The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-16
Che aluiuu \ Suurual.
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FEB. l6, 1866.
TIE PRESIDENT AND VIRGINIA
DELEGATION,

The legislature Of Virginia having resolved
that they accepted the issues of tho war, and
would abide by them in good faith, sent del
ecation to wait upon tho President. The
speech Of the delegation eStolled Mr.. johnson
"tor standing between them and q Threatened
danger" for setting his face against amend
ments to the Constitution, and hcroically do
tending 1t against violation and innovation.
Tho Presidents reply is Important. lilo is do
lighted to SEQ such delegation Of intelligent,
responsible and respectable men. Ii will be
seen that Mr.. johnson is cautious in tho usc ol
adjcctives. lie proceeds To state tho import
ance Of sustaining the Union; expresses his
confidence that Mcssrs. Baldwin & Co. intend
to carry out the profession Of their resolves
the Government can DO successfully carried on
by mutual forbesrance AMI confidence. Tic be.
lievcs that loyalty to the Constitution and Laws
should entitlo State or District to representa-
ton. His remarks upon this point will be
found interesting:
In going into tho recent rebellion or nsur-
rection against tho Government Oi tho United
States you erred, aud in returning and rcsum.
ing your relations with the Federal Govern
ment, ] ain free to say that all tho Responsible
positions and places ought to he confined dis.
tinctly and clearly IN men who are loyal. IL
there were only 5000 loyal men in State. or
u lea number, but sufficient to take charge OF
tho political machinery OF tho State, those
5000 men, or the lesser number, arc entitled
to il. II all the rc't should be otherwise in
cludcd, look upon it as being fundamental
that the exercise Of political power should DO
confined tn loyal men, and regard it rs i'm
piled in the doctrines laid down in these rcso.
lutiOns. I may say that, furthermore, after
having passed through the great struggle in
which we have been engaged, we should DO
placed upon much more acceptable grounds in
resuming relations to tho General Government,
II unmistakable and PROFESSIONALLY lpyal men
were presented to ill tho places of power.
1t is well known that there is quite body Of
virginians who always have been loyal, aud
they have their representatives in the Virginia
legislature; but il is significant fact that not
ono Of those representatives were selected to
compose the delegation sent to wait upon tho
President. In view oil this fact the above quo
tation is ono Of interest, and must necessarily
help determine tho amount Of confidence to DO
placed IN tho resolutions Of these cx.robcls.
The people Of the North arc those who shall
DO consulted in this matter Of rostoraton-not
tho people who owe their lives to the tcndcr
mcrcics Of tho loyal; and those who have CIV
en- themselves and their substance to sustain the
Government against traitors, aro willing to 90
as Tar as the farthcst to extend tho hand oi
reconciliation, but they must no allowed to de-
termine that distance for themselves. And We
agree with Mr.. johnson, applying his remark
on this point moro general, perhaps, than he
intended, that whoever opposes this we'll known
and we'll expressed determination Of the people,
must 90 docH.