Enthusiastic reception of Mr. Faulkner.
Intelligence was received in this city yesterday that the Hon.
Charles J. Faulkner, istely released from a Federal prison, had arrived at
Norfolk, under flag of truce, and would come on by the evening train.
Our citizens accordingly determined to give him a suitable reception, and the proposition was cordially approved by the
State and municipal authorities.
When the train arrived at the depot, about 6 o'clock, a large number of citizens, with
Gov. Letcher and
Mayor Mayo, were present to greet
Mr. Faulkner on his return, and the Armory Band saluted him with one of our national airs.
After the congratulations were over, the distinguished visitor was conducted to the
Governor's carriage, and escorted to the City Hall.
As the procession passed down Main street the vast multitude cheered vociferously, the ladies in the balconies and windows waved their handkerchiefs, and the band contributed to the popular enthusiasm by the enlivening strains of ‘"Dixie"’ ‘"Marsupialise,"’ and ‘"Carry me back to Old Vigginny."’
When the procession arrived at the City Hall, that educe was already densely crowded, and it was found altogether impracticable to have the ceremonies of reception inside.--
Mr. Faulkner was therefore conducted to the southern portico, and the vast crowd assembled in the street, fronting the building.
The
Mayor of the city then extended a public welcome to
Mr. Faulkner, who was greeted by the crowd with deafening cheers.
Finding that the people were determined upon hearing speech
Mr. Faulkner came forward, and after a brief acknowledgment of the flattering reception on his return to the free soil of
Virginia, proceeded to give some account of his arrest and imprisonment by order of the
Federal Government.
He was, he said, returning from a foreign mission, and, relying upon the supposed good faith of the
Government, proceeded to
Washington for the purpose of reporting himself and setting his accounts.--He had not been there three days, when he was served by the military myrmidons and thrown into a felon's cell, where he retained for thirty hours in solitary confinement.
He was then placed in a military prison and kept there for a period of thirty days, after which he was transferred to Fort Lafayette, and then to
Fort Warren.
Thus his fellow-citizens would perceive that he had some experience in prison life, and an opportunity of studying fortifications.
But he was not yet a free man. It devolved upon the Confederate Government to say whether he should be, or not, [Voices — You shall be] Whether he should be compelled to go back to imprisonment or whether he should go free, and dedicate himself to the cause of liberty — or, as
Mr. Seward expressed to the cause of ‘"treason."’ He had pledged his life to the cause of the
South, and was now here to seek an opportunity for its fulfilment.
Mr. Faulkner then indicated his purpose to retire, and thanking his fellow-citizens for this unexpected manifestation of their friendship and sympathy, was about bidding them ‘"good night,"’ but this met with a most decided opposition.
‘"Tell us some news!"’ shouted many of the sovereigns in his immediate vicinity.
‘"Tell us some news from
England, and news from
Mason and
Slidell"’
Well, said
Mr. Faulkner,) I left
Mr. Masonda good health and spirits.
You know he is a man of heroic mould — not easily subhead.
He had an abiding conviction that no sooner would the intelligence of the outrage reach
England than it would be followed by the dispatch of a messenger to demand full reparation for the insult offered to her flag, and a restoration of the ministers under that flag and to instruct Lord Lyons, in the event of a refusal, to demand his passports — And what do we now hear?
You have learned from the newspapers that the
Europa has arrived, and the messenger is probably now in this country, and the result must be a restoration of
Mason and Sildell, or the
Federal Government will be involved in inestimable war with
England.
[Cheers.]--Never was government in a more critical condition.
If the demands of
England are compiled with, and our Ministers are surrendered, there is a fanatical spirit at the
North which will crush the
Government; and if otherwise, then they must have war with
Great Britain.
Fellow citizens, (continued
Mr. Faulkner,) you must excuse me from saying more.
When the cords are cast from me — when I am freed by the act of my Government — then it will afford me pleasure to mingle with you, and indulge in an unrestrained expression of sentiment upon the great events of the times.
Mr. Faulkner (of whose remarks we have given a mere sketch) withdrew amid great cheering.
Gov. Letcher being called upon for a speech, responded very happily.
He said it gave him great pleasure, in the presence of this vast throng of his fellow-citizens, to welcome his distinguished friend back to the soil of
Virginia.
He had no apprehensions that the proposed exchange of prisoners would be refused.
The Government could well afford to give up half a dozen
Elys for such a trade as this.
[A voice, Orregiment of Eiys!!!] Yes, said the
Governor, a regiment of such men for one like
Mr. Faulkner.
When he read the news from
Europe, in the
Northern papers, on the previous night, he agreed with
John R. Edmunds, to pray devoutly that God would
Lincoln backbone!
If the
Federal Government had the nerve to stand up to their professions, he expected to hear that New York,
Philadelphia, and
Boston, would be bombarded in turn.
The Governor spoke a few more encouraging words to the people, and closed by refferating his welcome, as the representative of the sovereignty of the
State, to the distinguished gentleman who had just addressed them.
The
Mayor was again called out, and closed the public ceremonies with a patriotic address.
Mr. Faulkner was subsequently intercourse at the residence of
Governor Letcher.
