Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-29
Col. Baldwin's Speech before the Recon.
StruCtiOn Committee.

The Washington correspondent Of the Bal
timore Sun furnishes the following:
"a most interesting session o. the recon
struction committee was held to-day, tht
case of Virginia being the subject under dis
cussion. Probably one hundred person;
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 impressive, and YVES no
without effect upon the members Of the com
mittee.
He said that the delegation of which he
was one he truly believed represented a large
maj GRITTY of the people of Virginia Neithe,
he nor any of the delegation were aspirants
for political honors, but in all their actions
were only inspired by a wish to promote the
interests and prosperity of this State. The
people of Virginia were kindly disposed to-
wards the general government, and they
welcome to their State all those who came
among them with fraternal feelings and with
the desire to become iona fde citizens. They
encouraged the immigrant, and were CRATE
full for his assistance in developing the re-
sources of the State but they were fully
alive to the great distinction between the
immigrant and the carpet baggers, and while
they had no disposition to prosecute the lat
ter, they had for him the feeling which it
is the privilege of the meanest creature to
entertain towards the grcatest--that of con-
tempt. In reference to the disabilities which
are imposed by the reconstruction constitu-
ton, it was his honest belief that it disfran-
chiscd .95 per cent. of the best people of
Virginia.
A member of the committee inquired Mr..
Baldwin's opinion as to the present judges
in Virginia.
Mr.. Baldwin replied that their character
was excellent; that he had never heard of
any complaints of corruption Or Partially on
their part from either black or white. He
had heard ofno desire fora changeIexcept from
a few people who wanted their places. The
delegation came before the committee frank
ly, honestly, 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 DISPOSE
ton on the part of Congress to Cypress the
people Of Virginia or of the South, but their
experience in Georgia had convinced them
that when the people who controlled the re-
bellion got into power. they were not dis
posed 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 prefer
red in proper spirit by the class alluded to.
yet its primary duty was to protect its friends
Mr.. Baldwin, on his honor as a Virgin
ian and a 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's adj
dress, allusion was made to the questions now
in dispute between the Methodist Church
North and the Methodist Church South, as to
the church property. Hospoke Of a case in
staunton where the church property was
claimed by both parties, the party represcn-
ting the Northern division Of the church
having but two commandments, while the
Southern division had one hundred and
twenty communicates. On this point 1Ir.
Baldwin was replied to by Mr.. Phelps in
behalf of the church North. The discus
sion Oh this point was renewed before the
committee on Monday"