The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-07-07
TEE SOUTHERN PEG
FILE.
Prof. FOrshcy Before the Recon
structiOn Committee.
From the n. o. Picayunc.l '

H
shey. formerly Of this city, now ofTex
as, was summoned TO appear before tn
Reconstruction Committee, to testif,
to the condition and disposition of tn,
States ''lately in rebellion He tolt
them, in a very straightforward way,
good many truths:
g. Ofwllat State are you o resident
and how long, A. | have resided l:
years in the State Of Texas.
Q. From what State did You emf.
CRATE to Texas. A. | claim to be
Virginian, though chiefly reared il
Ohio, whittier my father removed from
Virginia in my childhood; / received
my collegiate education at Kenyon
College, Ohio, my military and scien
tiic education at West Point; my life
Of manhood has been passed in louisa
Ma and Texas.
Q. Have you been in the rebel ser
vice, and in what way. A. | have
served during the war; was Lieutenan'
Colonel of Engineers, chiefly engaged
in the drlences west of the Mississippi
Q. What is the state of public order
and obedience to the United States an.
thoritics in Texas, and the other States
OF which you have acknowledged. A
Good order and obedience are univer.
sal in Texas and elsewhere, as | believe
1t has never been otherwise in Texas,
unless probably ON the Rio Grando
frontier there may be occasional excep-
lions 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 presence
and authority OF the United States
troops, and whether. upon their reno
val, there would not be disorder and
dtsloyaly. \. lt'is certainly in nc de-
gree due to the presence oftroops. In
fact, any exceptions to the remark may
he imputed to the irritating fact that
soldiers are about. Their removal
would be everywhere 4 public blessing,
unless indeed on the frontier, to guard
against Indians or Mexican robbers.
G. Why do you say ''irritating,' are
they not well behaved. A. Generally
they are, but their presence is under
stood as an emblem Of our submission.
Every bayonct is a symbol of our sub
,jugation, and is viewed as an evidence
that our surrender and parole arc not
received in good faith. W. need no
watching, and naturally dislike the
guards that watch us.
q. Would loyal men be safe among
you without Federal protection. A.
All men were safe before there was
amy Federal authority among us. After
the surrender we were months without
officers or!aw. A military order vaca-
ted or annullcd all official functions,
and deprived us of all species Of legal
restraint, sud for months furnished no
substitute for the authority suppressed.
Troops have not any time reached our
interior generally, and yet, throughout
the vast area o TeXas, just ~replenishcd
by The return of fifty thousand disban-
dcd soldiers, there was as good order
and as much respect for rights and NOR
ais as in any Northern States or else
where, | regard it AS 4 create test Of
our civilization; l wish the fact to be
put on record in our favor. The same
was true, as | believe, in most of the
Southern States. Not a single resis-
tn &c to Federal authority has eve ia
kan place to the present day and when
i is considered that half a million of
men have just returned from a conflict
Of four years, in which they have
fought for national life and honor, we
think they should claim q respect that
should remove scntincls and disband
the armies, white and black, that watch
us.
Q, 1t is generally believed that the
troops are kept to humiIiate the people.
\. Perhaps that would too strongly
express it. They feel it is calculated to
humiiiatc, and that those who order it
arc reckless Of this fact. We believe
it to be obvious TO all, both North and
South, that negro troops placed to
guard their late masters, is viewed with
repugnance and proper Indignation by
every man, woman and child of true
spirit in the South and some Of the
military treatment oftlie South is ac-
ceptcd by them rs intended to degrade
them.
Q. Have negro troops been general
~ sent ~ garrisous in Texas?
4. Fortunately they have not. On
the frontier they have been sent in
great numbers, hut we have very little
population there, and do not feel it.
At Galveston they have had them, but
only passing to and from other service,
[ fear that the results would have been
serious had they been generally sent
through Texas. There are some things
Our returned soldiers would not bear,
and | believe that is one. The question
us to the safety of loyal men | have not
fully answered. From the time of sur
render there were agents and drum
mers, and cotton buyers from the
Northern States all over Texas; and ut
this time they and other emigrants and
travellers from the loyal States, so call
cd, probably number thousands in Tex
rs. In no ease have they been inter
ruptcd, so far rs ! know. Ii there
have been exceptions, they were doubt
less the result of %impudent meddling.
or ccnsorious language. This will
provoke individual retort and chastise-
mcnt anywhere in Texas. Those who
mind their own business will be unin6.
lested. 1t Is one ofour habits to mind
our own business. and to expect and
require il Of others. We are glad, to
receive men who bring capital to help
us revive our shattered fortunes, and
10 not care whence they come. / be,
lieye these remarks hold rood for all