The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-28
Sergeant Rates and the President.

Sergeant Bates called upon the PRESIDENT TO
perform what he considered very agreeable
duty after hisStrip through the South hat
duty. he said. was to deliver to the President the
kind messages for the Chief Magistrate of the
nation which he had received in the swamps and
in the woods along the stretches Of pine forest
through which his route now and then lay, at
the lonely farmhouse and in the villages cities,
or towns. ''Tell the President" said a gray
haired man. "we are praying for hin" Say to
him" said hundreds, 'sGod bless him!"~ Many
beowed the Sergeant to tell the President that
their hope was that Heaven would bless Andrew
Johnson in his efforts to secure their rights IN
the old Union.
At Richmond, Va, CONTINUED the Sergeant,)
fine looking old lady, working passage through
the crowd came to me as [ was making my way
out of the city, and with the tears coursing her
checks said, as she took my hand Tell Andrew
johnson that he has the earnest prayers of the
matrons Of Virginia for his welfare and happi-
ness" Greyhaired men, trembling with age,
invoked upon President Johnson Heavens bless
ing. Just beyond Montgomery, Alabama, my
fac was decorated with flowers and laurel
wraa'A by young lady who said to her mother,
as she returned to me my colors, Il wish | could
send by Sergeant Bates a bouquet te President
Johnson" They would DISMISS schofis to meet
me- and many Of the little girls would want to
kiss ne and to wave my flag. My rooms have
been decorated with evergreens, and IN North
Carolina girls streWed my way with flowers, and
pinned bouquets upon my breast. In passing
through North Carolina and Virginia, [ had a
bouquet in my hand every hour of the day. L
honestly believe sir, that in every State through
which [ have passed in my long journey could
! raise thousand men for the defence of the flag
as quickly as | could anywhere in the entire
! Union.
[ have taken by the hand dozens Of ex-Con~
| federate soldiers, whose warm grasp, qulverlng
lips and mostencd eyes could not lie. In Geor-
| aia. 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
chopping wood. accompanied him to his home,
distant about two miles; on the way he told me
that the grave of his brother who had fallen III
the rebel cause, was not far from the roadside.
| went with him to the spot. lie stood upon
one side of the grave and | upon the other. \
plain wooden head board marked the place, and
as [ was reading the inscription he asked why
such bad state Of feeling should continue to
prevail Reaching his hand over the grave OF
his brother [ clasped it. viii any one say did
wrong in taking by the hand one against whom
| had fought, but who now was willing to stand
by the good old flag. In North Carolina | met
He was quite old for one who, but a short time
since, had carried gun or a knapsack. The
poor old man during the war had lost two sons
and a son-in-law his only supports. 1t was eight
miles to the Catawba river the bridge over which
had been DESTROYED by Stecdman. 1t had been
rebuilt was very high, and bad to cross. This
old soldier took such interest in me (l had stop
ped over night in the town where he lived), that
he went with me to the bridge, and led me over
for fear 7 might fall and hurt myself Between
Selma and Montgomery, in Alabama, 7 went to
an elegant residence occupied by a gentleman
named White, on plantation called Whitehall
Mr. White himself came to the door. My flag
was unfurled but he did not know me, nor had
he heard Of my singular journey. He however
warmly welcomed ne, and | explained to him
how | had come to seek shelter under his roof
During the war he tod ne Wilson had passed
through that country and destroyed all he had
During talk of two hours there hardly a
moment that his eyes were not moistenea with
tears. In the morning [ found my flag al
decorated by his daughter with wreaths of laurel
and flowers. He went with me my way about
a mile, and finally said he would have to leave
me. | took him by the hand gentle breeze
was blowing and the flag held in my left HAND
was flying. The old man tried to bid ne gooC
bye, but he broke down and for few minutes
wept like child.
At the request of the President the Sergeant
explained the circumstances under which he haG
taken the long journey which he has just com
pleted.
In detailing them he said that the journey
was undertaken to disprove certain foolish anc
untoundcd expressions made in his hearing
That the person with whom he made the agree
ment paid towards the maintenance Of his family
one dollar per day while he WAS performing the
journey, and that this was the only pccuniarJ
benefit derived from it.
New CoIN-A bill has been introduced al
Washington for abol;shing all nickel and silver
coins below and including the denomination o
five cents, and providing for the issue of five
three and one cent coins to be made Of nickel
and Of regularly increasing size, the one cen
coins being about third less in diameter thar
the present; the head Ct Liberty diverse, anG
numerals I, III and V ON TIE reverse of these
coins; the numerals to be raised sufficiently t.
render the coins plainly distinct by touch from
gold and silver coins 1t also proposes to abolisl
all ten cents notes and lesser denominations fo
the future, but not to allow coinage Of ten cent
pieces in anything but silver.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAFHs-It is probable
that England will purchase the telegraph line.
and work them on government account, just as
the pest offices. The same has been done fol
some time in the smaller States of Germany. II
these the cost of sending dispatch is so small
as to put it within the means OF any one to send
: news by the telegraph.
When 4 government owns a telegraph line il