The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-14
Important Speech Of the President.
lie Defines his Position-Interview of
Delegation from Montana.
washington Intelligencer of the Sth.l

r. Washington Intelligencer of the Sth.
Yesterday morning large number of the
citizens of Montana Territory now In Wash
ington city called on the President. B. NJ.
Pinney, Esq., q. S. Marshal for the Territory,
Chief Justice Hosmer, General Barrows, and
twenty-five or thirty Others were among the
number. Eaa
Mr. Pinney addressed the President on be-
half of the delegation. He said: Mr. Presi-
dent, it becomes my duty as member of this
delegation to assure you that the principles
announced in your annual message to Con-
gress, and your policy in relation to the pres.
ent political condition of this country, have
gladdened the hearts OF the people OF our
own mountain land, Montana. We are using
no idle or unnecessary words when we assure
you that we take the greatest possible plea
sure in saying that We recognize in you, as
the Chief Magistrate of this great nation, a
person who possesses that sound mind, that
general knowledge that firm and patriotic
devotion to the real interests and welfare Of
the whole country which are necessary to
carry it safely over the ocean of political
speculation and debate. We attach no great
importance to this asseveration OF our feel
ings in relation to yourself, but we should be
doing injustice to ourselves, injustice to the
people of the Territory of Montana, and
should merit their seyerest censure if we did
not say that we firmly believe that it you
meet with cordial and generous support on
every hand; this nation would come forth
from the present political crisis a stronger
and better nation, prepared to take higher
stand and do nobler work on the platform
of history than has ever get been allotted to
any nation of the EARTH Montana has
scarcely had two-years' political existence
and already numbers fifty thousand inhabi-
tants. Places of habitation and of business
are dotted all over our fertile valleys, and our
numerous thoroughfares are constantly trem-
bling with the crush of merchandise. The
gold and silver which the Almighty had
long kept hidden and ganered in our hills
and ravines, have been revealed or discover
cd at time when the nation needs new
channels of flowing wealth to supply her
treasury; and Montana possesses, as well as
great mineral wealth, all those agricultural
resources SO well calculated to make her ear
1y populous and powerful At the same
time, we trust we are not unmindful of the
vast importance of promulgating correct po-
litical sentiments. We believe that we are
starting right, and will be starting right, if
we advocate zealouslY those great political
truths which you have proclaimed to this
country and to the world, and which we I'M
derstand to lie at the liquidation Of all good
governments. -.4
The President replied as follows:
GENTLEMEN 1t is no ordinary pleasure
for me to meet you here on this occasion and
to hear the sentiments you have announced.
To receive so large and respectable body
of intelligent gentlemen from that remote
pf hn tthin
is extremely gratifying to me- In response,
sir, addressing Mr. Pinney,l to the eloquent
manner in which you have expressed the
sentiments and feelings of those you repre-
sent on this occasion, might content myself
with simply returning my thanks for your
kind expressions. But you have made some
allusions to which, under the circumstances
which surround us, | cannot be indifferent
You have alluded to the great principles of
our government having been enunciated by
me in paper sent short time since to the
Congress of the United States The declar-
alton by me of those principles was not the
result of impulse. 1t was the result of q
thorough and calm consideration of those
great truths which lie at the foundation of
all free governments. Those who under
stood those truths, and have laid them down
as their guide, cannot fail to understand the
doctrines enunciated in the message 1t is
not necessary to inquire whether they ema-
nate from this man or that man. Those who
understand and believe in those principles,
no matter from what standpoint they look
at them, will find themselves involuntalilv,
and lmperceptibly it may be, but surely COM
ing together in all great struggles that may
take place in regard to them; while those
who disclaim them who are willing to repu-
'diate them, and set them at naught, will be
found disintegrating and travelling in di-
Eergent direction For this reason there
may be many now coming together without
any previous concert or arrangement, but i'm
pereeptibly, because they agree on the same
grest principles l think, gentlemen there
rs no one who can mistake the great cardinal
principles that are laid down in that mes
sage. They comprehend and embrace the
principles upon which the government rests,
and upon which, to be successful, it must be
administered. l care rot by what name the
the party administering the government may
be denemnated- Union party the Re-
publican party, the Democratic party. or
whatnet-no party can administer the gov.
eminent successfully unless it is administered
upon the great principles laid down in that
paper. You would meet with about the same
success in attempting to carry on the Govern.
nent upon any other principles than those
which are fouRd in the Constitution as YOU
would if you should take hold of a piece of
machinery that had been constructed and
trained to run tremendously in one direc
tien, and attempt by reverse action to run it
ID the opposite direction. / say again that
tank no one can mistake the doctrines of
tiat message. 1t is very easy for persons to
niisrepresent it and to make assertions that