Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-21

tHeTe. Lucy Steal nOfSeS ana cattle, anu IneTe
is no convlctlng them because they are bound
another, some of the party will shoot him
That was the case there recently, when man
named Sexton was shot.
9. Do you suppose there is secret associa-
ton among them to protect each otherp
A. I have DO doubt of it at all. This Mr..
Sexton, who was shot at Herndon the other
day ty Mcdonald, one Of the gang, stated upon
his dying bed that he was shot to prevent his
giving evidence against them for horse-stealing.
@. How DO they feel in regard to the war
debt of the United States?
A. | do not know that [ can say much about
it, only from what I learn from the newspapers,
&c. They .rould hate most to pay this direct
tax but, as war debt, do not know that
have heard much said about it. My brother
in-law who is United States assessor at Rich
mond, tells me that they talk down there as if
they would like to pay their own war debt but
they do not like to pay Uncle Sans | have
heard but little OF it, except in newspaper edl-
torias. ... .-.. -...-. -.-.
@. Do yoa think that the general sentiment
is that they would repudiate the federal war
debt if they had the power to do SO?
A. There Is not a particle OF doubt about
that ~
G. Do you think they would consent to as
sumo to pay the debt Of the confederate gov
ernment if they had the opportunity?
A. There might be some who would object
to it, but the leading men-those who would
control things-would pay it, There is 10 doubt
of it.
Q. Would the rebels join foreign enemy in
case OF a war between this country and a!tor-
elgn power?
A. do not think they would like to join
England They are sore upon England. |
think they would willingly join France, and
that they would jump at the chance of Il war
with Mexico. The rank and file do not want
to 90 to war, but they are completely under
their leaders They do not talk much, but l
can hear them saying, once in Il while, 1--WE
arc biding our time we arc only just subjuga-
ted at present; we are not whipped; we are
only overpowered; we will be at it again one
Of these days; We will bide our time"-and
such expressions as these.
y. 1t appears to be not state of contented-
ness undet the government of the United
States
\. None Whatever. If you knew the south
ern character as we'll as do, you would confess
that there is nothing but force will make them
yield. You cannot coax them. They respect
force and nothing else. They are educated to
to be driven, and they do not believe in any
thing else. Law they do not respect for its
moral obligations; but, if they can do anything
which the law cannot absolutely take hold of;
if they can Just manage to steer clear of the
law, they will do it. If they have grudge
against man, they will plan all manner Of
schemes to CRAFTY their grudge in manner
that the law will not get hold Of them. They
will get drunk and to qua"relling with man
that they have spite against, so that they
may not appear to be malicious in the matter.
.. In their personal resentments arc they
perfdious?
a. They are really nothing but perfidy.
g. Are they revengeful?
A. They are especially revengcful just as far
as they think they can escape the law. Before
the war, when northern men went there, they
would be glad to receive them, and get their
money; and as soon as they got their money
they seemed to take a delight in banding to-
gether and injuring them as much as they could
in contriving to cheat them, and then drive
thing. All the northern people of that county
will tell you the same thing. I was a little iso-
lated when went there, and yet they would
come and tear down my fences and turn in
their hogs and stock, and do all they could to
injurc me. The Union men will have no kind
OF show at all unless the government will pro-
tcct them.
You would advise the continuance OF the
military force there?
4. The Union men cannot stay there unless
the military force is continued.
e.. And also the treedmen's Bureau?
4. | would. We are not going to have any
safety under our present State organization. [
say that although am sheriff, sworn to sus.
tain the re. organized government, yet [ do not
believe that it is reorganized while rebels
control it, They are now passing laws there to
disfranchise men who have been voters there.
They are passing vagrant laws on purpose to
in vassaage, and are doing everything they can
to bring back things to their old condition, as
nearly as possible.
A NJ DERN MIkAC e!
From old and young from rich and poor,