Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-22
DAN. RICE BEFORE THE RECON
SrRUCTION COMMITTEE.

The Committee on Reconstruction still
persists in siippressing the most important
testimony elected before il. Dan. Rice has
recently been ON a circus tour through the
lately rebellious States, and has had oppor-
tunities such as are afforded TO few, for Oh
serving the condition of the Southern peo-
pie "a 10 loyalty. His testimony will be
found TO show the true feeling that exists in
the South when the thin crust of pretended
loyalty is melted away, and true character
is revealed us under the exhilarating inilu-
ence of a menagerie, when man stands in
the presence Of the untamed forces Of ma
ture, separated therefrom only by the thin
partition Of an iron cage. Mr.. Rice, being
duly sworn, testified thus:
q. You have an mruly animal, known rs
pet mule, with your circus, have you not?
A. | have.
@. What are the idiosyucrasies of that
beast2
A. He is much given to kicking.
q. IL is almost impossible TO ride him, is
it not7
A. II is. l generally offer S25 to any
man who will ride him round the ring.
q. On your late visit to the South, did
you receive any offers TO ride that mule?
A. did.
@. State what occurred on these occa-
sions.
A. In Richmond, discharged Confede-
rate soldier attempted to ride him, but was
Immediately thrown fat on his back.
Q. What did the Confederate soldier say
TO this?
A. He said the mule was a id Yam
kee cuss
q. Did any others make the attempt?
A. Another of Lees veterans tried TO ride
him, and succeeded.
q. What did he say?
A. He said, after he had dismounted, that
if he'd had regiment o them ere cavalry
he'd have whipped Fitzpatrick all TO smash;
and that in the next war against the Yam
KEGS he intended to raise a brigade of EN-.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Stevens:
q. Is that he mule, or a she mule?
A. It's he mule.
Q. You have monkeys in your show, have
you not?
A. have.
Q. Have you ever heard any disloyal re-
marks in relation TO those monkeys?
A. l can't say that l have.
q. Have Won ever heard anything said in
their presence
A. A couple of young ladies were one
day standing in front of the cage, and heard
one Of them say il looked like freedmen S
Bureau.
Q. How was this remark received?
A. Ii created much laughter.
q. Were there any personal illusions
made on tina; occasion?
A. Some in the crowd said, pointing to
the ourang outang, "That's Sumner"
q. Did il please the bystanders?
A. Very mucn.
q. Did you ever hear any observation
about the bears?
A. heard it said once about one-eyed
bear that he looked like Ben. Butler, and
about grizzly that Il ought to he called Ben.
Wade
Q. Were the points Of resemblance stated?
A. They were not The observation was
made ON the tout ensemble, with special re-
ference perhaps, 10 the occular dciormiiy in
the case of the one-eyed animal.
q; Have You ever showed then in a cir
cusY
A. have.
B. State il you have ever heard disloyal
remarks in relation 20 them?
A. believe | heard something of the
kind once about Daniel in the lions den.
Q. State what il was?
A. 4 young lady asked me Mhich Ma'
Daniel aud which was the lion.
q. What was your reply?
A. ] told her il was easy 10 distinguish
Daniel from the lion, as the former wore q
swallow-tail coat, and had cotton umbrella
under his arm.
q. What did she say?
A. Afier looking into the cage she said
very spitefully, that Daniel looked like :
mean Yankee, and she wished the lion would
chaw him up. MACK.