Daily Mississippi clarion and standard. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1866, 1866-05-17

Below we insert q letter from Gov
Sharkey in reference to his testimony
before the reconstruction committee.
We have no doubt that the Governor
has been unduly censured on account
Of this testimony It is evident that
he has not been fairly reported, and
that he was misunderstood by the par
ties who originally gave bis testimony
to the press. The testimony, as II
reached Jackson, looked rather awk-
ward. but this arose chiefly from the
want Of completeness and the misun-
derstanding Of his meaning on the
part Of the reporter So far as this
journal is concerned, it could at no
time take issue with the Governor
with any other than feelings Of the
profoundest regret. This can be said
with equal truth Of the Standard and
the Clarion before their consolidation
into one paper
From later adyices as to the real
character Of Judge Sharkey' testimo
ny we can assure our readers that it
was substantially in unison with that
given by Mr. Stephens Of Georgia
Mr.. Stephens, however, exercised the
privilege Of correcting the report Of
his testimony before it was given to
the press, aprecaution which our sen
ator lid not take
WASHINGTON, May j.. 1866
Edttors oftbe .Stgnaqrd
/ have Just received your paper Of
the 9th. nit, which contains a crit
cism on my testimony before the Re
construction Committee, which. |
think is by no means warranted even
on the testimony as you have given it.
1t seems that it is not at the North
alone that my testimony has been
made the object Of criticism. / Ger
tainIv have made no effort or expressed
am opinion i'm favor Of DISTINGUISHING
ANYBODY. Nv testimony is very diff
feraat.y reported in different papers,
and it would seem that the most i'm
perfect report that | have yet seen
has fallen into your hands. You
probably have not q third Of the ties
timouy
When ] was called before the com
mittce. my testimony was taken down
i'm very hurried way by a clerk. He
promised me that it should be drawn
out and that | should have an oppOr
tunity Of correcting it, and insisted
that | should have that opportunity
before it was published, but | never
had, / know not why. Mr. Stephens
and others had copies furnished them
for correction
I wa, asked as to the antecedents
Of the Governor and other officers,
and / gave them. But in speaking Of
the Judges and the Attorney General
| added. "but | must do them the JUS
tice to say that they are now as loyal
as any men" These may not be the
precise words used, but certainly the
substance. And so | am reported in
every paper that have seen but yours
And YOU viii see that this is in accord
with the previous statement, that
there was not one disloyal man in fif-
tn. ! do not think that | expressed
the regret attributed to me that the
government was not in the hands
Of conservative men, for | consider
them all loyal | may have said that
/ regretted their election as secession
lists, rs it was known | did, on ac-
count Of the effect supposed it would
have in producing prejudices again~
the South and the result has been just
what ! expected it would be, as You
would soon discover if you were here
In this brief note | cannot undertake
further corrections or explanations.
Your Cbedient servant,
w /. SaARKFY.