant and well-merited
praise; he cannot himself see that he is
an object of ridicule; so with these vain
and pompOus people of our own State
who hold on to that fable about the first
families as tenaciously as did the ancient
Greeks TO the myth that their parents
sprang spontaneously from the soil of
Greece. We have alarge crogsS 81 Count
IT, ". - = 'sas 4 Va
JoaIneses m Virginia, and if making
themselves appear ridiculous was their
only fault we could forgive them, but
they must needs make the poor old State
responsible for their nonsensicalassump-
ti6ns. Not long since, while in Wash
ington, we met a poor fellow, very rag.
ged and out of elbows, who was lament
ing his poverty, and the impossibility
of obtaining any employment. He was
from the eighborhood of this city, and
neither by education nor the habits of
life was he fitted for any occupation
above that of common laborer. "Why
don I you drive a cart; they want men
for that business?' He looked thunder
struck, and appeared to think we were
joking; but, drawing himself up, with
terrible dignity, replied, "Why, sir,
don't you know Pm a Virginian ?"
We are not surprised that the Presi-
dent should Withdraw himself, disgust
ed, from this delegation. Such pompos-
ity is enough to disgust the best friends
the Vrginians have As Virginians,
We protest against this senseless twad-
die, and if these men are devoid of all
pride and decency--if they have lost all
seif-respeet themselves, We pray they
will recollect that there are people in
Virginia, and large majority of them,
who do not desire to be rendered ridicu-
lous by their presuming to represent
either the aristocracy or the democracy
OF the State, Their arrogance is insult
ferable, and we hopethey will be snubbed
in future as cody as they were bv the
President, whenever they attempt to
cover their claims to being heard with
such flimsy pretexts as superiority Of
birth, race or intelligence, We want
no more snobbery-whether it be of the
effete and worn out I" first family D
school, or Of the pdsVena quality
brought in by modern events.
We suppose after the President turned
his back on the delegation, they "retireG
to consult This is another phase il
Virginia's vanity which, long befor,
this revolution was thought of, had rem
dered her politicians and great ones ri
diculous before the eyes of their com
peers from other parts of the country
and made her the laughing stock o
even those who snickered in thei
sleeves, while they fiattered her as tn
mother of States and Presidents. Tn
retiring to consult business was this
A general convention for the purpose o
nominating a candidate for Preslden
would meet and organize. "A trinihe
question would come up, such, tor IN
stance, as "Shall the rules of the
former convention govern the proceed
ings of the present" The vote on
adoption would be taken by States.
Alabama when called would promptly
vote yes or no through the leader of her
delegation, and so on with the other
States in quick succession, till it came
TO Virginia, when the chairman of the
delegation would rise from his seat with
all the dignity of manner, and solem-
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