Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-26
PRESIDENT JoHEsoK,s REPLY,

| To the Delegation From the Soldiers and Sail
| ors Convention Recently Held at Cleveland.
have no formal reply to make; but the
presentation of the record Of the dlngs OF
the Cleveland Convention is peculiarly accepta-
BILE in the present posture Of our public affairs.
To receive the encouragement ard expression
of confidence in me Of gentlemen so Intelligent
aud patriotic inspires me with renewed aud
increased zeal to progress III the discharge or
uIy duties. strictly adhcring to and maintain
ing the Constitution of the country. Nh. =
You have performed your part in the field i;
that has become portion of the history OF the
country. But, after having done. that, there
is. as YOU have just evinced, an important pa't
to perform as citizens, equal, If not SUPERIOR
to the service which you have rendered as
1 soldiers and sailors of the Union.
While the war was physical contest, (con-
nected, of course, with intellect and intelligence
as far as the science OF war IS concerned.) the
struggle now is purely OF d civil character, and
tur the establishment OF The basis on which
our institutions shall hereafter rest; and the
query comes up-a very serious one, think 1t
is-whether the genius nature and character
of our Government shall be perverted, or may
hap subvertcd, or whether 1t shall settle down
and he maintained on the basis and principles
Of the Constitution. .... ....... 49,,
1t is known to all Of you the part l. have
borne since the civil war cemm enced, both ID
the campaign end out OF it, and l must refer
YOU to that as evidence and proof OF what my
course and conduct will be in the future
have been cooperating with you in every
capacity in which you have been engaged since
The struggle commenced think we are now
at a most important crlsls IN the country S
history when we are to establish and tx a
substantial and enduring basis on which our
| institutions are to rest. We must return TO
constitutional limits, establish the great fact
that ours is q Government or limited powers
with written Constitution, with boundaries,
both national and State and that these llmlta-
| lions and boundaries must be observed aud
strictly respected If free government is to
exist; and, coming out Of arebeon VIC ought
to demonstrate to mankind that flee govern
ment caunot live on hate and dlslrust and With
| Ill will towards one another; and that the time
has come fur reconciliation and restoration OF
confidence, and the return OF the Southern
! States in all Of their relations to the Federal
Government, which [ look upon as cqaliy, if
nos more, important than all other work which
could now engages our attention ~ Lt't..
I have gentlemen, said more than | intcn-
oed TO say but | repeat, this encouragement,
countenancc, and confidence given to me, COM
ing from the sources they do, is peculiarly ac-
ccptablc to uIc; and God wiling and with
your help, | shall continue to pursue the course
! have been pursuing in trying to restore and
save the Government. -7~~.' ...-
Some oae has said that the founders Of gov
crnments are entitled TO the most conspicuous
places in history; but my conviction Is, that
those who preserve governments are entitled
to a higher honor But few who were living
when this Government was founded now re-
maio. Let us all perform our part according
to the theory and genius, of our Government,
and the result will be the preservation OF our
institutions; and we will take our places in his
tory wherever the pen of the historian may
assign hem to US. 49,: ID. '.
| PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS. The fol-
lowing is copy of the circular that has been
addressed by order of the President to deleea
tons and committees DESTROYS Of interviews in
regard to appointments to Federal Offices:
.. 49,. EXECUTIVE MANSION, -
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. 20 1866 .
SIR: I he President dire It's to acknowledge
the receipt of your note Of Yesterdays date and
to inform you that he would be pleased to
receive your committee did not the pressure of
public business compel him to decline all inter
views with committees or others whose sole
| purpose Is to present recommendations Tor
appointments to Office. He also nstructs me
TO say that all applications for Office submitted
in the ordinary way, or through the proper
departments, receive as prompt and considerable
attention as though formally placed in his hands
| by the applicants themselves or by others
| M boir holt I cir
fully yours, g.. -..... . ....-....... .... ...:,..
ROBERT JOHNSON, Private Secretary.
EDUCATION OF FREEDMEN.-lt is stated that
a letter has been addressed by the Right Rev.
A. Verot, Roman Catholic Bishop Of Savan-r
nah, to the clergy and laity Of his jurisdiction,
partly in relation to the matters to be discussed
before the Council Of Archbishops and Bish-
OPS, soon to be held in Baltimore, but more
particularly to inform them that one Of the OBJ
iects to be considered, and no doubt adopted,
will be the means Of difusing education and
religion among the emancipated slaves of the
| u Commenting upon this the Baltimore
transcript says: I'VE rejoice to see the Roman
Catholic Church preparing to engage in a work
which is receiving the profound attention Of all
| the religious denominations OF the South, and
to have the announcement Of this intention
from Southern Bishop so we'll and tavorably
known as the learned and pious DR.. Nerot. y
LABoE.-In reply to letter from Mr.. JAS.
E. Atkinson. one of the workingmen of Wash
ngton city, the Hon. Thos F. Bowie, OF Prince
Georges county, Nd, has written letter IA
vorabc to the interests of the mechanics, and
eulogistic Of labor, which he declares to be the
master cog-wheel in the worlds machinery"
He regrets that the subject Of labor has receiv-
ed so little attention hitherto, and in reference
to the eight hour system says: 1t appears to
me to be two edged sword that cuts both ways.
So far as the government is concerned, [ am free
to say that | think they should not make fish
of one and flesh of another. If eight hours