Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-10
INTERVIEW OF THEyIRGINIA DEL.
EGATION WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The Address. of the Delegation and Speech
of the President.

Ii
The Address. of the Delegation and Speech
of the President.
Reported especially for The Star by James o.
Clephane, Esq, of the firm of Ciephane &c
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. L. +. Keen, A. 5. Gray, and Dale Carter
from the Senate, and Messrs John Il. Bald win,
Jas. Marshall, Z. II. Grattan, A. Ct. Pendleton,
and W. I. Joynes, from the House of Delegates.
They are mostly gentlemen of acknowledged
ability, and II is claimed fully represent the
State, geographically and politically, being
from North, South, East and West Virginia
and 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
tan, and Judge Joynes are among the ablest
lawyers of the State.
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 committee:
ADDRESS or MIR. BALDWIN.
Mr. President: We are committee Of Sena.
tors and Delegates sent to present to you in
person, certain resolutions which have re-
celved the unanimous approval of the General
Assembly of Virginia.
the States of this Union to confer with our
Constitutional President in regard to matters
Affecting the common government, and there
fore 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
thus far we have been desied the Constitu-
tional means of communication by which other
States and other people make known their
opinions, purposes and feelings in the CONN.,
ellis of the nation.
In declaring that the people of Virginia and
their representatives accept and abide by the re-
suits of the late contest, and that the intend in
good faith to meet AL the obligations thereby
incurred, the General Assembly expresses a
sentiment and purpose which have been uni
formiy 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 indls-
solubly bound up, for veal or woe, with the
success or failure of the Government of the
United States. We recognize that Government
as our Government. Its Constitution is our
Constitution; the duties which it requires are
our duties, 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 a con-
sututlonal amendment the binding force of
which is universally admitted; for although
we were not represented in the Congress by
which it was proposed, the failure to be so rep.
resented was of our own choice.
The condition of the freedmen among u.s. and
1.-THE policy to be adopted with regard to them,
Will be recognized by you as calling for the
exercise OF the highest faculties Of the states
man and the best feelings of the Christian phi
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 faith 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 our people towards these
freedmen are those of kindness, sympathy and
good will, and that TO treat them with harsh
ness or injustice is opposed as much to our
feelings as 1t is to our interests and our sense Of
right.
The policy pursued by you, Mr.. President,
toward Virginia and other States in 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 in
que, however. to you and to our people to as
sure you that when our General Assembly
declare the universal approval of that policy
by the people OF Virginia, they express what
each one OF this committee here present knows
TO be 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 1t 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
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 will be, hereafter, remembered as your
highest claim to the character OF Republican
statesman, that under all the trying circum.
stances, by which You are surrounded, You
the United States to be the supreme law of this
land, but have defended il alike from violation
and from 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, 1
snail not attempt anything like a formal adj |
dress, but Will rather enter, as il Were into q
conversation; and as premise TO what l NAV
say, you must permit me to tender my thanks,
hrs for this visit, and. next, for the gratifica.
ton afforded me in meeting with SO MANY in.
teliigent, responsible and respectable men
from the State you represent, bearing the SEN
fments expressed in your resolutions. and in the
far as they refer to the Constitution of the
country, the sentiments and the principles en-
braced in that instrument. The preser walton
OF the Union, as referred to, both in the resolu.
TONS and i'll your remarks has been from nv
entrance into public life one of my cardinal
tenets; and at the very commencement Of this
rebellion (and do not make this remark for
has transpired that is unkind in its character.1
l set my face against the dissolution of the
Union of these States. believed then as i
beIleye now, and as you most Enthusiastically ex-