Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-14
testimony BEFORE THE COMMIT
rEE ON RECONSTRUCTION-BRO-
'|EN DOSES.
wOICES FROM ALEXANDRIA.
CHAPTER S.
>ssa:oay Of LISINDER HILL, to1tc"


c.s::a.oup Of LTSINDER HILL, taAcn
JuM. 81. 1866.
Question: How long have youres!led in Al
2:2ndria!
...nsve:. ! nave resided in Alexandria for
&c O. three years.
u. Ut what State are you citizen:
(. Virginia.
=. are you native OF Virginia
/. No, sir; am a native of Maine.
-. What have been your opportunities to
Gy2er4e the state Of public feeling IN Virginia
yiace tne close of hostilitieS in regard to the
cCTernment Of the United States?
4. nave made it something OF study to
2bsarre the state OF feeling there and While
j, 7e 0ecn confined for the most part, in my
owr observations, to the city OF Alexandria,
ro, neve seen 4 great many persons from all
leTtJ oi the State. ..
q. Have you seen persons from the southern
saG eastern parts Of the State?
l.. Zes; I have seen persons from all parts
9 the State.
.. What is the general state of feeling on
re part of the rebel portion of the State OF
T::g;aia towards the government Of the United
friendly or unfriendly?
t.. think it very unfriendly. There are
re-y few, indeed, Of those who are rebels who
l,ould accept the present state OF affairs and go
=. honestly with a reconstructed State govern
,aent; cut tbe majority of them are just as BIT
~ and more bitter than they were when actual
lostilities we're going on.
= What mas produced that increase of bit
.e,ne2s? a.,
;. ! think that the len;entcourse Of the gov
9-1roebt towards them has tended to produce
:; g'he abolition Of all restrictions on the cleo
ol, rUh ho WOW ROB
% come ir 10 q full participation In the elective
;.iyileges, has made them great deal worse
.laa they we're before.
J From what source has that relaxation
proceeded? ..s.,
4. It mas proceeded really from Governor
2aiypoint. Peirpoint engineered the matter
siter he went to Richmond.
.. Is there no limitation in Virginia OF the
light OF renels to vote?
l.. Not in the slightest
.. And has the present legislature been elect
2I Withouout reference to the distinction be-
:Eaen loyal and disloyal citizens?
t.. Yes, sir; elected almost unanimously by
:s6cis.
.. Ther thelegislature is u rebel legislature
T. 1t is rebel legislature cmphatlcally.
j. And that character has arisen from the
oclicy Of Gov. Peirpoint, you think?
Z. There is no doubt of it at all.
j. What restrictions or qualifications does
he Alexandria constitution contain in regard
o the right Of voting?
t.. The alexandria constitution imposed GER
tain restrictions on the right of voting and hold
:?s office Article III Of the constitution IS
2are inserted.
,. State what has been done under that
provision of the constitution.
+. This was the provision Of the Alexandria
constitution which was adopted IN April, 1864,
End is tae fundamental law of the State. The
legislature which was in existence at the time
o. the surrender of Lee consisted OF about
:.?enty members altogether As soon as Gov.
2airooint got to Richmond and had time to
communicate with the leading Virginians, chief
!: Of the rebel persuasion, he sent around to the
members Of the legislature asking them to meet
lin in Richmond to consult with him IN regard
0 the state Of public affairs After they went
30 Richmond he issued call for an extraordl-
aagy session Of the legislature. That leglsla,
:pge re. at Richmond on the Goth or 2lst OF
pne last, and Immediately repealed all restrlc-
lens upon voting aud referred 1t to the people
u the neEt election whether the Legislature
,"hicil next met should not be clothed with
.}HTer 10 repeal all restrictions upon. holdlng
0tice or upon amending the constitution. All
'eStrictiOns having been taken away from voting,
;oweI was given almost unanimously TO the
legislature that is next 10 convene TO after or
,ratnd that article Of the constitution: Inc
legislature that mas just assembled at Rlchmond
mis- winter has considered itself clothed with
oil power to do this, and has proceeded 10
make such amendments as they considered ne
:es:ary. These amendments have been TO aool-
,sn al! restrictions upon holding ottce or Iot-
ing, growing out Of the rebellion. In eectlnrg
Members Of that legislature | may say that the
lrst qualification throughout the State was that
he candidate should have been actively and
7arny engaged in the rebellion against the
government of the United States; any person
mo Dut himself upon his record OF loyalty was
sure to be defeated. The condition of the peo
lie as regards obedience to the government OF
lie United States has been growing gradually
:,c:se since the surrender of Lee; and it has
29een rapidly growing worse, think, sincc the
Legislature met at Richmond.
=. What effect has the Presidents hberall-
y in extending pardcns and amnesty to the
rebels had upon the rebel community IN FT-
ginia?
A. It has had the same effect In character
aS the repeal of the restrictions upon suffrage
and voting. 1t has tended to produce upon the
minds of the late rebels in Virginia the idea
that they can split the Union party OF the
country, and array President johnson and GER
tain classes of the Union party with him in OPP
POSITION to that party which did the actual and
effective work in carrying on the war They
are going to form an extensive alliance with the
copperheads, and to combine to contscate the
government of the United States. That is the
idea they have. They have learned to regard
President johnson as natural ally OF theirs
sgalnst the republican party.
Y. Have you ever seen any Of them who
haTe talked with the President about that!
\. | do not rannllont fhnt 1 hnnn