Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-23

COL BALDWIN'S SPEECH BEFORE TIE Con
GREss RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE. The
Washington correspondent Of the Baltimore
Sun furnishes the following:
"a most interesting session OF the reconstruc
ton committee was held to-day, the case OF
Virginia being the subject under discussion.
Probably one hundred persons were in the
room, mostly from Virginia. Col. John B.
Baldwin, acting as spokesman. addressed the
committee. His address, which was entirely
extemporaneous, was most eloquent and i'm
pressiye, and was not without effect upon the
members OF the committee.
lie said that the delegation OF which he was
one he truly believed represented large. maJo-
rity of the people of Virginia. Neither he nor
any OF the delegation were aspirants tor pohtl-
cal honors, but in all their actions were only
inspired by q wish to promote the interests and
prosperity Of their State. The people Of Flr-
ginia were kindly disposed towards the general
government, and they welcomed to their State
all those who came among them with iraternal
feelings and with the desire to become bona
fde citizens They encouraged the immigrant,
and were grateful for his assistance In develop
f, ing the resources Of the State; but they were
fully alive to the great distinction between the
| immigrant aud the carpet-bagger, and while
they had no disposition to persecute the latter,
| they had for him the feeling which 1t Is the
| privilege of the meanest creature to entertain
| towards the greateSt-that or contempt. La
| reference to the disabilities which are imposed
| by the reconstruction constitution, it was his
honest belief that it dsfranchised 95 per ct. of
the best people of Virginia.
a member of the committee inquired Mr..
| Badwins opinion as to the present Judges IN
| Virginia
Mr. Baldwin replied that their character was
excellent; that he had never heard Of any com
plants OF corruption or partiality on their part
from either black or white He had heard Of
no desire for change except from a few peo-
pie who wanted their places. The delegation
came before the committee frankly and honest
| ", and with disposition to do all that was
right and they appealed to the honor and
Justice OF Congress to grant them hearing.
Mr. Boutwell, said there was no disposition
on the part of Congress to Cypress the people
of Virginia or of the South, but their expert
ence in Georgia had convinced them that when
the people who controlled the rebellion got into
power they were not disposed to deal fairly
with the loyal portion of the population, either
black or white. This being the case, while
| Congress was inclined to consider ANYTHING that
might be preferred in a proper spirit by the
class alluded 10, yet is primary duty was to
protect its friends.
| Mr. Baldwin, on his honor as Virginian
and gentleman, assured the committee that
no such feeling as this existed among the white
people OF Virginia, They fully recognized the
altered condition of things, and were disposed
to do the negro full and complete justice in all
| respects.
During the course Of Mr. Baldwin address
alIusion was made to the questions now in dis.
pute between the Methodist Church North and
the Methodist Church South, as to the church
property He spoke Of case in Staunton
where the church property was claimed by
both parties, the party representing the North
ern division Of the church having but two com
municants, while the Southern division had
one hundred and twenty communicate On
this point Mr.. Baldwin was replied to by. a
Mr.. Phelps III behalf of the church North.
The discussion on this point will be renewed
before the committee on Monday"