The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-17


action on the bankrupt bill.
The House then took up the bill to re
| organize and establish the army of tbs
United States, and proceeded to it!
consideration.
WASHINGTON, April l6.-Hon. A. II
| Stephens was before the Reconstruction
| Committee on the 18th inst. He was
summoned and examined by Mr.. Bout
well as follows:'
Question-State yonr residence. An
swer-Crawfordsville, Georgia.
Question-What means have you had
since Lees surrender to ascertain the
sentiments of the people of Georgia with
regard to the Union? Answer was
at home in Georgia at the time of the
surrender of Gen. Lee, and remained
there till the 11th of May, and during
that time conferred with the people III
my immediate neighbOrhood, with the
Governor of the State, and with one or
two other leading or prominent men in
the State, from the llth OF May until
my return to Georgia, which was on
the 18th of October; L had no means OF
knowing anything of the public senti-
ment there except through the public
press, and such letters AS / received
from the time of my return until 1 left
the State on my present visit here; had
very extensive intercourse with the
people while visiting Augusta, and Wis
iting Milledgeville during the session
of the Legislature, first of the assemb-
ling again in January, and on their re-
assembling again the latter part OF
February; while there cOnversed very
freely and fully with all the prominent
leading men, or most of them, in the
Legislature, and with great many of
the prominent and influential men OF
the State not connected with the LegiS-
lature, and by letter from correspond
ence with the men in the State whom
have not met, L believe, that embraces
full answers to the question as to my
means of ascertaining the sentiment OF
the people of that State upon the sub
ject stated in the question.
Q.-As the result of yOur observation
what is your opinion of the purposes OF
the people with reference to the recon
struction of the Government, and what
are their desires and maintenance of
the Government?
Any opinion and decided opinion
is that an overwhelming majority of
the people of Georgia are exceedingly
anxious for the restoration of the Gov
eminent, and for the State to take her
former position in the Union, and to
have her Senators and Representatives
admitted into Congress, and to enjoy
all her rights and TO discharge all her
obligations as State under the Con-
stitution of the United States as it
stands amended.
Q.-what are their present views con-
corning the justice of the rebellion? Do
they ut present believe that it was n
reasonable or proper undertaking, or
otherwise?
Any opinion of the sentiments of
the people OF Georgia upon that subject,
is that the exercise of the right OF seces-
sion was resorted to by them from n
desire TO render their liberties more Sc
cure and belief on their part that this
was absolutely necessary for that OBJ
ject. They were divided upon the ques-
ton of the policy of the measure. There
was, however, but very little division
among them upou the question of the
right of it. 1t is now their belief, in
my opinion and give it merely as an
opinion, that the South's only hope for
their liberties is the restoration of the
Constitution of the United States and
the government of the United States
under the Constitution.
Q.-Has there been any change of
of opinion as to the right of secession
us right in the people of or in the
States.
Answer-I think there has bean a
very decided change of opinion as to
the policy of those who favored it. L
think the people generally are satisfied
sufficiently with the experiment never
to resort to that measure of redress
again by force. Whatever may be their
own abstract ideas upon that subject,
they have given up all idea of n main-
tenance of their opinions by IL resort to
force. They have come to the conclu-
sion that it is better to appeal to force
of reason and justice to the halls of
Legislation and the courts for the preser-
walton ofthe principles Unconstitutional
liberty than to the arena OF arms. 1t
is my settled conviction that there
is not any idea cherished at all in the
public mind of Georgia of ever resort
ing again to session, or to the exercise
of the right of secession. That whole
policy of the maintenance of their
lights, in my opinion, is at this time
totally abandoned.
Question-But the opinion as to the
right, as 1 understand, remains sub
stantially the same.
Answer-I cannot answer as to that.
Some have changed their opinion in
this respect. 1t would be an unusual
thing, as well rs IL difficult matter, for
n whole people to change their covic-
tions upon abstract truths or principles.
have not heard this view of the sub
iect debated or discussed recently, and
wish to be understood rs giving my
opinion only on that branch of the sub
ject which is of practical character
and importance.
Question-To what do you attribute
the change of opinion MS to the propriety
of attempting TO maintain their views
in the State?
A.-Ithink not more than half doz-
en- among my acquaintance but what
were almost unanimous in support
of the cause They differed also as to
the end to be attained by sustaining it.
Some looked to adjustment or settle
ment of the controversy upon any base
that would secure their Constitutional
rights. Others looked to u separate
Southern Nationality as their only
objects and hope. These different views
as TO the ultimate objects did not inter-
fere with the general active support to
the cause.
Q.-Was popular vote taken upon
the ordinance of secession?
A.-Only so far as in the election of
delegates TO our Convention,
Q.-There was no subsequent action?
A.-.No, sir, the ordinance of seces-
sion was not submitted to n legal vote,
but forced.
A.-Well sir, my opinion about that
derived from observation, is that the
change of opinion was mainly from the
operation of the war amongst them
selves and the results of the conflict
from their own authorities in their in
diyidual right of person and property
and from the general breaking down of
the constitutional barrier which usual
ly attend all protracted wars.
Q.-In 1861 when the ordinance of
secession was adopted in your State to
what extent was it supported by the
A.-After the proclamation of Presi-
dent Lincoln calling out 10000 militia
was issued, and blocking the Southern
ports, and the suspension of the writ
of habeas corpus, the Southern cause,
as it was termed received almost the
unanimous support of the people of
Georgia. Before that they were very
much divided on the question of the
noIicv Of secession bnt afterwards thew