Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-02-15
INTERVIEW OF VIRGINIANS
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
Address of the vrginians.
RESPONSE oFPREsIDENTJo JOHN
SON.

Carter, on the part of the Senate; and Bald
win. Marshal, Joynes, Grattan, and Pendleton,
on the part Of the House, called upon the Presi-
dent for the purpose of presenting him with the
following resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly Of Virginia:
q. Resolred by the General assembly Of
FirgiRiG, That the peopleoftlis Commonwealth
and their representatives here assembled, cor
daily approve the policy pursued by Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, IN the
reorganization of the Union. We accept the
result of the late contest, and do not desire to
renew what has been so cOncluSlvely deter
mined: nor do we mean to permit any one sub
iect to our control 10 attempt its renewal, or to
violate any of our obligations to the United
States Government. We mean to cooperate
in the wise, firm and just policy adopted by the
President, with ali the energy and power we
can devote to tina; object.
%. That the above declaration expresses
the sentiments and purposes of all our people,
and we dcnouncc the efforts of those who re-
present our views and intentions to be differ
ent. as cruel ard criminal assaults ON our char
acter and our interests. 1t is one of the mis-
fortunes of our present political condition that
we have among us persons whose interests are
temporarily promoted by such false represen-
tations; but we rely on the intelligence and
integrity of those who WELD the power of the
United States Government for our safeguard
against such malign influences.
"S. That involuntary servitude, except for
crime. is abolished, and ought not to be re-es-
Ill III fl,nff ka
should be treated with Justice, humanity, and
good faith, and every means that the wisdom
of the Legislature can devise should be used to
make them useful and intelligent members of
society.
"a. That Virginia will not voluntarily con-
sent to change the adjustment of political pow
er as fixed by the Constitution of the United
States, and to constrain her to do so in her
present PROSTATE and helpless condition, with
no voice in the councils of the nation, would
be an uniustifable breach of faith and that
her earnest thanks are due to the President for
the firm stand he has taken against amend
ments of the Constitution, forced through in
the present condition of affairs"
A few moments after the delegation entered,
the President appeared, and was addressed as
follows, by Hon. John. B. Baldwin, Chairman
of the Committee:
ADDRESS OF MR.. BALDWIN.
Mr.. President: We are a committee Of Sen
ators and delegates sent to present to you in
person certain resolutions which have received
the unanimous approval of the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia.
We come as representatives sent by one of
the States of this Union to confer with our con-
stitutiOnal President in regard to matters affect
ing the common Government, and therefore
of interest to all the States and all the people.
We come to you, Mr.. President, for the rea-
son that you recognize our common interest in
the Government under which we live and be-
cause thus far we have been denied the constitu-
tional means of communication by which other
States and other people make known their opin-
ions, purposes, and feelings in the councils OF
the nation.
In declaring that the people Of Virginia and
their representatives accept and abide by the
results of the late contest, and that they intend
in good faith tOmeet all the obligations thereby
incurred, the General Assembly expresses a
sentiment and purpose which have been uni
formly 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 indisso-
lubly bound up, fol- veal or woe, with the sue
cess or failure of the Government of the United
States. We recognize that Government as our
Government Its Constitution is our Consti-
tuition; the duties which it requires are our
duties, and the rights which it promises are our
rights
Another great result alike accepted 6y our
people is the final overthrow of the institution
Of slavery. This has been completed by con-
stitutional amendment, the binding force OF
which is universally admitted; for although we
were not represented in Congress by which it
was proposed, the failure to be so represented
was Of our own choice.
The condition of the freedmen among us and
the policy to be adopted with regard to them,
will be recognized by you as calling for the ex-
ercise of the highest faculties of the statesman
and the beStfeelings of the Christian philanthro-
piSt. The General Assembly of Virginia is en-
gagged 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 feelingt 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 toward these
freedmen are those of kindness, sympathy. and
good will, and that to treat them with harshness
or injustice is opposed as much to our feelings.
as it 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 is due. how
ever, to You and to our people to assure 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 aliying
truth.
1t happens that your position places YOU be-
tween us and a threatened danger, and the Gen