The southern press., 1851-07-02
WEDNESDAY. JULY q, 1861.
rhs rrssIdent's Southern Tsur.


and speeches of the late Presidential tour into
Virginia. We have been struck with surprise
and shame at the complimentary and syco-
phantic spirit and tone with which Virginians
have saluted a President aud cabinet, which
supported system of measures that dishonou
the State Of Virginia in the face of the world
These men, in Virginia, who are 80 much de-
lighted at seeing the PRESIDENT, have, the most
Of them, just been excluded by the PREspENr's
policy from their share Of a vast domain, on ac-
count Of the depravity and disrepute of their
own institutions, their own system of society.
The address of the president of the Virginia
constitutional convention, is immeasurably su-
perior, in propriety and taste to any thing we
have seen on the occasion--and we therefore
insert it. with the reply.
Messrs. Miller and Watts, on behalf of the
committee on the part Of the convention, then
appeared in the centre aisle, escortinQ the Pre-
sident OF the United States, accompanied by the
Secretary of the Interior and the Postmaster
General.
The convention received the President stand.
ing, when Mr.. Miller said: "Mr President, |
have the honor to introduce to you the President
of the United States"
The president Of the convention then said !:
eMr President: 1t gives me great salts
faction, in obedience to the order Of the conven-
ton, to bid you welcome to the hall of it's delb.
erations. Virginia was the first of the Amer-
can States to establish civil liberty by the adop-
ton of written constitution. She was one of
the most earnest in securing to the States of the
Confederncy, for the benefit of all the same
great principle, by means of the Federal Con-
stitution.
Representing the people of the common
wealth in her sovereign capacity, her delegates
in convention, charged with the high duty of re-
vising her fundamental law, have not hesitated to
avail themselves of the occasion of your visit, to
testify their high appreciation of your personal
worth, and to eyince the respect Justly due to the
exalted official station to which, under the fed
eral Constitution, your countrymen have called
you.
"As our great corfederacy increases in terri.
toral extent, in population, and in diversified in
terests, the duties of the Presidential office grow
in Importance, and the necessity becomes more
manifest of executing the law Of the Constitu-
ton in the spirit of its adoption.
ain every patriotic endeavor to perform this
momentous duty, as good citizens loving our
countrysw we wish you the most complete success.
81 aEBHgratifed that you have found even a
brief interval of leisure to visit Virginia. See
ing her people, and receiving, as am sure vou
will, every where at their hands, the respect and
hospitality due to so distinguished citizen, and
TO public servant charged with such respons
ible duties, yoar association cannot fail to exert
most beneficial influence for the public good
81 am happy to receive you and to present
you to the convention of Virginia"
The President of the United States replied:
Mr.. President: This reception is to me so
unexpected and novel that feel that have no
adequate language to express the emotions ofmy
heart. To look around upon the representatives
of the sovereignty of Virginia, congregated for
the purpose of revising her organic law-of doing
for that State what is done by force in all other
countries bu America--is qualification, is sa-
tlstaction which have no language to express.
To receive this honor in the capital Of Virginia,
the birth place of Washington, Jefferson, and
Madison, and where their ashes still repose-
the birth place and residence of Marshall, where
his ashes also repose. is to me a sincere gratif-
cation.
"That shall receive from the inhabitants of
the Old Dominion, and those representing her,
under all circumstances, all needful aid in the
iaitiiul dsSldfHt VI tly Qul1, 1 CAIl never LOT
momont doubt The State that first formed
written constitution, trust, will be the last to
abandon it. The State which has at all times
given such generous support to the Union,
trust will be the last to abandon II. The State
to which we have all looked for the interpreta
tion Of the great charter of our liberties, is thu
State certainly that should be the last to abandon
it.
"it ia qualification to meet the represents ia
tives of such State upon an occasion like this
for which ! beg leave to return my heartfelt
thanks" [Great applause
The President was then placed In seat o.
the right of the president of the convention.
On motion, of Mr.. Miller, the chair was tber
vacated at the pleasure of the president of tn,
convention.
The president of the convention remarked
that during the recess it would give him great
pleasure to introduce members personally to
the President of the United States; whereupon
the members came forward and were according.
Iy presented, except one gentleman, supposed
TO be of the Calhoun school.
When the president again resumed the chair
on motion of Mr.. Bolts, the convention ad
journed until tomorrow morning at o'clock
Mr.. STUART, the Secretary of the interior
was introduced to the people of Richmond, iron
the portico Of the capital, and ade remarka
bic address, as appears, from the following
Mr.. Mcfarland then said:
IL know, -felow-citizens, upon this occa
sion, shall perform most grateful and accept
able service in introducing to you one of our
own bonored and distinguished fellow-ctizens
MIR. Stuart, the secretary of the able and dis
tngushed man whom we have had the honor
just to hear. | introduce to you, gentlemen
Mr.. Stuart.
He was welcomed with voeiferops cheering
which, having subsided, Mr.. Stuart spoke as fol.
lows:
"FELLow-cITIz II feel MS if II were
somewhat unkiDd in my distinguished friend "a
present me thus unexpectedly before you.
came here not 10 participate in the enthusiastic
ceremonial which we are now witnessing, but
TO be silent spectator and instructed auditor
You must excuse me, my iellow-citizens, ron
Il. L st.s A