Wilmington journal., 1868-02-28

Special telegram to the Richmond Dispatch.
Interview Between the President and the
Committee OF the Baltimore Common
Council
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-At IL o'clock this
moring committee of the two branches of
City Council Of Baltimore, accompanied by
Honorable Charles E. Phelps, member of
Congress from Baltimore visited the Ex-
ecutive mansion for the purpose and pre-
sented the President with the preamble
and resolutions adopted by the Baltimore
Council endorsing the wise, constitutional
administration OF the President, and offer
| ing to him their hearty cooperation in his
endeavors to maintain the constitutional
government of the country. The resolu-
tions also extend to him an invitation to
visit the city of Baltimore at his earliest
convenience, rendering to him the freedom
of the city and the hospitality of its citi-
zens and corporate authorities whenever he
honors them with visit. General Phelps
introduced each member of the committee
| to the Chief Magistrate. Mr.. Henry Duvall,
on the part of the committee, presented the
President with the official copy of the pre-
ambiG and resolutions, with q few appro-
pirate remarks. Mr.. DuvalI said lie con-
sldered 1t the proudest 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 reD-
resentatives of a large and important com
mercial city, had unanimously passed reso-
| lutious 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 noblo course that had
! been fearlessly pursued by the Chief Ma
/ rCtra 10 of
trials through which he had had to pass
The resolutions were q true type of tho
sense Of the people Of Baltimore on the
subject. They fully endorse the wise, con-
stitutional policy OF the President. The
city was now in the hands of the true
! Union men. Fanaticism had been made
to bury its head in his State and the speak
er predicted that such would be it's fate
throughout the entire country. The action
! of the Council who were in Office when the
President passed through Baltimore last
year met with the indignant disapproval Of
nine-t tenths of her citizens. The reception
given to the Chief Magistrate By the mer-
chants and citizens OH his return to Wash
ington 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
I
assured of the utmost support OF the peo-
pie whom the speaker and the rest of the
committee represented. He was delighted
to sec 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 the expression of the mp
proval OF the Council of the city OF Baiti-
more of his official conduct as chief exccu-
! tive officer OF the nation. This manifesta-
tion of confidence and respect from the
citizens of Baltimore was at this time pc
culiarly acceptable and gratifying. Our
country, said he, is now i'll the midst of
| grave peril, and our free institutions are
more endangered now than when, during
| the rebellion our armies were struggling
for the Republic in the field In this crit
ical condition OF public affairs it behooves
every citizen who feels all interest IN tho
preservation of constitutional liberty to
consider that ours is a government of law,
and to require of our Legislators that when
great measure is proposed the first inqui-
ry shall be, Does it conform to the Consti-
tuition which they have solemnly sworn to
support? It would be the greatest of VIC
tories if the public mind, carried back
within the pale of the Constitution, would
demand that all Legislation should be strict
! ly tested by the organic law. The idea
that the Constitution no 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 resolv-
ed into and placed under the control
of the legislative department.; if the
rights, the interests, and the destinies of
this great country are to be transferred to
| the heads of few whose whole aim is to
| be the measurers of their power, our re-
publican institutions will sool yield to the
most absolute despOtlsm ever witnessed by
the world. He added, the struggle in
which have been compelled to engage has
not been for my own aggrandizement My
sole aim has been to bring back the Gov
ernment to the plain principles of the Con-
! stitution; and if l could accomplish that
object, the measure of my ambition would
indeed be filled to overfowing. That
great end achieved it would be the highest
pleasure of my life. making my reverence
to the people, and giving my thanks to
Heaven, to yield my aspirations to others.
/ repeat, that the encouragement given me
on this occasion is very acceptable. The
stoutest heart, when surrounded by doubts
and menaced with perils, needs counte-
nance and support The kind expressions
of approval of the City Council of Balti-
more-sincerely appreciated-will be re-
membered with 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 a citizen of Baltimore and Mary
| land, made some appropriate and eloquent
remarks highly complimentary to the Pre-
sident. The committee then withdrew, all
expressing themselves highly delighted
with their pleasant interview with the Pre-
ident.
3. Conley, Pardon Committeeman fol
the Fifth Congressional District of Georgia,
advertises for persons desirous of being re.
lieved from their political disabilities tc
make application through him. Isn't this
a rich exhibition for ''free and equal
| country? =? Of course, he is to be the Judge
whether the applicant ought to be relieved
According to all former precedents, the
Executive of State exercised the pardon
| ing power. Now committeeman of po
litical party control it, and make fidelity tc
the Radical party the test of worthiness