Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-13
THE PRESIDENT AND THE VIRGINIA.
DELEGATION.


Marshall, A. r. Grafton, A. G.. Pendleton,
and w. T. Jones. They are gentlemen OF
acknowledged ability, and il is claimed that
they fully represent the State geographically
and politically, being from the north, south
east, and west Virginia, and every shade OF
past and present politics. james Marshall,
a venerable looking gentlemen, is nephew
Of the celebrated Chief Justice Marshall.
Messrs. Marshall Grafton, and Judge
Jaynes are among the ablest lawyers Of
the State Mr.. Baldwin, Speaker of the
House of Delegates as Chairman Of the
Committee, presented the resolutions and
delivered the following address in behalf
Of the Committee:
Mr.. President: We are committee OF
Senators and Delegates sent TO present you,
III person, certain resolutions which have re-
ceived the unanimous approval Of the Gem
eral Assembly Of Virginia. e..'
We come as representatives sent by one of
the States Of this Union, 10 confer with our
Constitutional President in regard 10 matters
affecting the common Government, and,
therefore, OF interest to all the States and to
all the people. We come TO you, Mr.. Pres
ident for the reason that you recognize our
common interest in the Government under
which we live, and because thus far, we have
been denied the Constitutional measures of
communication BY which other States and
other people make known their opinions,
purposes and feelings in the councils of the
nation. -. f.s IL
In declaring that the people of Virginia
and their Representatives accept and abide
by the results Of the late contest, and that
they intend in good faith to meet all the OBJ
legations thereby incurred, the General As
sembly expressed sentiment and a purpose
which has been uniformly recognized by our
people. individually and en- masse, and in
regard 30 which there is- no hesitation or
division in all Virginia. Chief among the
results thus accepted is the universal con-
viction that the Union of these States is an
accomplished fact and that the future Of our
people is indissolubly bound up for veal or
woe with the success or failure of the Gov
eminent Of the United States We recognize
the Government as our Government, its
its Constitution AS our Constitution
and the duties which it promises
as our rights. Another great result, alike
accepted by our people, is the final over
throw of tie institution Of slavery. This
has been compelled by a constitutional
amendment, the binding force of which is
usually admitted, for although we are not
represented in the Congress BY which il was
proposed, the failure to be so represented
was our own choice
The condition OF the freedmen among us
and the policy to be adopted with regard to
them, viii be recognized by you as calling
for the exercise OF the highest faculties of the
statesman and the best feeling of the Chris
tisn philantlropist. thtE " $50
The General assembly Of Virginia is en-
gagged earnestly in the consideration of these
subjects, and in anticipation Of the results of
their labors we can only say that whatever
policy is adopted, will be addressed in good
iaith and with kindly feelings TO the inn
provefneht OF the physical, intellectual and
moral condition Of our freedmen. You can
understand, and will readily believe, that
the feelings Of our people towards those freed
men are those of kindness, sympathy and
good will, and that 10 treat them with harsh
ness or injustice is opposed as much 10 our
feelings as il is TO our interests and our sense
Of right. The policy proposed by you, Mr..
President, toward Virginia and other States
in like condition, has Us strong foundation
in broad and comprehensive views Of consti-
tutional right and of national policy, and
must look for its ultimate success on the con-
sentative sense of justice Of all the States.
1t is due, however, 10 you and To
our people 10 assure you, that when
our General Assembly declares the approval
of that policy by the people of Virgins,
they expressed what each one of his COM
mitsee here knows TO be living truth. It
happens that yonr position places you be-
tween as and threatened danger, and the
General Assembly have but given voice to
the real feelings Of our people, when they
tender to you the warmest thanks Of Yir-
ginia for the firm stand You have taken
against the facility with which il is pro-
posed te change the fundamental law We
would not, however, claim AZ the only or
chief merit Of the course you are taking,
that il affords 10 us protection in a time Of
trouble. II is as n defender Of the general
Constitution that you deserve and command
the confidence and respect Of the people of
the United States, and il viii hereafter be
remembered as your highest claim TO the
character Of a republican statesman, that
under all the trying circumstances by which
you are surrounded you have not only pro-
claimed the Constitution of the United
states 70 be the supreme law of this land,
but have defended il alike from violation
and from innovation. os f.f
The following is the response Of the Pres
ident 10 the Virginia delegation. fia.t
Gentlemen To the resolutions you have
Just presented 10 me, and the clear and forci-
Bile and ccncise remarks which you have
made in explanation Of The position Of Vir-
ginia, / shall not attempt 20 make formal
speech, bat simply enter into plain CONVEX
sation in regard to The condition OF thingsin
which we stand as premise to what may
say. Permit me frst TO tc Jder You my thanks
for this visit, and next to express the graft
hcation feelon meeting so many intelligent
responsible and respectable geatlcmen Of
Virgins, bearing to me the sentiments which
have bees expressed in the resolutions Of
your legislature, and In the remarks which
accompany them. They are, so far as they
refer 70 the Constitution, the sentiments and
principles embraced in that charter OF the
Government The preservation OF the Union
has been, from my entrance into public life,
one of nay cardinal tenets At the very in
cipiency. OF the rebellion, set my face
against The Observance Of the anion Of the
States.
do not make ths allusion for the pur-
pose OF bringing up anything which has
transpired which may be regarded as Of an
unlind or unpleasant character, bat i be-
lieved then as ! believe now, and rs you
have most Enthusiastically indicated, that Sc
curly and protection OF the rights of all
people were 70 be found ia the Union, but
not out of il. Upon this conviction based
my opposition TO the efforts which we're
made 10 destroy the Union.
nae 49,
When the people send such men in good
faith they are entitled 10 representation
through them. In going into the recent re-
bellion or insnrreciion against the Govern
ment Of the United States you erred, anee., in
returning and resuming your relations with
the Federal Government, i ana free to say
that all other responsible positions and
places ought to be conferred distinctly and
clearly 70 men who are loyal. Iftsers were
5000 men in State or less numbes. Int
Sufficient 10 take charge Of the political
machinery Of the State, those 5000 men or
the lesser number are entitled 10 II. II AL
the rest shonld be otherwise included, J look
upon Il n being fundamental that the exs
ercise Of political powers shall be confined
TO ioyal men, and regard Il As implied in
the doctrines laid down IN these resolutions.
and in the eloquent address by which thew