Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-04-05

on that point. L do not know how far they might
be actuated by their feelings. have nothing
whatever to base an opinion upon So far as
know, they contemplate nothing of the kind now
: What may happen IN the future 1 cannot say. O.
5 DO you not frequently hear III your intercourse
with secessiOnists in Virginia, expressions of q
s hope that such may break out? ~ I can
not say that have heard it. On the contrary,
? have heard persons Il do not know whether you
could call them secesslonlsts or not mean those
people III Virginia, with whom [ associate) ex-
t press hope that the country may not he led into
: "a war. g. In such event, DO you not think
that that class OF people OF whom call secession
lists would join the common enemy ? !. It is pos
slbe. 1t depends upon the feeling OF the indjvid-
ual O. If it is q fair question you nlay answer
1t or not, You choose, what III such an event
might be your own choice i. l have dispo-
s1tlon now to do it, and | never have had. A.
And you cannot forsee that such would lie your in
clnaton in such an event ? \. No. [ can only
Judge from the past, / do not know what circun-
stances may produce cannot pretend to forsee
events $50 far as [ know, the wish Of the people
OF Virginia l. for peace. O. DuIing the war;
was it not contemplated by the Government of the
Confederate States to form alliance with some
foreign nation If possible i. | believe it was
their wish to DO 1t their wish to have the
confederate Gov ernment recognized indie
pendent government I have IL doubt if it could
nave made favorable treaties it would have done
So But knew nothing OF the policy of the gov
eminent. had no hand part in it. I merely
express my own opinion. q. The question am
about to put to you you may answer or not, you
choose. Did You take oath Of fidelity ale
glance to the Confederate Government 2" A.
do not recolect having done SO, but it is possible
when WAS commissioned / Gid. [ do not recol-
lect whether it WAS required. IT it was required
took It, on if 1t had been required ] would have
taken it but do not rtcoilet whether it was or
not.
/ BY Gir. Blow.-Q. In reference to the effect of
President Johnson's policy, if it adopted,
would there be anything like Il return of the old
feeling? ask that because you used the express
sion, acquesing in the result" A. [ believe it
would taketlmefOr thefeelngs of the people to be
OF that cordial nature to the Government that they
were formerly. q. Do you think that their pre-
ference for that policy arises from desire to have
good feeling and peace in the country from the
probability Of their regaining political power?
a. So far as [ know the desire of the people of
the South it is for the restoration of their civil
government and they look upon the policy of Pres
ldent johnson rs the which would most clear
~ and most surely re-establish it. Q. Do you
see any change in reference to the poorer people of
Virginia regards industry? Are they much
or more interested in developing their material
interests than they were? 4. [ have not OBJ
served any change Every has 70 attend
to his business for his support O. The poorer
classes generally hard at work, are they? A.
So far as know, they are; know nothing to the
contrary; have noticed no change in their rea- |
tons to the colored people; faras KNOW thefeel
ings of all of the people of Virginia kind to the
colored people [ have heard any blame
attributed to them to the present condition of
things any responsibility. Q. Can capitalists
and working men from the North go in to Virginia
and go to work among the people? A. [ do not
know anything to prevent them; their peace and
pleasure there would depend very much on their
duet; II they confined themselves to their own
business and did not interfere to provoke contro-
versies with their neghbors, do not believe they
would be molested; there is no desire to keep out
labor OF capital; on the contrary, they very
anxious to get labor and capital into the State the
n which thew wOuI6 he las said
before) would depend entirely the individuals;
they mis- ht make themselves obnoxious as we can
understand.
BY Mr.. Howard-Is there not general dislike
of northern men among secessionists? A. l sup
pose they would prefer not to associate with them
[ do not know that they would select them as !
sociates. Z. Do they avoid and ostracise them
socially? A They might avoid them. They would |
not select them associates unless there some
reason. do not know that they would associate
until they became acquainted [ think it proba-
bic that they would not admit them into their So
cial circles.
BY Mr.. Bow.-Do YOU think the colored per-
sons would rather work for Northern than a |
Southern man? A ] think it very probable that
they would prefer the Northern man, although ]
have no facts [ know Of numbers of tho blacks |
engaging with their old masters, and I know of a |
great many who prefer to go Oft and look for new
homes. Whether it is from any dislike to their !
former masters from desire to change, or that
they feel more free and independent, do not
know g. What is your opinion in regard to the |
material interests of Virginiado you think they
will be equal to what they before the rebel |
lion under the changed aspect Of affairs? a. 1t |
will take long time for them to reach their for
mer standard I think that after the lapse of
some years they will reach it. / hope they will
exceed it-but it can't be Immediately, in my opin-
ion. It will take number Of years. q. On the
whole, the condition Of things III Virginia is hope
full, both in regard to its material interests and
the future peace of the country? A L have heard
great hope expressed, and great cheerfulness and
of President Johnson should be all you anticipate
and that you should also realize all that you eX-
pect in the improvement OF your material inter
ests do you think that the result Of that will be
the gradual restoration of the old feeling? A.
That would be the natural result think; and 1
can see other way in which that result can be
brought about. q. There is fear in the public
mind, that the friends of the policy in the South
adopt it, because they see in it the means of re-
gaining political position which they lost in the
recent contest. Do you think that this is the main
idea with them, or that they merely look to it,
you say as the best means of restoring the civil
government and the peace and prosperity of their
States? A. AS to the first point you
make, do not think that ever heard any person
speak upon it. [ never heard the points separat
ed [ have heard them speak generally to the
policy of President johnson. The feeling, far
as know, now, is that there is not that equality
extended to the Southern States is enjoyed by
the North.
@. You do not feel down there that while you
accept the result generous we ought
to be under the circumstances? A. They think
that the North can afford to be generous. q. That
is the feeling down there? A. Yes and they
subject and are able to Judge. Q. [ understood
If TO he OpIniOn that OonarOSItV and lib