Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-23
Progress OF PacIficatIOn

Congressman Lorng, of the Massachusetts,
delegation in Congress. accompanied the Pres
ident on his late visit to Richmond. Va. and
he writes a letter to his constituents wherein
he gives the results of his observation The
letter is specially valuable as tending to show
that the people of the South ARE rapidly com
ing to the belief that sectional strife should be
forever buried beneath common civilization
based on the equal rights of all citizens under
the law. DR.. Loring says
The reception of the President ut Rich.
mond was especially cordial had been told
that | should find an air of triumph on one
side and corresponding air of depression on
the other; that those who had opposed the
election of the President would proudly and
complncently claim that he had been captured
by Them and that those who supported his
election would indicate in an unmistakable
manner that their rights had been surrender
ed. But | saw nothing of this. Gratitude
for something which the President had done
seemed TO fill the minds of ALL and to rise SUI
perior to every other Thought and feeling
should not have known that there were differ.
ent races, or different parties or that there
had ever been other socal relations than those
now existing. from what l saw and heard
there. The streets were thronged by u CRATE
full people From the windows of the best
residences the President received warm wei.
come. The warehouses were dmped with the
American flag in honor of his presence The
colored population, who Were also represent
ed in the military escort, followed the process
sion i'll crowds, and eagerly sought the hand
of the President and that of Mrs. Hayes. ex-
pressing i'll most earnest terms their thanks
for an era of good feeling, in which they
were delighted to share. This feeling was sv-
erywhere manifest. The colored people shout
ed it in the streets; the girls sang it in the to-
bacco factories; the great assembly called to-
gether ut the reception of Gov. kemper eN-
pressed it in word and act. poor man walk
ing by the carriage in which was riding Mrs.
Hayes and Mr. Evarts, pointed to the spirited
and beautiful equestrian statue of Washing
ton, and said, There is the statue of the
greatest man who ever lived; but the man
who has given us this day is entitled to one q
hundred times grander." An old confederate
army surgeon gave lie most graphic account
of the condition of Richmond and its hospit-
ais during the war and of the trials which fell
upon the wasted city in the early years of
peace and he rejoiced, without complaining
Of the past that all classes of the people could
enjoy their possessions and protect each 9th
er in a well-ordered, peaceful town. cult
waited lawyer remarked TO me that Washing
Japan for fifteen years and now he rejoiccd
that the chasm was closed up. When | asked
the reason for this sudden change of feeling
i'll connection with recent events under the
administration of President Hayes, events
which had their parallel in the withdrawal of
troops from Mississippi and Arkansas and the
appointment of Longstreot and Orr to high
Office under the administration of President
Grant out of which no feeling of reconcilin-
ton had grown, | could get no more definite
reply than that the pear was not ripe" In
fact, the state af popular feeling was looked
upon by all who witnessed il a. one of those
remarkable political phenomena whose causes
are not entirely within human control. The
political consequences of all this We're hardly
discussed. The existing facts seemed to be
satisfactory to Democrats and Republicans
alike, so far as / could ascertain and the in
calculable benefits of the policy to the materi-
al prosperity and popular elevation of Virginia
appeared to outweigh all political considera-
tions in the minds of those who considered
thoughtfully the existing state of affairs.
often heard the political future of the negro
discussed. and always with full recognition
of his rights under the constitution, and often
with the assurance that he would manifest
Just as much sagacity in exercising the right
of suffrage as the white man.
The demonstration at the fair grounds was
as impressive and significant MS that within
the city. The assembly which gathered to
hear the speech of the President was as I'M
posing as any have ever witnessed. On the
balcony from which he spoke he was sur.
rounded by many of the leading men of Vir.
| ginia, including the Governor the officers OF
the Agricultural Society many influential cit
izens from various parts of the Union, and
| those of the Cabinet who accompanied him
| A larffa aud intalliuaVf eroNy1 gtpnl in front
of the stand, extending as far as the voice
could reach and by those around him and by
| the audience below there was a warm response
| TO every sentiment of equal rights, justice ant
humanity. The paciticatory utterances OF
Mr.. Evarts, the practical truths set forth by
Mr.. Sherman, the sharp appeals of Mr.
| Thompson, and the eloquent recital of the re
lations existing between Virginia and Massa
chusetts by General Devens, were all received
in the heartiest manner; and my own discus
sion of the peculiar character of the Ameri
can system of land-holding, with the civi
rights and opportunities which go with it, me
with a most cordial approval from those t.
whom it was addressed. have stated as ac
curately as possible what / saw and hearC
| during my trip to Richmond, because thinl
| the people of this country are entitled Il
| know enough of each other TO secure mutua
respect, esteem and confidence wherever the,
| can be inspired. have not discussed politi
| cal results, about which have very decided
opinions, because 1 think they are subordi
nate to the great questions of peace and pros
perity and the establishment of society an'
the state upon the foundations of equal ant
exact justice to all men," popular education
and universal popular rights. Whether tn
state of affairs in Virginia means this, thos
can judge who saw.
|
rho Baldwin lonnmntive works nj Philn