Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-03-09
cHE PRESIDENT AND THE MARYLAND
DELEGATIBN


1CSterday morning a delegation from the
General Assembly OF MaryIand-which ad-
, Iourned on the 10Th OF February Iast-arrIved
in this city for the purpose of presenting to
president johnson series of resolutions
adopted by that body endorsing his recon-
suuctlon policy: The com miItee consisted of
Messrs. Eaton, Philpct Whitney Clarke and
Earle, Of the Senate, and Messrs. Frazier,
Slothower, Harris, Miller, OF Anne Arundel,
HaZen, Poteet. Mules, Sopcr, Calvert and Lus.
by, OF the House of Delegates, all of whom
Were presen excepting Messrs. Philpot, Whit
Dey and Clarke.
Shorty AFTER the hour of noon the committee
obtained audience OF the President, and, upon
being ushered into his Office, We're seyerally
presented to him by Mr.. Frazier, who, in pre-.
sentng the resolutions, said, they not only rep-
resent the sentiments of majority of the men,
Ders OF the Legislature of MARYLAND, but the
sentiments, Mr. President, of the great body OF
the people of Maryland-the loyal and patriot
icpeople OF ihe State. AS the organ of that com
mittet, can say II affords great deal OF plea
sure to meet you at this time. We have looked
upon the policy you have lnaugurated we have
approved OF II, and we thought il was rig a Z
and proper that we should pass resolutions in
dicatITe OF the sentiments of our people on the
SUBJECT. FOR, Mr.. President, we were not un :
mindful OF attempts in certain Quarters, well
khown 10 The country, TO depart from the prin-
clples ltaugurated by the Union party and
loiloweu out by your illustrious predecessor
and yourself. We believe, sir, with you that
1t IS impossible for State to commit suicide,
tO-Ca
Union, and wherever a loyal man presents
himself he should be admitted into tJa Ho7se
or into the Senate But, since those resolutions
were adopted other events of grave charac-
ter have transpiIed. In the exercise of the an =
thority conferred upon you by the Com stiUu t,on
you have returned with your veto, giving your
reasons therefor, the Freedmen's Bureau bill
we should fail TO represent the people OF
maryland did we not thank you from our hearts
Tor that act. The people of the State thank
you. The great body OF tffe people in this
MIR. President, that the historian that records
the acts OF heroism and patriotism performed
by you during the civil war, and since your
accession 10 the Presidency, will place the veto
OF mat reedmens Bureau bill as your crown.
ing gSs S:oTy; Er..,o.n, rssnon,.a.
have no reply 10 make, gentlemen, more
[han 10 thank you for the encouragement and
eountenance you have given on the present oc-
caslcn, and the confidence you have indicated
as placing IN me as an executive officer, and in
my public acts. All that can say in csnnec-
tion with the subject has been SAID And i
trust and hope, SO far rs concerns nv prior
acts, that your confidence has not been mis-.
psaeea, anu tnat yen may not be mistaken in
repeat the pripciples i have already laid
down. They are understood and there can he
no mistake when they are read and under
Stood, as 10 The position / occupy Persons
VINO understand principles, and who agree
upon principles, have come together and act
together~ without any previous concert or
them
mvoluntarily approaching each other. And
lhe converse of the proposition is inst as true
Where they disagree and do not harmoniZe In
their thoughts and actions, they early com
mence divergent course. The most gratify-
ing thing TO me in this, is, after all, that am
one OF those WHO rely upon principle From
my earliest advent into public life, there has
been some fundamental notion about this
nailon tha L have entertained and never de-
part from. But, as / said, one OF the gratify.
ing thmgs TO me IS, that after we have
passed through the ordeal that has marked
our very recent hisieTy-that chaotic state
that had characterized the public mind
that when we see these principles enun-
ciated, there is still an apprehension and a
comprehension OF them around which and
dbout which there seems TO commence q crys-
taHzation and q formation of men, that will in
the end, belle We, sustain the country As to
myself individually. that is a very small affair
II amounts TO but very little. But, so far as
that goes, if have given no evidence of sin.
cerity, or that / can be confided in and relied
npoh, in the pas, there is nothing could saw
noW--no profession that i could make that
would show, that, rs it has been in the past so
IN the future, the Constitution is nv guide
The public good has been my aim. And sink
or swim, live or die, upon that principle and
upon that line shall go through with it, All
that ask is an honest and confiding public TO
stand by me, and say IN the future whether L
am sincere in what profess, and whether the
principles upon which we rely are right in
themselves. There is one thing which have
relied upon in carly life, and which has become
part OF my very nature. The principles, the
great principles, of tree government. never vet
JAILED. In the possession Of these great prin-
clples we cannot reach a wrong conclusion
IL we are right-if the principles are right in
themselves and we pursue them rightfully-
though there may be gloom gathering around
our pathway though we may not see our way
entirely clear, yet IN the pursuit Of principle, IL
we follow IL, it will take rs triumphantly
through, without regard to whl, may be upcn
the right hand or upon the left. But trust
and hope that in this struggle in the Gov
eminent, as it were, we may he en-
couraged TO commence a new career: and
that we will commence it upon principle.
ana ,hoagn 50 flr as am concerned, repeat,
am & very small part Of this thing vet. now
is time 1or patriots who love principles and
VINO want 20 preserve The Constitution
IN rtact-nOw Is a time 20 come forward
without regard 10 any fGture. SO rar as
am eoncerfed, for i am looking 10 none
row as q time 10 make a basis ami torn, a
combination upon this great question and
manifest that it can he successfully denan-
suatsd. Nov is n time 20 make a basis. nov ia
q time to gather the material: now Is q .,rp to
rally around 7 principle and Law a basis
a. n Eorc "a