The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-23


through tae South Expressions Of Loyalty
and Kind Messages to the President from
al! Sections.
WASHINGTON, April l6, 1868.
Sergeant Bates called upon the Presi-
dent to>day to perform what he considered
very agreeable duty That duty, he
said, was to deliver to the President the
kind messages for the Chief Ala Lis!rate of
the nation which he had received in the
swamps and in the woods along the
stretches of pine forests through viii, h his
route now and then lay, at the lonely
farm houses and in the villages, cities and
towns. ''rell tile PresdenI,' said u gray
haired man, 'that we are praying fer
him Say 10 him." said hun lreds,
'God bless him" nj. ny, very man.,
b gged the Sergeant to tell the President
tn t their hope was that Heaven would
lss Andeew johnson in his Efforts to
secure b ir rights in the old Union. SAT
Richmond, Virginia" continued the Ser
aetnt, ga fine looking old lady, working
"a passage through the CT, " !, came to me
az | was making my way out of the city,
and with the tears coursing her cheeks,
said, as she took my hand, Tell Andrew
johnson that he has the earnest prayers
Of the matrons of Virginia for his welfare
aud happiness Gray HAIRED men. tremb
ling with age, invoked upon President
johnson Heavens blessings. Just be-
yond Montgomery, in Alabama, my titg
was decorated with flowers and laurel
wreath by young lady, who said to her
mother, as she returned to me my co!ors,
I wish L could send with Sergeant Bates
a bouquet to President Johns IN y They
would dismiss schools TO meet me, and
many of the little girls would want To
kiss me and to wave my flag. My rooms
have been decorated with eversreens, and
in North Carolina girls strewed my way
with flowers and pinned bouquets upon
my breast. In passing through North
Carolina and Virginia, had bouquet
in my hand every hour of the day.
honestly believe, sir, that in every State
through which | passed in my long
journey / could raise thousand men for
The defence Of the flag as quickly as
could anywhere in the entire Union. l
have taken by the hand dozens of ex-con-
federate soldiers whose warm grasp,
quivering dips and moistened eyes could
not lie. In Georgia, for instance, met
man who had served in the rebel armies,
and who had been watching for me along
the road. He had been engaged in chop
ping wood. | accompanied him to his
home, distant about two miles. On the
way he tDld me the grave of his brother
who had fallen in the rebel cause, was
not far from the roadside. | went with
him to the spot. He stood upon one side
of the grave and | upon the other. A
plain wooden head board marked the
place, ani as was reading the inscrip-
lion he asked why such bad state of
feeling should continue to prevail -
Reaching his hand over the grave of his
brother, Clasped it; and will any Que
gay did wrong in taking by the hand
one against whom had fought, but who
now was viii ing to stand by the old fiag?''
! At the request of the President the ser
geant explained the circumstances under
which he had undertaken the long Jour
/ ncy which he has just concluded ''Per-
sons," said he, ''made assertions which |
/ beiiI to be both foolish and unflundea.
l contradicted them, saying that did not
care for their individual opinions but AS
I perhaps thousands believed as they did
would make proposition that, if carried
! out, would disprove their theory.
thereupon made an offer to do what
have done. | did not think my PROPOSE.
ton would be accepted, nor did the
/ principal person of those 10 whom | refel
think would dare to carry out my plan
lie, however, at once accepted my offe
and dared me to fulfill its terms He haC
declared, for instance, that if the govern
ment would Withdraw the military forces
from the South and leave the flag flyin.
the Union sol,liers would hardly be out o
4 sight before the colors would be torn dowr
and trampled in the dust. l replied tha
was poor man, that / was not in
| condition TO give me dollar day for m,
family while | was gone | would 90 Il
Vicksbufg and would a one, unarmed, am
without money carry the American fla!
from that place to Washington l wa
told that my lite would not be worth ;
cent that, Indeed, would never be per
mitted TO leave Vicksburg alive. Arti
cles OF agreement were drawn up, and
was dared to sign them. l did SO. an,
thus bound myself to their performance
1 went home, thought over the matter
saw that was novel enterprise and woul,
attract some attention. but did not thinl
It would receive the notice it has. I fel
sure l would be treated well, and tina
the flag would be respected but / had M
idea the people would take so much pain
to show their respect for the flag or tina
L would receive such an ovation. There
was not, sir, during the entire journey I
breath uttered against the daG or myself