The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-18
PLAIN TALK TO PLAIN PEOPLE.


has all article on Jefferson Davis, in
which, after eulogizing him as the
greatest man of al the world, and can
onizing him as saint, it predicts that
the effects of his threatened martyrdom
will be to water the plant Of hatred,
already growing so luxuriantly in the
South, against his enemies. In the
same sentence it mixes up the language
of the mendicant with the threat OF the
bravo. 1t begs ana DULLES III tho salne
breath-and as usual deals plentifully in
the flowery and bombastic language
NO natural to its style, in which assertion
isurged with the dogmatic persistence OF
truth, without furnishing a single fact
to form reasonable basis. Glittering
generalities, which captivate the I'M
thinking crowd, and stir up the mob to
mutiny, and which dispense entirely
with reason, or logic, or sound judgment,
are the distinguishing features OF the
radical and fanatical utterances OF this
Richmond fanatical sheet-this invete-
rate scold and fault-finder. We pity
Jefferson Davis, in his prison at Fortress
Monroe, because of the injudicious course
pursued by some Of those who pretend
to be his friends, but whose actions and
inconsiderate language, prove them to be
his worst enemies. They are, whether
innocently or Intentionally, doing him
the greatest possible harm'-they are
prejudicing the case of their client by
their unsought advocacy before both
the court and the jury, and by their UNI
skilful meddling and injudicious course,
will complicate the difficulties that
environ him, increase the dangers of his
present perilous condition, and multiply
the obstacles to his enlargement, which
his real friends are now endeavoring to
remove. There are journals as well as
men who damage every cause they ad-
vocate. 1t is only necessary for them to
speak favorably of a project, a principle,
an idea, or an individual, to excite the
distrust of the public against the object
of their solicitude, and it suffers ac-
cordingly, no matter how deserving.
To this class of journals, the Examiner
belongs. Its Trades have no weight,
they never carry conviction,-but serve
to tease, annoy and embitter,-while
their tendency is to disorganization, and
to cast doubt and suspicion upon the
motives and the actions of the best men.
Abuse never yet convinced any man,
nor does invective carry with it the
weight of calm logic. The duty OF a
wise press is to point out the evils that
exist in society and to suggest the best
mode of correcting them-and in doing
this it may indulge, if it feels so dis
posed, in a reasonable amount of play
full satire-but the freedom of the press
does not give it license to bully and
lampoon without mercy, everybody and
everything that does not come up to its
marrow and bigoted standard of excel
1ence. The Examiner must not expect
all men to examine things through its
microscope. But we are getting away
from our purpose.
The Examiner makes an appeal to the
President to stand In the breach between
the noble prey and his pursuers-to
keep the Thermopyle that still sepa-
rates Mr.. Davis from those who seek
his blood--and threatens that If the great
chief Of the Confederacy should
fall, his blood will be avenged by
a future generation more power.
full and more able to carry this threat
into execution than the present. Know
ing the northern people, as the Examiner
should know hem, it ought to be aware
that a thread never yet deferred thai
race from the execution of purpose
but ON the contrary, only made them the
more eager to carry out their designs
They..are not people to be deferred by
threats. The. Examiner may elbow
ever 80 fiercely-but there is no terror
in its menaces for these persisting
men, whom it so much dreads-ever
while it threatens. You may cajole ant
cousin them into all kinds of measures
by appealing to their sympathies, ant
their large humanity-but don't threat
en- them. They were never known tt
refuse the gauntlet Of defiance, no mat
tsrhow haughtily thrown at their feet
Knowing this, the Eaominer ought Il
be aware that il Is pursuing the yer,
course that is best calculated to stir VI
the men of the North to recollection, t.
afeeling, that perhaps they have alread!
dealt too leniently with the people ofth
South for the good of themselvesor thei
posterity, and they may consider
necessary to ask still further guarantees
in order to make the peace, that Is no.
30 slowly crystalizing, eternal, and tn
bond of fellowship irdissoluble. i
the people of the North are moved t
forgive Jefferson Davis, and to PERM
him to depart in peace, 1t will not b
from any dread of the consequences OF
different course. 1t will not be becaus
they fear the future maledictions Of th
South, because they dread the effects
his martyrdom. The hatred they kno'
full we'll cannot be intensified, AN
martyrs do not long survive their ma
tyrdom in this practical age. We al