The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-06-22


erdy Johnson, of Maryland, Col. For
shey, of Texas, was summoned to ap-
pear before the Committee, to testify to
the condition and disposition of the
Estates lately in rebellion"
SWORN BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THF
COMMITTEE.
! Z. OF what State are you resident.
and how long? \. I have resided twelve
years in Texas?
Q. From what Statedid you emigrate
to Texas? Al claim to be Virgin
ian, though chiefly reared in Ohio
whittier my father removed from Nir.
ginia in my childhood; / received my
collegiate education at Kenyon College
Ohio, my military and scientific el-
ements ut West Point; my lie OF man
hood has been passed in Louisiana and
/ Texas.
| q. Have you been in the rebel ser
vice, and in what way? A. ! have ser
we'd during the war-was Lieutenant
Colonel of Engineers, chiefly engaged
in the defenses west of the Mississippi.
A. What knowledge have you Of the
condition and disposition of the people
of the States lately in rebellion against
the Cnited State? ! think ! have
| pretty good knowledge as to the three
southwestern States. in which my ac-
quaintance is very extensive. and, per
haps may assume to have fair degree
/ OF general knowledge as II the other
/ Confederate States atieast hurcmadg
. the matter continual subject of inqui-
/ ry and observation, and without know
ing the kind Of information desired,
Will answer when l can.
! z. What is the State of puD!ir order
and obedience 10 the United St0teo au-
thorities in Texas and the other states
OF which you nave knowledge? \.
/ Good order and obedience are univcr-
sal in TeXasand elsewhere, as believe.
it has never been otherwise il Texas,
unless po5sibiyon the Rio Grande from
/ tier there may be occasional exceptions
among the turbulent characters that
have no special habitation either side
of the border.
q. Please state whether that good or
der you describe is due to the pres, nee
and authority of the United States
| troops, and whether. upon their reno
val, there would not be disorder and
disIoyalty? \. 1t is certainly in no
degree due TO the presence Of troops.
In fact, any exceptions to the remark
may be imputed TO the irritating fact
! that soldiers are about. Their reno
val would be everywhere public bles-
sing, unless needed on the frontier to
( guard against Indians or Mexican rob-
! berS.
! Q. Why do you say ''irritating," arc
| they not well behaved? A. Generally
/ they are, but their presence is under
stood as an emblem Of our submission.
/ Every bayonet is a symbol of our sub
! iugati0n, and is viewed "a an evidence
/ that our surrender and parole are not
received in good faith. We need no
Watching, and naturally dislike the
guards that watch Us.
/ @. Would loyal men be safe among
/ you without Federal protection? \.
! All men were safe before there was any
( Federal authority among us. After
/ the surrender we We're months without
officers or law. \ military order vaca.
/ ted or annuled all official functions,
and deprived us of every species of le-
! gal restraint, and for months furnished
no substitute for the authority suppres.
sed. Troops havenotat any time reach,
ed Our interior generally, and yet
/ throughout the vast area of Texas, just
| replenished by the return Of fifty thou
sand disbanded soldiers, there was much
respect for rights and morals as in any
| Northern State or elsewhere. | regard
/ it as a great test of our civilization;
wish the fact to be put on record in ON
favor. Thesamc was true, as | believe
in most of the Southern States. Nuta
single resistance to Federal authority
has ever taken piacetO the present day
and When.it is considered that nearly {
half a million of men have just return
ed from a conflict Of four years, ii
which they have fought for national
life and honor, we think they should
claim a respect that should remove sen
tinels and disband the armies, white
and black, that watch Us.
Q. Is il generally believed that The
troops are kept to humiliate the people.
4. Perhaps that would too strongly eX
press it. They feel it calculated to hu
initiate. and that those who order itart
reckless of this fact. We believe it t
beobvious to all, both North and South
that negro troops placed to guard theil
late masters, are viewed with repug
nance and proper Indignation by every
man, woman and child of true spiri
in the South; and sOmeof the military
treatment of the South is accepted b!
them, as intended to degrade them.
Q. Have negro troops been sent a
garris0ns in Texas? A. Fortunately
they have not. On the frontier the,
have been sent in great numbers, bu
we have very little population ther