Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-06-01
BILL ARP IS CALLED BEFORE THE RE-
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
SUPPRESSED TESTIMONY. J

rs
To the Editor Of The metropolitan Record:
Mr.. EDITOR Murder will out, and SO
will evidence. Having seen Dan Rlce's tes
tinony before the Destruction Committee, [
have felt sorter Sighted because no mention
amt been made of mine, suppose it has
been suppressed, but / am not to be hid out
in obscurity. Our country is the special ju
.ry, and by and by this. business will 50 up
before it on appeal. The record must go up
fair and complete, and therefore III take &C.
casion to make public what ewore to. [
said good deal more than [ can put down
Mr.. Editor, and at times my language was
considered impudent, but they thought that
was all the better for their side, for it illus
trated the rebellious spirit heard ore Of
'eln say: "Let him go on-the ruling pas
sion strong in death. He's good States ey
idence."
When [ was put upon the stand old Bout
well swore me most fiercely and solemnly to
speak the truth, the whole truth, and moth
ing but the truth, and observed that he
was then entertaining about aquart OF double
recti6ed, and it looked like it had soured on
his stomach Old Blow was settin off on
one side with memorandum book, gettin
ready to note down some : garbled extracts. :"
Old Iron Works was Chairman, and when
he nodded his Republican head, old Boutwell,
says he: g Your name is Arp, | believe,
sir p r<aao..a., ei--r- .
So-called," says I.
F" You reside in the State Of Georgia, Go
your
II can't say exactly says I. = live
in Rome, right in the fork OF two lnJun nv
ers."
I'm the State Of Georgia" says he fierce
ssIn a state of uncertainty about that
says I. 60 We don't know whether Georgia
is State or not. I would like for you to
state yourself, if you know. The state Of
the country requires that this matter should
be settled, and I will proceed to state, 49,
Never mind, sir, says he. I" How old
are you, Mr.. Arp" He
THAT depends on circumstances" isaysl.
II don't know whether to count the last five
years or not. Durin the war your folks said
that State couldn't secede, but that while
she was in a state of rebellion she ceased to
exist. Now you say we got out and we
shan't get back again until 1870. A mans
age has got somethin to DO with his rights,
and if we are not to vote, don't think we
ought to count the time That's about as
near as [ can come to my age SIT. (
Well, sir" says he; & are you familiar
with tho nol;tical sentiments of tile citizens of
your State p
"Got no citizens yet sir that we know Of.
I will thank you to speak Of us as people. F."
| "Wen, SIR" says he, "l'll humor your
obstinacy. Are the people Of your State
Don't speak of it as a State sir, If you
please. I'm on oath now, and you must ex-
cuse me for being particular. Call it q sec
ton"
. Mr.. Arp, are the people Of your section
sufficiently Lumbled and repentant to come
back into the Union on such terms as we may
think proper to impose?
" Not much they amt" says T. Il don't
think they are prepared for it yet. They
wouldn't Voluntarily go it blind against YOU
hand. They say the deal wasn't fair anc
you've marked the cards and stole the trumps
but at the same time they don't care a darr
what YOU do. They've become indiAeren
and don care nothin about your Guy Fawke;
business. / mean no respect to you, gentle
men, but was swore to tell the whole truth