New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-12
PRESIDENTIAL INTERVIEW.
Visit Of the Virginia DCIegaticn'
THE ADDRESS AND TEE REPLY
WASHINGTON saturday. Feb. 10. Ise6.

upon President johnson for the purpose OF presenting
bIm with resolutions adopted by The Dehela Assembly
oi Virginia.
The followinguamed gentlemen constituted the Com
nittee; g. o
From the Honse OF Delegates-Messrs John j. Bald
win james Marshall 4. X. Grattan y. u. Pendie'on
and Wm. T. JOvnes.
They are gentlemen Of acknowledged ability and " Is
claimed fully represent the state geographlea! ha
politically, being from North, South, East anu W. vi
Virginia and Of every shade Of past and present poh'
ties. ~ :; -
james Marshall. yenerablelooking gentleman is a
nephew of the celebrated ChefJustlce niaIshd'L
Aessrs Marshall and Gratian anu JuuSe 'Vl "oo "i'
among the abest lawyers OF the state. .
Mr. BALDWIN Speaker Of the House OF Delegates, as
Chairman cf the Committee presented the resolutions
and delivered the following address IN bthhn OF the
Committee:
ADDRESS OF MR.. BALDWIN.
Nh. PRESIDENT We are a Committee of Sen
nors and delegates sent TO present 10 fou In person GER
tain resolutions which have received the unanimous ap
proya of the General Assembly of Virginia We come
ms Representatives sent by one of the states Of TINS
Union 10 confer with our Constitutional President nre-
gard 10 matters affecting the common Government
and therefore Of interest 10 all the states ana al the
people.
We come 10 you. Mr. President, for the reason that
YOU recognize our common interest IN the Government
Under which we live, snd because thus far we have
been denied the constitutional measures Of comDunica-
tion BY which other States and other people make
known their opinions, purposes and ietAhSs IN ihc
In declaring that the people Of Virginia and their
representatives accept and abide by the results o the
late contest and that they intend M e0od lih 10 hee'
all the obligations thereby incurred the Genera Az
semby expresses sentiment and purpose WLch nave
been uniformly recognized by our people individually
and in and IN regard TO NDch NeIe - 10 beSI
fatiOn OF division in all virginia.
Chief among the results thus accepted is the unlyer-
sal conviction that the Union Of these states is an
estabsh she'd and on enduring fact, and that the whole
future Of our people ndissoluby bound up for veal
woe with tie success or failure of the Government
Of the United States We recognize that Government
as our Government Its Constitution is our COnsu-
tuition The duties which il promises are our nights.
Another great result alike accepted by our people is
She final overthrow Of the institution OF Slavery ms
has been completed by Constitutional Amendment,
tbe binding force Of which is universally admitted,
for although are not represented IN the Congress
by which u was proposed, Tie lallnle 10 De so rep
resented our own choice 1he condltloH OF me
freedmen among and the policy to be adopted with
regard 20 them will he recognized by you as calling for
the exercise of the highest faculties OF the states nan
and the best feelings Of the Christian phanthTopst
The General Assembly OF FlTgullis engaged edfletiV
in the consideration Of these subjects ana n antcl-
patton Of the results Of their aboIs We can only say
That whatever policy may be adopted VIII be adopted IN
good faith and with kind feeling 10 t1e improve
ment OF the physical intellectual and moral con.
dition Of our freedmen. You can understand and
viii readily believe that tic feelings OF Our people
toward these freedmen are those OF kIndndcs sym
patty and good viii, 6nd that n treat them VIII
harshness or injustice is opposed as much 10 our
feelings il is 70 oar interests. aId our sense q
night Tie policy pursued by yOu Nj. President 20.
weId Virginia and other States ID Ike CONDITION Los
its stTong foundation IN the broad and comprehensive
views OF Constitutional light and OF National pOcy
and must look for its Ultimate success upon tie con.
tesiive Of Justice Of the people Of al tie states
II is due however 10 you and to our people 10 assure
you that when our General Assembly Gt ciaes me Gp
pIoVal Of that policy by the people o! Vi eIia tey cx
press what each one Of this Committee here present
knows 10 be living truth. II happens at Jour posi-
ton places you between as and thIea. e-cd danger
and the General Assembly have but gyel voice 70 The
real feelings Of our people when they tender 60 you the
warmest thanks OF Vryina Tor tie firm stand ou have
taken against the facility with which q Is proposed 10
change the fundamental law. W WOI.l not however.
clam as tie only even tie cl!eime' OF the course
son taking that il affords 10 us protection ~ tine
VI trouble. II defender OF tie general Constitution
Mat you deserve and command Tie coHt.elce and sup
port Of the people Of the United States and = VIII be
hereafter remembered as yOur highest claim 20 TIE
character Of republican statesman HAT. undcr az flc
trying Circumstances by which YOU are surrounded ou
have only proclaimed the Constitution Of the United
States TO be the supreme law Of ns lanc, bu have &C.
ieLGed it alike from violation and innovation.
RESPONSE or THE PRESIDENT.
The PRESIDEHT-In reply, gentlemen. 10 Tie
resolutions yen have Just presented 10 me and tie clear
and f0eble and concise remarks which you have MADE
IN explanation Of the position Of virginia, shall not
sttemrt 10 make formal speech tut simply enter into
plain conversation in regard - tie condition OF things
ia which We stand As pfemise 10 what nay say,
permit trst 10 tender you my thanks for this Witt
and next 20 express the grattcdtOD feel in meeting
many intelligent responsible and respectable men Of
Virginia. bearing 10 re the sentiments which have
been expressed IN the resolutions Of your Leg stature
ard ID the remarks accompanying them. They are
lar they refer 10 the Constitution Of the eguutry the
ttDtimeIts and the principles embraced in the charter
of the Government The preservation OF tie Union has
been from ny entrance into Qnbc lie one q my eoFd
LaI tenets AT tie very inClpe1cy q the Rebellion,
set my face against the dissolution Of The Union Of the
State do n0t make this aLsion for The purpose Of
bringing anything which has ranspred which NAV be
regarded as If an unklnd or unpleasant char
sCteT; hut ] believed then. l believe now, and
you have most un'nisiakaby lndlcated that me Sc
cury and protection Of the rights Of all the people
10 be found in the n0D and i1at we were out OF IT,
UPON this conviction based my opposition TO the e
forts which were made 10 destroy the Union have
continued those efforts Notwithstanding the perils
through which have passed and you mol unaware
that the tIal has been severe one. When opposition
10 the Government cane ron one section OF the
tfy aud that the section in when my life had been
passed, and witt which ny Interests were Identified
stood es ] stand low, CoDterdng for the Union and
asfeTaig The best and s1resi way 10 obtain rights
md TO Iro.ect Interests 10 remain IN the Union
under the protection Of the Constitution. The ordeal
through which we have passed during tie ast four
five years demonstrates most cOnciuslyely that that
position was right; and to-day, after tie experiment
las been made and has failed. after the de-
moDstratiOn Las most eonclUslvely ator1ed
hat this Union cannot De dissolved, that
il was not designed 10 be dissolved il is extremely
gratifying to ne 10 meet gentlemen ar intelligent and
as responsible az yourselves who are willing and
aI1oIs 10 accept and do accept the terms laid down
ID the Constitution, and obedience 10 the Jaws made
pursuance thereof We were at one period separated
Tie separation was 10 painful in the extreme; but
now after having gone through struggle in which the
powers Of the Government have been tried, when we
have swung around 10 point at which meet TO
agree and are willing 10 unite our efforts for the
preservation Of the Government which i believe is
The best the world, II is exceedingly gratifying
to meet you 70 DAY, standing upon common ground,
and ISyLg around the Constitution and the Union OF
these States the preservsiion q which as consceEt
ous.y and honestly believe will result IN 81 promotion
and tie advancement oi this people. repeat am
gratIteG 70 meet you to-day, expressing TIC principles
and announcing the sentiments 10 which you
have gwen utteranoe and | trust thst tins Occ0.
tIOn VII long be remembered. have no doubt that
ycuI intention s 10 cary out and comply with every
sIDge principle laid down in the resolutions YOU have
ed tLni -.