Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-02-16
Washington Matters.
Washington, Feb. 10

! " dSIl1uSIOu MdVtST6.-
Washington, Feb. 10. =
/ This aAcrno0n a committee from the
Senate and House Of Delegates of the
| State of Virginia called upon the Presi-
| dent for the purpose of presenting him
with resolutions adopted by. the General
Assembly of Virginia.
The following gentlemen constituted the
committee from the Senate:
Messrs. +. F. Keen, A. s. Corning and
Dale Carter.
From the House of Delegates
Messrs. John b. Baldwin, James Mar
SHALL A. II. Craken, A. G. Pendlcton and
w. T. Jones.
They are gentlemen Of acknowledged
ability and it is claimed represent the state
geographically and politically.
Mr.. Baldwin, Speaker of the House Of
Delegates, as chairman of the Committee.
presented the resolutions, and delivered
the following address in becalf of the
Committee
Mr.. President
We are committee of Senators and
Delegates sent to present you in person a
set of resolutions which have received the
unanimous approval of the General AS
scmbly of Virginia. We come as repre- :
sentatives sent by enc of the States of
this Union. tn confer with our constitution
al President in regard to matters affecting
the common government, and, therefore,
of interest to all the States and all the
people.
We come to you, Mr.. President, for the
reason that you recognize our common in
forests N tb,. mt t,,l,,r II,
live. and because thus far we have been
denied the constitutional measures Of COM
nunication of which other States and other
people make known their opinions, pur-
poses and feelings, in the councils of the
nation.
In declaring that the people of Virginia
and their representatives accept and atidc
by the results of the late ro"...- "na uiat
they intend III good faith to meet all the OBJ
legations thereby incurred, the General
Assembly express the sentiment and pur-
pose which have been uniformly recognized
by our people. individually and in masses,
and in regard to which there is no hesita-
ton or division in all Virginia.
Chief among the results thus accepted
is the universal conviction that the Union
of these States is an established aud Gu
during fact. and that the whole future Of
our people is bound up for veal or woe
with the success or failure of the Govern
ment of the United States. We recognize
that government, its constitution as our
constitution. The duties which it prom
ises are our ri gh:s. and another great re-
suit alike accepted by our people is the
final overthrow Of slavery.
The President in reply sad:
9 Gentlcmcn,-To the resolutions YOU
which You have made. | shall not attempt
to make a formal speech, hut simply enter
into a plain conversation in regard to the
condition of things. When opposition to
the Government came from one section of
the country. stood as stand now, con-
tending for the Union, as asscyeratins the
best and surcst way to obtain our rights
and protect our interests, was to remain in
the Union, under the protection of the
Constitution. We were at one period
separated. The separation was to me
painful in the extreme hut now, after
having gone through struggle i'll which
the powers of the South have been tried
where we have swung around to a point
where meet to agree, and are willin. to
mite our efforts for the preservation of
the Government. which believe is the
best in the world-it is exceedingly graft
flying to me to meet You tn day, standing
upon common ground. rallying around the
Constitution and the Union OF the States.
the preservation Of which. as | conscicn-
tionSly and honestly believe, vii. result in
the promotion and advancement Of this
4 II
intention to comply with every single
principle laid downlu the resolutions you
have submitted. We only can become
great and prosperous as people by mu-
tual forbcarance and confidence. when
the people send loyal men, in good faith.
they are entitled to representation through
them
The President concluded his remarks by
sayiug:
"Gentlcmen.-I shall confirms. to pur-
sue the same line Vi policy which / have
pursued frou, the Acknowledgement of the
rebellion to the present time. Ny efforts
have been to preserve the Union of the
States. never for single moment en-
tcrtained the opinion that State could
withdraw from the Union from its own
will. That attempt was made and it
failed. ] shall continue to pursue the same
line of policy that has been nv constant
guide. cannot take I, he position that IL
State which attempted to sccede is out of
the Union, when | contcnded all the time
that 1t could not so out. and that it never
has been out. cannot he forced into that
position, hence when the State and their
people shall have complied with the re-
quircments of the Government, shall be-
in favor its admission.