Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-02-16
The Virginia Legislature Delegation Before
the Committee OH Reconstruction.

the Committee on Reconstruction.
When Mr.. KEEN. the chairman Of i JIG fsas Sen
ate Committee, in giving his report Of their
mission to Washington, stated that the report
Of the proceedings Of the joint committee as
given in the journals was correct, he meant
81 statement to apply only to the interview
he committee and President John
8 it to any account appearing i'll any
NJ ~ Of the testimony given by the
members Of the committee before the Com
mittee of Reconstruction Of the United States
Congress-
The facts Of the case, 80 near as we have
been able TO gather thern, are these: After
the interview between President Crimson and
the committee, a formal summons, sgned by
Mr. Fessenden, chairman OF the United States
Committee on Reconstruction, was serve
upon al the me;aaeEsssf the Virginia Com
lnittee except pn by the Sergeant
cct.-Arrits.
committee TO calll1Blsqe them persons and
papers, and the members of the Virginia
Committee accordingly waited upon Mr..
7 ssenden Mrsaiarshall was detained by
sickness, and by no other cause.
Mr. Fessenden informed the Virginia Com
mittee that the matter had been referred to a
subcommittee of three, Of which MIR. How
ard was chairman. - Committee there
upon went to the cda room, and met
Mr.. Howard Mr. IN er asked to be
examined first; whicls edto. His tes-
timony was given in -, after
which he left. Mr.. Joy exam
med separately. Mr.. Ora Commit
tee, and was not examined sAfter the ex-
animation of Mr. Jovnes, the further pro-
ceedings were carried on in the same room.
There were present Mr. Baldwin, Mr.. Keen,
Mr.. Grattan, and Mr.. Joynes.
Mr.. Grattan, on being asked whether a
jury could be found in Virginia who would
find Jefferson Davis guilty Of treason, said
no.; but afterward qualified the remark by
saying that as Richmond had always con-
tanned large number Of Union men, such a
jury might be found When M. Grattan
gave this opinion, before qualifying it as
above, Mr. Joynes rose and said he differed
in opinion with him. No other member Of
the committee spoke. Subsequently Mr..
Baldwin said. during his examination, in an
swer to the same question. that ninety nine
Virginians out Of every hundred had agreed
with Mr.. DAVIS in opposing the Federal
Government ! that thar cause had been his
pause !; and that it Sohld consequently be a
painful thing to give such verdict; but
that. as men of honor, under instruction
from the court, they would give verdict in
accordance with their oath as Jurors, however
painful it might be.
Mr. BALDWIN was further interrogated
as to his interview with Mr.. LINCOLN in April,
1861, and answered as follows: That he had
a private interview with Mr.. LINCOLN, and
that they had talked freely concerning the
state Of the country. Mr.. LINCOLN asked
why the Virginia Convention did not adjourn?
His reply was that, although there was a
Union majority in the Convention, they
would not adjourn while ignorant of the
plans for the adjustment Of our SECTIONAL DIFF
fculties lie had also said that if he had
Mr.. LINcoLN's power he could settle the dis
affection in fifteen minutes by Withdrawing
the troops from Sumter and Pickens, and
by calling convention Of ali the States.
Mr. LINCOLN had replied that be would do
this. Mr.. HOWARD said that he felt certain
that Mr.. LINCOLN never had promised to
withdraw betroops from Sumter as an in
ducement to the Virginia Convention to ad-
journ, for he would have been swept from
his seatby the indignant people of the North.
Mr.. BALDWIN replied that his memory was
good, and that such was his impression but
that as he was alone with Mr.. LINCOLN on
that occasion, and there was no one now to
rebut his testimony, he would not give it as
anything more than an impression left upon
his mind.
The proceedings, although formal, were
marked by good temper and cordially, and
the Virginia Committee and the Sub-Com-
nlittee on Reconstruction separated with re-
ciprocal kindness and courtesy.
Another Important Speech from the pFesl-
dent.
On Wednesday morning large number of
the citizens of Montana Territory, now in
Washington city, called on the President.
r M Pinnev. ESQ. United States Marshal