Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-12


INIERYdEW OF THE VIRGINIA DEL
The Addres. of the Delegation and Speech
of the President.
Reported especially for The Star by James O.
Clephane, Esq, of the firm Of Clephane &
Smith,
The Delegation deputed by the Virginia
Legislature to convey to the President of the
United States the resolutions approving his
reconstruction policy (Which were published
in our I'd edition yesterday were received by
him at the White House this morning
The committee consists Of eight members,
Messrs. f. +. Keen, A. S. Gray, and Dale Carter
from the Senate, and Messrs John b. Baldwin
Jas. Marshall, Z. X. Grattan, A. G. Pendleton,
and w. L. Joynes, from the House of Delegates
lhey are mostly gentlemen of acknow ledged
ability, and it is claimed fully represent the
State geographically and politically, being
from North, South, East and West Virginia
ana OF every shade OF past and present poll
tics. James Marshall, a venerable looking
gentleman, is nephew of the celebrated
Chief Justice of that name. Marshall, Graf
ian, and Judge Joynes are among the ablest
Mr. Baldwin, Speaker Of the House of Dele
gates, as chairman Of the committee, presented
the resolutions, and delivered the following
address on behalf Of the COMMITTEES:
ADDRESS OF MR.. BALDWIN
Mr. President: We are committee Of Sena.
tors and Delegates sent to present to you in
person, certain resolutions which have re-
celyed the unanimous approval of the General
Assembly of Virginia.
We come as representatives sent by one of
the States Of this Union to confer with our
Constitutional President in regard to matters
Affecting the common government, and there.
lore OF interest TO all the States and all the
people.
We come to you, Mr.. President, for the reason
that you recognize our common interest in the
Government under which we live and because
mus iar we have been denied the Constitu.
tIonal means OF communication by which other
States and other people make known their
opinions, purposes and feelings in the coun.
ellis Of the nation
In declaring that the people of Virginia and
thelr representatives accept and abide by the re.
suits OF the late contest, and that they intend in
good faith to meet all the obligations thereby
incurred, the General Assembly expresses 3
sentiment and purpose which have been uni
tormIy recognized by our people individually
and IN masses, and in regard to which there is
no hesitation or division in all Virginia.
Chief among the results thus accepted is the
universal conviction that the Union of these
States is an established and enduring fact and
that the whole future Of our people is indIs.
solubly bound up, for veal or woe, with the
success or failure of the Government of the
United States. We recognize that Gov ernment
as our Government. Its Constitution is our
Constitution; the duties which it requires are
our outies, and the rights which 1t promises
are our rights.
Another great result alike accepted by our
people is the final overthrow OF the institution
OF slavery. This has been completed by con-
sututional amendment the binding force of
which s universally admitted; for although
we were not represented In the Congress by
which II was proposed. the failure to be so rem.
resented was Of our own choice.
The condition Of the freedmen among us, and
tthe policy to be adopted with regard to them,
exercise of the highest faculties of the states.
man and the best feelings of the Christian NH
lanthropist. The General Assembly of Virginia
Is engaged earnestly IN the consideration of these
subjects. and in anticipation Of the results of
their labors, we can only say that whatever
policy may be adopted Will be addressed in
good fi,th and with kind feeling to the improve
ment OF the physical, Intellectual and moral
condition Of our freedmen.
You can understand and will readily believe
that the feelings of ou- people towards these
freedmen are those Of kindness, sympathy and
good will, and that to treat them with harsh
ness or injustice il opposed as lauch 10 our
feelings As II is to orr Interests and sense Of
right.
The policy pursued by you, MI President,
toward Virginia and other States liz like condi-
ton, has its strong foundation in broad and
comprehensive views Of constitutional right
and OF national policy, and must look for its
ultimate success upon the conservative sense
OF justice Of the people Of all the States. 1t il
due, however, to you and to orr people to as
sure you that when our General Assembly
declare the universal approval of tina. policy
by the people Of Virginia, they express what
TO be a living truth.
1t happens that your position places you be.
tween US and threatened danger, and the
General Assembly have but given voice to the
real feelings OF our people when they tender to
you the warmest thanks of Virginia for the firm
stand you have taken against the facility with
which u is proposed to change the fundamental
law. We would not, however, claim as the
only, or even the chief merit of the course YOU
are taxing, that 1t affords to us protection in
a time of trouble.
1t is as defender of the general Constitution
that you deserve and command the confidence
and support OF the people Of the United States
and 1t VIII be, hereafter, remembered as your
highest claim to the character of a Republican
statesman, that under all the trying ciTcum- |
stances, by which you are surrou nded Won
nave not only proclaimed the Constitution of
the United States to be the supreme law of this
land, but have defended it alike from violation
and frCm innovation.
The President replied as follows:
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
In reply to the resolutions which YOU have
Just presented, and the remarks you have
made, so forcible, so clear and so concise I
shall not attempt anything like formal ad-
dress, but will rather enter, it were. into a
and as premise to what NAV
say, you must permit me to tender my thanks,
first, for this visit, and next, for the gratfca-
ton afforded me in meeting with so many in.
tellgent responsible and respectable men
from the State you represent, bearing the sem
tments expressed in your resolutions, and in the
remarks accompanying them. They are as
far as they refer to the Constitution of the
country, the sentiments and the principles EN-.
Of the Union, as referred to- both in the resolu-
tons and in your remarks, has been from my
entrance into public life one of my cardinal
tenetsi and at the very commencement of this
rebellion (and do not make this remark for
the purpose Of bringing up anything that
tranSnirpd is mn ind In, ifc boz 4