The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-06-05

one seems TO De enE-geu III 1IS o"n a.
fairs, and endeavoriug to restore the civil
government of the State: | have heard
no expression of sentiment towards any
particular portion of the country.
I O. How DO the secessionists feel In
regard to the payment of the debt of the
I United States contracted in the proseen.
ton of the war? A / have never heard
any one speak on the subject; I suppose
! hcy must crpect topdy the ta.ces ter'ed
! 6y the Gouermmcnt; have heard them
speak in reference to the payment of taxes,
and Of their efforts TO raise money to pay
tho taxes, ,chich suppose are TOR their
share Of the debt; have never heard ary
one speak in opposition to the payment
Of taxes, or of resistance to their payment !;
their whole effort has been to try and
raise the money for the payment of the
taxes.
Q. From your knowledge of the state
of public feeling in Virginia, is it to your
opinion that the people would, if the
question were left to them, repudiatate
and reject that debt? A. l never heard
any one speak on that subject, but, from
my knowledge of the people, | believe
they would be in favor Of the payment of
all just debts.
O. Do they, in your opinion, regard
that as just debit A. / do not hn0V
uhat their opjnion as on tie subject ctI
that particular debt; | have rever heard
any opinion expressed, but have never
heard any opinion expressed contrary to
it indeed, as l said in the beginning, I
have had very little discussion or inter
course with the people believe that the
people would pay the debts they are called
upon to pay l say that from my knowl-
edge Of the people generally.
Q. Would they pay that debt, or their
portion of it, with as much alacrity as
people ordinarily pay their taxes to their
Government A. I do not hnoe0 that
they would make any distinction petween
the two; the taxes laid by the Govern
mert, so far as | know, they are prepared
to pay to the best of their ability never
heard them make any distinction.
@. What is the feeling Of that portion
Of the people in Virginia in regard to the
payment Of the so-called Confederate
debt? A l believe, so far as my opin-
ion goes-I have no facts to go upon, but
merely base ny opinion on the knowledge
[ have of the people-thcy 'oou2d be acH.
Ting to pay tie Confederate debt, too.
Q. You think they would? A /
Miuh they aOou2d If they had the Poacer
and ability to do so have never heard
any one In the State with whom | have
conyersed speak of repudiating any debt.
Q. In the event of war between the
United States and any foreign power,
such as England or France, if there should
be held out to the secession portion of the
people Of Virginia, or the other recently
rebel States, fair prospect of gaining
their independence and shaking off tho
| Government of the United States, is it or
is it not your opinion that they would
avail themselves of that opportunity? A.
I cannot speoh ,0ith any certointyom that
point Ido not hnoV hoao far they might
be attracted by their feelings. L have
nothing whatever to base an opinion upon.
So far as | know they contemplate moth
ing of the kind, and as to achat may hap
pen In the future I cannot soy.
i @. Do you not frcqneut!y hear in
your intercourse with seeessionists in
Virginia expressions of hope that such
a war may break out? A. I cannot
sag that Haze heard it; on the contrary,
[ have heard persons-I do not know
whether you call them secessiorists or
not; ; I mean those people in Virginia
with whom associate-express hope
that the country may not be led into a
! war.
@. In such an event, do you not
think that that class Of people whom I
call secessionists would join the common
enemy2 A. 1t is possible; 1t depends
upon the feelings Of the iadioiduaI
; @, If it is fair question, you may
t answer it or not as you choose-what, in
such an event, might be your own choice? !?
a. l haze no disposition noa0 to do 1t :;
and never have had.
Q: And you cannot foresee that such
!: would be your inclination in such an
event? A. No, I can only judge from
, the past I do not hno,o aOhat circuns-
stances 1t may produce; Icannot pretend
F to toresce cUents SO far as l know the
feeling of the people of Virginia, they
wish for peace.
@. During the civil war was it no: con-
templated by the Government of the Con-
federacy to form au alliance with some
foreign nation, if possible? A. IbeZieve
1t acas their aUjsh tt do 50 1t Mey could ;
It was their wish to have the Confederate
Government recognized as an independent
: government; I have do doubt that if it
could have made favorable treaties itwould
have done so, but knew nothing Of the
policy of the Government; had no hand