The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-20
TELEGRAPHTC NEWS.
Interview Between the President and
the Committee Of the baltimore
Common C0nncfl 1879 ...-- u y !.

tile Committee Of the baltimore
Common Council. 1' sss'.5 Use
Special telegram to the Dispatch. az
4 WASHINGTON, February 1s.-At II
o'clock this morning committee of the
two branches of the City Council Of Balti.
more, accompanied by Honorable Charles
E. Phelps, member of Congress from Balti.
more, visited the Executive mansion for
the purpose and presented the President
with the preamble and resolutions adopted
by the Baltimore Council endorsing the
wise, constitutional administration Of the
President, and offering to him their hearty
cooperation in his endeavors to maintain
the constitutional government of the
country. The resolutions also extend to
him an invitation to visit the city of Balti-
more at his earliest convenience, rendering
to him the freedom of the city and the
hospitality Of its citizens and corporate au-
thoritles whenever he honor5 them with q
visit. General Phelps introduced each
member of the committee to the Chief Ma
gistrate. Mr. Henry Duvall, on part of the
committee, presented the President with
an official copy of the preamble and reso-
buttons, with a few appropriate remarks.
Mr.. Duvall said he considered it the proud
est moment of his life to have the honor
of performing the duty in which he was
then engaged. The City Councils of
Baltimore, the corporate representatives
of large and important commercial city,
had unanimously passed resolutions which
it was his proud honor to deliver to the
President, as chairman of the committee
who were chosen to convey this expression
of feeling of the people of Baltimore as to
the noble course that had been fearlessly
pursued by the Chief Magistrate of the
country during many severe trials through
which he had had to pass. The resolutions
were a true type of the sense of the peo-
pie of Baltimore On the subject. They
fully, endorsed the wise, constitutional
policy of the President. The city was
now in the hands Of the true Union men.
Fanaticism had been made to bury its
mead in his State, and the speaker pre-
dicted that such would be its fate through
out the entire country. The action of the
Council who were in Office when the Pre-
sident passed through Baltimore last year
met with the indignant disapproval of nine
tenths Of her citizens. The reception
given to the Chief Magistrate by the mer-
| chants and citizens on his return to WASH
lington through Baltimore was true ex-
preston Of the feeling Of her people. Mr..
Duvall further said that in continuation OF
his fearless administration of laws under
the Constitution the President might feel
assured of the utmost support Of the peo-
pie whom the speaker and the rest of the
committee represented. He was delighted
to see the Chief Magistrate appearing in
such excellent health, and prayed that Di-
vine Providence would continue to shower
its blessings upon him, the fitting repre-
sentative Of free people.
The President then returned his pro-
found thanks for this expression Of the ap-
prevail by the Councils of the city of Bal
timore Of his official conduct as chief exc
cutive officer of the nation. This nantes
tation Of confidence and respect from the
citizens of Baltimore was at this time Pc
culiarly acceptable and gratifying. Our
country, said he, is now in the midst OF
grave peril, and our free institutions are
more endangered now than when, during
the rebellion, our armies wero struggling
for the Republic in the field. In this
critical condition of public affairs it be-
hooves every citizen who feels an interest
| in the preservation of constitutional
liberty to consider that ours is govern.
ment oflaw, and TO require of our legisla-
tors that when great measure is proposed
the first inquiry shall be, Does it conform
to the Constitution which they have So
lemnly sworn to support 1t would be the
greatest Of victories if the public mind
h,nl ha In of
stitution, would demand that all Legislation
should be strictly tested by the organic
law. The idea that the Constitution nc
longer exists, or that, although existing,
laws must be made outside Of its provisions
must ultimately lead US to despotism and
tyranny. If the judicial and executive
branches are to be broken down, and the
Government resolved into and placed
under the control Of the legislative de-
partment; if the rights, the interests, and
the destines of this great country are tt
be transferred to the hands Of few, whose
whole aim is to be the measurers o.
| their power, our republican institution!
will soon yield to the most absolute des-
potism ever witnessed by the world. He
added, the struggle in which [ have beer
compelled to engage has not been for my
own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. My sole aim has beer
to bring back the Government to the plair
principles of the Constitution; and if
could accomplish that object, the measure
of my ambition would indeed be filled t.
overfowing. That great end achieved, i
would be the highest pleasure of my life
making my reverence to the people, ant
giving my thanks to Heaven, to yield m.
aspirations to others. I repeat, that thu
encouragement given me on this occasion
is very acceptable. The stoutest heart
when surrounded by doubts and menace'
with perils, needs countenance and sup
port. The kind expressions Of approval
the City Council of Baltimore-sincerel
appreciated-will be remembered wit
gratitude as long as life shall last.
At the conclusion of the Presidents re
marks, Mr.. Crout, one Of the committee
arose, and, as member Of the City Coun
Gil and citizen of Baltimore and Mary
land, made some appropriate and eloquen
remarks highly complimentary to the Pre-
sident. The committee then withdrew, a.
expressing themselves highly delighte
with their pleasant interview with the Pre-
sident. WALLACE.
From Washington.
WASHINGTON. February 49, Genera