Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-31
SITUATION OF THE SOUTH.
Testimony Of gen. Robert f. Lee.


dence:
Question. Where Is your present res
dence? Answer. Lexington, Va.
@ How long have you been in Lex
ingtOn? A. Since first Of October last
nearly five months.
@ Are you acquainted with the stat
Of feeling among what we call secession
lists, at present, in Virginia toward III
Federal Governments A. I do not knoN
that / am have been living very retired
and have had but little communicated
with politicians; know nothing nor
than from my observation and from suCl
facts as have come to my knowledge.
Q. What is your opinion from observa
tions among the secession people Of tha
State Of the feeling toward the Govern
ernment at this time2 a. So far a
came TO my knowledge, I do not know
Of a single person who either feels o
contemplstes any resistance to the Gov
eminent Of the United States, or, indeed
anv opposition 10 il no word has reache,
me TO either purpose
o. From what YOU have observed is
your oDinion that they are friends t0Warl
the Government and that they viii co
operate to sustain and uphold it in fu
ture. A. I believe they viii certainly
aceufesee in the Government, and, so fal
a. i have heard any one express an Opin
ion, they are for cooperating with Presi
dent johnson in his policy.
O. In his policy in regard 70 the restO
ration Of the whole country? A. I have
heard persons with whom l have con
yersed express great confidence in the
wisdom OF his polic- Of restoration, and
they seem 10 look forward 70 il as hope
Of restoration
@. How do they feel in regard % that
portion of the people Of the United States
who have been forward and Jealous il
the prosecution Of the war against the
rebellion9 4. Well, I do not know;
have heard nobody express an opinion in
regard TO il. As / said before, / have not
had much conversation with politicians
in the country, il there are any, Every
one seems to be engaged in bis own ai-
fairs, and endeavoring 10 sustain the civil
Government of the State. ! have heard
no expression Of sentiment toward any
particular portion Of the country.
Q. How do they (secessionistsl feel in
regard 10 the payment OF the Federal
debts? A. have never heard any one
speak on the subject. / suppose they
must expect to pay the taxes levied by
the Government ] have heard them
speak in reference TO the payment Of
taxes and their efforts to raise money
therefor, which I suppose Is for their
share Of the debt. ! have never heard
any one speak in opposition TO the pay
ment Of taxes or Of any resistance 10 their
payment. Their whole effort has been
to try and raise money 70 pay the taxes.
Q. From your opinion and knowledge
Of the people of Virginia, would they, il
-. 1T Haff ~ "a
and reject that debt2 A. never heard
anv one say or speak on that subject, but
from my knowledge OF the people, be-
Hsve that they would be in favor Of the
payment Of all just debts.
Q. Do they, in your opinion, regard
that as a just debt? A. do not know
what their opinion is on that subject; ]
have never heard any opinion expressed
contrary to il. Indeed, as / said in the
beginning, ] have had very little discus
sion or intercourse with the people. ]
believe the people would pay the debts
they are called on TO pay. / say that
from my knowledge Of the people gen
orally.
Q. Would they pay that debt or their
portion Of il with as much alacrity as
people ordinarily pay their taxes to the
Government? A. ] do not know that
they would make any distinction be-
tween the two taxes laid by the Govern
nent. So far g. / know they are pre-
pared 10 pay 20 the best Of their ability,
I never heard them make any dis
tinction.
@. What is the feeling Of the people Of
Virginia toward the payment Of the
so-caIled Confederate debt2 A. Ibelieve
50 far as my opinion goes { ! have no facts
70 20 upon that they would be willing
To pay the Confederate debt too.
q. You think they would9 A. think
they would If they had the power and
ability to do so. / have never heard
any one in the State with whom ! have
conversed speak Of repudiating any
debt.
Q. 1 suppose the Confederate debt Is
valueless in the market in Virginia? a.
Entirely, 50 far as / know. ] beliYe the
people look upon il a. lost entirely. /
never heard any questions on the sub
ject.
q. Do YOU reeollect when the COnfed-
crate bonds were made payable? 4. !
have a general recollection that they
were made payable six months after
declaration Of peace.
Q. Six months after q declaration Of
peace between the United States and
Confederate Government? 4. / think
they ran that way.
q. So that the bonds are not yet due
by their terms? A. suppose unless il
Is considered that there is peace now
they are not due.
O. How do the people Of Virginia, the
Eecessionists particularly, feel toward
the freedmen 4? A. Every one with whom
I have associated express kind feelings
toward the freedmen. They wish TO see
them get on in the world, and particular
Iy 70 take up some occupation fer q living,
and to turn their hands 10 some work.
know that efforts have been made among
the farmers near where l live TO induce
them 70 engage for the year at regular
wages
q. DO you think there is a willingness
% the part Of theiT former masters 10
give them fair wages for their labor2 A.
] believe ii Is 50. The farmers generally
prefer those servants who have lived
with them before, / have heard them
eEFress their preference for the men
whom they knew, who had lived with
them before, and their wish 20 get them
% return 10 work. ! am not aware OF
any combination among the whites TO
keep down the wages of the blacks. |
have heard that in several counties land /
owners have met iR order % establish 3 /
uniform rate q wages, out / never heard /
OF any combination % keep down wages |
or establish rate which they did not 1
think fair. The means Of paying wages ]
iB Virginia are very limited nov, and 4
fhere Is difference Of opinion as 70 how /
a9ucl each person IS able 20 pay.
@. How do they feel in regard 70 the /
education Of the blacks Is there a gene 1
raj willingness or unwillingness to have |
them educated? ? A. Where / have been I
the ',o~',la have exhibited WILLINGNESS !
mat tbe blacks should be educated, aud |
they express an opinion that it would be 1
better for the blacks and whites.
Q. General, you are very competent 10 /
judge of the capacity Of black men to /
goguire knowledge; ! want your opinion
IN that capacity as compared with white
men? A. do not know that / am par
ticularly qualified 70 speak on that sub
ject, as YOU seem TO intimate, but do not
think he is as capable Of acquiring
knowledge as the white man Is. There
are some more apt than Others. have
known some 10 gain knowledge and skill
~ their trades or professions. have
had servants Of my own who learned TO
read and write very well.
Y. Do they show a capacity to obtain
q knowledge Of mathematics and the
exact sciences A. ] have no kmowl-
edge on that subject am merely ac-
guainted with those who have learned
Tne common rudiments Of education.
3. General are you sEare Of any COM
biustion among the blacks Of Virginia,
anywhere in the State, having in view
the disturbance OF the peace, or any inn
proper or unlawful act 2 A. lam not.
have seen no evidence Of it, and have
heard Of none. Wherever i have been
they have been quiet and orderly but
not disposed TO work, OF rather not dis
posed TO any continuous engagement to
work, but just short jobs, TO provide them
with the Immediate means Of subsistence.
Y Has the eolored race generally rs
much love for money and property as the
white race? A DO not think il has
The blacks whom know look more TO
the present than the future.
q. Does that absence of q lust for
money arise more from the nature Of the
pegro than from his former servile esndi-