The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-13
The DISPATCH BJtrLDrNa Is ON Go
VERNON STREET, NEAR 10 MAIN, AND
NEARLY oPposrTE THE OLD DISPATCH
CORNER.
The Virginia Legislative Delegation Before ths
Committee on Reconstruction.

When Mr.. KEEN, the chairman Of the
senate 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 that statement to apply only to the
interview between the committee and Presi-
JOHNSON. and not to any account appearing in
any newspaper Of the testimony given by
the members of the committee before the
Committee Of Reconstruction OF the United
States Congress.
The facts of the case, so near rs we have
been able to gather them, are these: After the
interview between President JOHNSON ana the
committee, formal summons, signed by mr..
FHssESpEy, chairman, of the United States
Committee on Reconstruction, was served
upon all the members of the Virginia Com
mittee except Mr.. PgSDLgrox by the Ser
gcant-at-Arms.
The summons cited the authority Of that
committee to call before them persons and
papers, and the members Of the Virginia
Committee accordingly waited upon Mr.
FHssESDES. Mr.. MARSHALL was detained by
sickness, and by no other cause.
Mr.. FRssESpES informed the Virginia Com
mittee that the matter had beer referred to
subcommittee of three, of which Mr.. HOWARD
was chairman. The Committee thereupon
went to the committee-room, and met Mr..
HOWARD. Mr.. DALE CARTER asked TO be ex-
amned first; which was agreed to. His
testimony was given in q private room after
which he left. Mr.. JoYSEs was next examined
separately. Mr.. GEAr left the Committee, and
was not examined. After the examination of
Mr.. JoYNEs, the further proceedings were
carried on in the same room. There were
present Mr.. BALDWIN, Mr.. KEEN, MIR. graf
TAN and Mr.. JoYSEs.
Mr. GRArrAS, on being asked whe Their jury
could be found in Virginia who would find
JEFFERSON DAVIS guilty of treason, said no; ;
but afterward qualified the remark by saying
that rs Richmond had always contained
large number of Union men, such jury might
be found When Mr. GRATTAy gave this
opinion, before qualifying 1t as above, Mr.
JorSEs rose and said he differed in opinion
with him. No other member Of the committee
spoke. Subsequently Mr. BALDWIN said, du-
ring his examination, in answer to the same
question, that ninety mine Nirginians out OF
every hundred had agreed with Mr.. DAVIS in
opposing the Federal Government; that their
cause had been his cause and that it would
consequently be painful thing to give such 4
verdict; but that, as men Of honor, under in
struction from the court, they would give a
verdict in accordance with their oath as jurors,
however painful it might be.
Mr. BALDWIN was further Intercepted as TO
his interview with Mr.. LINCOLN in April
1861, and answered as follows: That he had
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 Union
majority in the Convention, they would not
adjourn while ignorant Of the plans for the
adjustment of our sectional difficulties. He
had also said that if he had Mr.. LINcoLN's
power he could settle the disaffection in fifteen
minutes by withdrawing the troops from
Sumter and Pickens, and by calling conven-
ton of all the States. Mr.. LINCOLN had re-
piled that he would do this. Mr.. HOWARD said
that he felt certain that Mr.. LINCOLN never had
promised TO withdraw the troops from Sumter
as an inducement to the Virginia Convention
to diourn, for he would have been swept from
his seat by 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 rebu his
testimony, he would not give it as any
thing more than an impression left upon mis-
mind.
The proceedings, although formal, were
marked by good temper and cordialty, and
the Virginia Committee and the Sub-Com-
mittee on Reconstruction separated with
reciprocal kindness and courtesy.