The National tribune., 1909-11-25
Greeted by the Negros.


Admiral Porters account of the Pres
ident's reception by the negros is the
only narrative we have of Mr.. Lincoln's
first hour in the Confederate Capital.
He says:
There was a small house on this
landing, and behind it were some IL
negros digging with spades. The lead
er of them was an old man so years of
age. He raised himself to an upright
position as we landed, and put his
hands to his eyes. Then he dropped his
spade and sprang forward. 'Bress de
Lord he said, 'dere is de great Messiah.
knowed him as soon as l seed him.
He's bin in my heart fo' long yeahs,
an he's cum at last to free his chillun
from deir bondage. Glory Hallelujahr
And he. fell upon his knees before the
President and kissed his feet. The 9TH
erS followed his example, and in min
ute Mr. Lincoln was surrounded 10y
these people. who had treasured up the
recollection of him caught from pho
tograph, and had looked up 10 him for
years as the one who was to lead them
out of captivity. 1t was a touching
sight-that aged negro kneelins at the
feet of the tall. gaunt-looking man. who
seemed in himself to be bearing all the
grief of the Nation. and whose sad. face
seemed to say: L suffer for you all, but
W II do all can to help you Mr.. Lin
coin looked down on the poor creatures
at his feet: he was much embarrassed
at his position. Don't kneel to me- he
said; that is not right. You must kneel
to God only. and thank Him for the
i1iberty you will hereafter enjoy. l am
but Gods humble instrument; but you
may rest assured that as long as l live
no one shall put Il shackle on your
limbs, and you shall have all the rights
which God has given to every other
free citizen of this Republic 1t was
minute or two before / could get the
negros to rise and leave the President.
The scene was so touching / hated to
disturb it; yet we could not stay there
all day; we had to move on; so l. re-
quested the patriarch to withdraw from
about the President with his companions
and let us pass on. Yes, Mars said the
old man; but after bein' so many yeahs
IN de desert widout water, it's mighty
pleasant TO be lookin' at las ON our
spring of life. 'Scuse us, sir; we means
no dsrespec to Marse Lincoln; we
means all love and gratitude And then,
joining hands together in ring, the
negros sang a hymn, with meiodious
and touching voices, only possessed by
the negros of the South. The President
and all of us listened respectfully while
the hymn was being sung. Four minutes
at most had passed away since we flrSt
landed at q point where, IS far as the
eye could reach, the streets were en-
tirely deserted, but now what different
Iscene appeared as that hymn went forth
from the neeros' lips. The streets
seemed to be suddenly alive with the
colored race. They seemed to spring
from the earth. They came tumbling
and shouting. from over the hills and
from the wate' side. where no one was
seen as we had passed The crowd i'm
mediately became very oppressive. We
al tn
/ ordered IL Of the boats crew to fix
bayonets to their rifles and surround
the President, all of which was quickly
done; but the crowd poured in so fear
fully that ] thought we all stood
chance OF being crushed to death.
AT length the President spoke. He
could not move for the mass of people:
he had to do something. My poor
friends he said, you are free-free as
air. You can east off the name of slave
and trampie upon It: II will come to
you no more. Liberty is your birth
right. God gave it to you as He gave 1t
to others. and it is a sin that you have
been deprived of it for so many years.
But you must try to deserve this price
less boon Let the world see that you
merit 1t and are able to maintain 1T by
your good works. Don't let your joy
carry you into eXccSSes. Learn the laws
and obey them. Obey Gods command
ments and thank Him for giving you
liberty. for to him you owe all things.
There now; let me pass on. / have but
| little time to spare. / want to see the
Capital, and must return at once to
Washington to secure TO you that lib
| erty which you seem to prize so highly
The crowd shouted and screeched as if
| they would split the armament, tho
while the President was speaking you
might have heard q pin drop"
A Wide Horizon of Mighty Thoughts.
How small and inconsequential seem
the superficial manifestations of which
writers have made so much compared
with the thoughts which whelmed Lin
coins mind! AS he walked the streets
of the once naughty and insolent capi-
| tai il was the farthest possible from a
| suggestion of the triumphant and
vengeful Marius, sitting amid the ruins
| of Carthage. The blackened walls, the
smoldering heaps of what had but yes
| terday been wealth. the vacant houses
which scarcely As hours before had
! been the Seats OF the Mighty, from