The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-24
LINCOLN AT RICHMOND.
Warmly Greeted by the Blacks and the
Poor Whites in the Deserted Capital
Of the Southern Confedsracy.
admiral Porter, in Phila. Press.

OF the Southern COnfedsracy.
admiral Porter, in Phila Press
The day after the fall Of Richmond,
President Lincoln expressed desire to
visit the Confederate capital in the flag
ship Malvern. In anticipation of this
event, by working day aud night, l had
all the distractions on the James taken
up and all the torpedoes removed from
the river bed. Where We
landed was a small house, and behind it
we're some twelve negroes digging with
spades. The leader Of them was an old
man 60 years Of age. He raised himself
to an upright position as we landed, and
put his hands up to his eyes. Then he
dropped his spade and sprang forward.
"Bress dc Lord" he said, "ders is de
great Messiah! l know'd him as soon as
| seed him. He's bin in my heart TO-
long yeahs, an he's cum at last to free
his chillum from DER bondage! Glory
hailelujah!' And he fell upon his knees
before the President and kissed his feet
The others followed his example, and in
a minute, Dir. Lincoln was surrounded
by these people, who had treasured up
the recollection of him caught from a
photograph, and had looked Up to him
for four years as the one who was to lead
them out of captivity.
1t was touching sight-that aged
negro kneelins at the feet of the tall,
gaunt.looking man, who seemed, in him.
self, to be bearing all the grief of the ma
ton, and whose sad face seemed to say,
Il suffer for you all, but will do all 1
can to help you"
Mr.. Lincoln looked down on the poor
creatures at his feet; he was much en-
barrassed at his position. Don't kneel
to me-, he said. That 10 not right.
You must knsel to God only, and thank
Him for the liberty you will hereafter
enjoy. l am but Gods humble iustru-
msnt; but you must rest assured that as
long a. live no one shall put shackls
on your limbs, and you shall have all the
rights which God has given to every
other free citizen of this Republic"
His face was lit Sp with divine look
as he uttered these words. Though not
handsome man, and ungainly in his
person, yet in his enthusiasm be seemed
the persouifcation of manly beauty and
that sad face of his looked down in kind
ness upon these ignorant blacks with a
grace that could not be excelled. He
really seemed Of another world.
1t was minute or two before could
get the negroes to rise and leave tho
President. The scene was so touching l
hated to disturb it, yet We could not
stay there all day; We had to move on,
and l requested the patriarch to with.
draw from about the President with his
companions and let US pass on.
Eyes, Massa," said the old man, "but
after bein' SO many years in dc desert
widout water, it's mighty pleasant to be
lookin' At las on our Spring of life.
'Scuse us, sir, we mean no disrespsc' to
Mass Lincolr-we means all love and
gratitude" and then joining together in
ring, the negroes sang with melodious
aud touching voices only possessed by
the negroes of the South:
Oh, al! 70 people clap your hands
And with triumphant voices sing,
No force the mighty power withstands
OF God, the universal King.
He shall assaulting foes rebel
And with success our battles fight;
Shall fix the place where we must dwell
The pride of Jacob, His delight
The President and all of us listened in
silence while the hymn was being sung.
PASSING LIBBY PRISON.
Our progress was very slow, we did
not move mile an hour, and the crowd
was still increasing. Many poor whites
joined the numbers, and sent up their
| shouts with the rest. We were nearly
half an hour getting from abreast Of
Libby Prison to the edge OF the city.
The President stopped a moment to
look on the horrible Bastile, where SO
many Union soldiers had dragged out .
| dreadful life.
I'VE will pull it down. cried the
crowd, seeing where his look fell.
"No," he said, 'lsave it as monu-
ment."
but he meant, am sure, to leave it as q
monument TO the loyalty of our soldiers
who would bear all the horrors of Libby
sooner than desert their flag ard cause
THE POOR MANS FRIEND.
While We we're stopped for momen,
by the crowd, white man. in his shrt
sleeves, rushed from the side walk to.
ward the President. His looks were sc
eager that l felt apprehensive that b.
was not friend, and prepared to receiv.
him on the point of my sword, but when
he got within ten feet OF us hs suddenly
stopped short, took off his hat and cried
ont: Abraham Lincoln, God bless you
you are the poor mans friendr' Then
he tried to force his way to the Presi
dent to shake hands with him. HI
would not take no for an answer, until
had to treat him rather roughly, when
he stood off with his arms folded ant
looked eagerly after us. The last saw
of him he was throwing his hat into thu
air.
| PRESENT.
Just after this a beautiful girl cam,
from the sidewalk with large bouqus
of roses in her hand, and advanc e.
struggling through the crowd, towart
the President. The mass of people
opened to let her pass, but she had
hard time in reaching him. Her clothe
were very much disarranged in making
the journey across the street. l reached
out and helped her within the circle o
the sailors bayonsts, where, although
she was almost stified with the dust, sh
gracefully presented her bouquet, ant
made a neat little speech, while tn
President held her hand. She was YER,
pretty and about II years old, hicl
made the presentation still more touch
ing. There was label OH the bouqus
with these simple words: From Eva t,