Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-14
The Virginia Delegation.
Their Address and Resolutions.
Reply of the President

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The following named gentlemen con-
stituted the committee from the Senate:
Messrs E. F. Keen, A. s. Gray, and
Dale Carter. From the House of Dele.
gates-Messrs. John b. Baldwin, James
Marshall, A. r. Grattan, A. G. Pendle-
ton, and VIM. Il. Jaynes They are
gentlemen Of acknowledged ability and,
it is claimed. fully represent the State
geographically and periodically, being
from North, South, East and West vir.
GINA, and every shade of party and
present politics. Jamsa Marshall, a
venerable looking gentleman, is q
nephew of the celebrated Chief Justice
Marshall. Messrs. Marshall and Graf
tan and Judge Jaynes, are among the
abless lawyers of the State.
Mr.. Baldwin, Speaker of the House of
Delegates, acted as Chairman of the COM
mittee and presented the resolutions
and delivered the following address in
behalf of the committee:
Mr.. President: We are q committee of
Senators and Representatives sent to
present TO you in person certain resolu-
lions which have received the unani-
nous approval Of. the General Assembly
Of Virginia. We come as representa-
tives sent BY one OF the States of the
Union to confer with our Constitutional
President in regard TO matters affecting
the common government, and therefore
of interest to all the States and all the
people. We come to you, onr President,
| for the reason that you recognize our
common interest in the government nm
der which We live, and because thus far
we have been denied the constitutional
measures of communication by which
other States and other people make
known their opinions, purposes and feel
ings 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 to
meet all the obligations thereby incurred,
the General Assembly expressed senti-
ment Of purpose which have been uni-
formly recognized by our people, indi-
vidually and in masses, and in regard to
which there Is no hesitation and division
in all Virginia. Chiefly among the re.
suits thus accepted ia the universal con-
viction that the Union cf these States ia
an established and an undying fact, and
that the whole future of our people ia
indissolubly bound up for veal or woe,
with success or failure of the Govern
ment of the United States. We re-
eognize the government as our govern
ment, its Constitution as our Constitu-
ton, the duties which 1t promises are
our rights Another great result, alike
accepted BY our people ia the FIRST over
throw of the institution OF slavery. This
has been contemplated by q constitu-
tional amendment, the leading force of
which is usually admitted for although
we are not Represented in the Congress
by which it was proposed, the failure to
be 80 represented was our own choice
The condition of freedmen among us,
and the policy to be adopted with re-
gard to them, will be recognized by you
az calling for the exercise of the highest
faculties Of statesmen and the best feel
ing of the Christian philanthropist. The
General Assembly of Virginia is engaged
earnestly in the consideration of these
subjects, and in anticipation of the re-
suits of our labor, we can only say that
whatever policy may be adopted will be
addressed in good faith and with kindly
feeling to the improvement of the phyti
cal, 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 it is to our interest and
our sense of right.
The policy pursued BY you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, towards Virginia aud other States
in like condition, has its strong founda-
ton in broad and comprehensive views
of right and of national policy, and
must look for its ultimate success in the
conservative sense of justice of the peo-
pie of all the States. 1t is due, however,
to you and to our people to assure you
that when our General Assembly de.
clares her approval of that policy by the
people of Virginia, they express that
which every one of this Committee here
present know to be living truth. 1t
happens that your position places you
between rs and q threatened danger,
and the General Assembly has 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 it is proposed to change the funda-
mental law. We would not, however,
claim as the only or the chief merit of
the course yon are taking, that il affords
us protection in time Of trouble. II is
as defender Of the general Constitu-
ton that you deserve the confidence
and support of the people of the
United States, and it will hereafter
be remembered as your highest claim to
the character of Republican states
man, that under all the circumstances
by which you are surrounded, you have
not only proclaimed the Constitution of
the United States to be the supreme law
of this land,e but have defended alike
from violation and innovation.
The President, in reply, said: Gem.
tlemen, to the resolutions you have inst
pree6utoU W ucf anu tue clear, fOfciDie
and concise remarks which YOU have
made in explanation of the position of
Virginia, / shall not attempt to make a
formal speech, but simply enter into a
plain conversation in regard to the con.
dition of things in which we stand. A.
a premise to what I may say, permit ma
FIRST to tender you my thanks for this
visit, and next TO express the gratifca.
ton feel in meeting so many intelli-
gent, responsible and respectable men
of Virginia, bearing to nae the seuti.
meuts which have been expressed in the
voice CT your Legislature, and 10 the
remarks accompanying them. They
are, so far as they refer to the Constitu-
ton of the country, the sentiments and
principles embraced in that charter Of
the Government. The preservation of
tho Union has been, from my entrance
into public life, one of my cardinal te.
nets. In the very incipiency of the re-
bellion, set my face against the disso-
luton of the union OF the States. | do
not make this avowsl for the purpose of
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