Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-08
IMPORTANT SPEECH OF THE rREsr
He Defines his Pssitisn-Interview Of
Delegation from MsRtano.

IMPORTANT SPEECH OF The fhksi.
DENT.
He Defines his Pssitien-Intervtew Of .
Delegation from MsEtano.
Yesterday morning, large number OF the
citizens of Montana Territory now in Wash
inton city called on the President b. NJ. Pin
ney, Esq, U. s. Marshal for the Territory,
Chief Justice Hssmer, General Barrows, and
twenty five or thirty others, were among the
number.
OF the delegation.
The President replied as follows:
GENTLENkS: IL IL no ordinary pleasure for
me 10 meet you here on this occasion and 70
hear the sentiments you have announced. To
receive so large and respectable q body OF
intelligent gentlemen from that remote region
OF the country from which you come is ex-
utmeiy graufying TO me. In response, sir,
addressing Mr.. Pinney,) 20 the eloquent man
ner which you have ex pressed the sentiments
ana feelings of those you represent on this
occasion, might content myself with simply
returning my thanks for Your kind q pressions
but you nave made some allusiens 10 which
unoer me cirenmstances which surround us,
cannot be indlnerent You have alluded 10 the
great principles of our Goyernment haxinS
been enunclsted by me IN a PAPER sent a ,horf
time since TO the Congress of the United States
The declaration by me Of those principles WIS
not the result of impulse Ii was the result %
a thorough and calm consideration OF those
fr' al iIuihs which lie at the foundations OF an
ir'c roNrrnmCnis. Those who Understood
'hC;C truths, and have laid them down "a
n r luioc, cannot fail to understand the doc
.f.Ec tnUnciaird in the message. IL is not
Necessary 10 inquire whether they emanate
ilUm 'bis man or that man. Those who UNDER
s!aEd and believe in those principles, no mat
ter from what standpoint they look AZ them
VIII md themselves involuntarily, and imper-
cepuoly II may be, but surely coming together
IN all great struggles that may take place IN re-
gard TO them; while those who disclaim them
who are willing TO repudiate them, and set
them at naught, will be found disintegrating
and travelling in a divergent direction For
this reason there may be many now coming
together without any previous concert or ar.
raHgement, but lmperceptibly, because thew
agree on the same great principles. I think,
gentlemen, there is no one who can mistake
the great cardinal principles that are Iaid
down in that message. They comprehend and
embrace the principles upon which the Cow
eminent rests, and upon which, TO be success
full, IL must be administered. 1 care not by
what name the party administering the Gov
ernment may be denominaied-the Union
party, the Republican party, the Demo-
cratic party, or whatnot-no party can
administer the Government successfully
unless il is administered upon the great
principles laid down in that paper
You would meet with about the same success
in attempting 10 carry on the Government upon
any other principles than those which are
found in the Constitution as you would N You
should take hold of piece of machinery that
had been constructed and trained 70 run har-
moRiously in one direction, and attempt by re
verse action TO run 1t in the opposite direction.
i say again that think no one can mistake the
doctrines Of that message Ii is very easy for
persons 10 mlsrepresent il, and to make asser-
tions that this, that or the other had taken
place, or will take place; out think i may be
permitted 10 say 10 you on this occasion that,
taking all my antecedents, going back 20 nv
advent into polucal Lire, and continuing down
to the present time, the great cardinal prn-
ciples set forth in that paper have been my
constant and unerring guide. After having
gone so far, II is impossible for me to turn and
take q different direction. They will be NV
guide from this time onward, and those who
understand them may know where 1 shall al
ways be found when principle is IN voiyed.
Here let me say to you, in order 10 disabuse
the public mind as far as il is possible for an
indlvidusl % 70 do SO, & tnat my public career is
glass has well-nigh run ont. IL / were dis
posed TO refer TO myselE might trace my Ca
and a mayor in village, then through both
branches of the State Legislature, then tor ten
consecutive years in the National House of
Representatives, then through the gubernato-
rial chair to the senate of the United statss.
then provisional governor, with a slight par
ticipation in military affairs, then Vice Presi-
dent, and now in the position OCCUPY before
you; and now in this position, il 1 can be in
strumental in restoring the Government of the
United States. in restoring TO their true position
in the Union those States whose relations TO the
National Government have been for a time IN :
terrupted by one OF the most gigantic rebellions
that ever occurred In the world, 80 that we
can proclaim once more that we are united
people, shall feel that the measure OF nv am
bition has been filled, and filed To oyerfowIng-
and at that point, If there be any who are en-
yious and jealous Of honor and position, I shall
be prepared TO make them as polite a bow as 1
know how, and thank them TO take the place 1
have occupied, for my mission will have been
fulfilled.
In saying this, in the performance of nv duty,
and in response 10 the encouragement Won have
given me, feel that I am in a condition not 20
be arrogant, not to feel imperious or supercili-
Gus. L feel that can afford 10 do right and so
feeling, God being willing, / intend 70 do right,
and so far as in me lies / intend 20 administer
this Government upon the principles that lie
al the foundation Of IL.
i can inform all aspirants who are trying TO
form their combinations for the future, who
want to make one organization for one mr.
pose, and another for another, that they are not
in nv way; am not a candidate for any posi-
ton, and hence repeat can afford TO do right
and, being in that condition, / will do right i
make this announcement for the purpose OF let
ung all know that my work is 10 restore the Gov
ernment-not 70 make combinations with any
reference TO any future candidacy for the Presi-
dency Of the United States. / have reached
the utmost round my race is run. so far as that
is concerned, my object is TO perform NV duty
and that will endeavor to do.
Let MS all, then, Join in this great work Of res
toratlon; and while we restoring and re-
pairing the breaches that have been made let
us also unite in the work of making new States
and populating them with a people who are
WorIny OF the government that protects them,
and let those new State governments be found
ed on principles in harmony with the rreat
machinery devised by our fathers. So far as
ieEhus any alo OF asslstince that can be given
here in the progress and in the CONTAMINATION
Of this great work OF building mn new States
as well as in the restoration Of all the former
States, you will find me n willing and cordial
helper.
Gentlemen, j did not expect this demonstra-
ton, but you will please accept nv thanks for
the compliment You have paid me on this oc-
casion, and the encouragement you have given
me in the discharge of my duty.
All can say in conclusion rs 10 assure Won
that any assistance you ray need from this
quarter will be most cheerfuIly given 70 ad-
vance the interests OF the community you rep
resent.
SINGULAR CASE OF TRANCE-A lady re-
siding within sixteen miles Of Raleigh (sAys
the Progress,) who has been in delicate health
since the loss of her husband in 1853 died last
Friday (as was supposed,) and friends in the
neighborhood proceeded TO take the steps usual
on such occasions. The coffin was ordered
the corpse shrouded and laid out, and all need
m tod for he