Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-09-21
Southern visitors.

The papers have fun report of President
Johnson's reply to a delegation Of gentlemen
from nearly all the Southern States. Mr.. Mac
FARLAND, an eminent citizen and courteous
gentleman Of Richmond, was spokesman on the
occasion, and assured the President of a full
and hearty acquiesoenci in his policy Of reunion.
The President expressed his qualification at
the visit in feeling terms; and at some length.
The subioined notice. viii give the reader
am 6lea Of his views;
"Hs spoke Of his antecedent position before
the civil war. sHe had urged his southern
brethren TO remain in the Union and there to
contend for their constitutional rights. He felt
10 ,SS their only safety and protection. He
mad always been for recognition of all the con-
Stitutonal rights of the slaveholding States.
and believed they could have been preserved
in the Union If the issue had been made I'm the
forum instead Of the field. He himself had
been a Shareholder but he had made up his
mind If the issue ever narrowed itself down 10
the Union and slavery that slavery must go and
the Union be saved He had confidence in the
expressions Just uttered of devotion to the res
so generally evinccd, and he was assured that
the disposition was to aid in building up the
waste places of the South and restoring peace
and happiness, good viii and Union Tie did
not believe the sensation letter-wTiterS and edi-
tors who were endeavoring 70 create the impress
sion that there exists in the South disaffection
and dissatisfaction, for the presence of so many
eminentand distinguished gentlemen, represent
Ian f.,fH u
the fact, and gave the lie TO their peStilent and
malignant utteranceS He hod oo,,6lanoe an
the professions of the people Of the South, and
of their purpose to restore the Union upon the
principles of the Constitution, and he hoped
and believed they were ready TO come up and
rally around the Union and the Constitution
The feud existing was family quarrel, and
the ties of friendship, now it was ended. he
trusted would be stronger aud more enduring
than ever The mission of this great people
was high and holy, and in the Union only could
the purposes Of its people and free government
be administered
In noticing the action Of the President to-
wards the South, the Richmond Republic says :
Thank Heaven daylight is making itself
manifest even to the most incredulous EYES,
The true American heart OF the President, which
has always beat in harmony with freedom and
happiness Of all parts Of his country, can no
longer be stigrnatizCd even by embittered politi-
cal foemcn as inclined to the oppression and
degradation Of any section of the Republic It
only remains for patriots everywhere to support
the President in his lofty and infexible purpose
10 make the American Union all it was before
the hand Of violence had assaulted its integrity,
and to cultivate that mutual confidence and
good win, not only between the President and
the people but between the people Of the va
rious States, which are essential to the full and
complete work Of restoration. Let the past be
buried let us all look to the future. and labor
TO transmit to our posterity the same glorious
heritatage of freedom, the same grand and pow
crful Republic, which we received from the
hands of our fathers