The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-13
OH A r LIE S 7 O N.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 10, 1866
4 WILLING WITNESS.

Il WILLING WITNESS.
We yesterday presented synopsis of the Re-
port of tho Reconstruction Committee. We Incl
dentally referred to the character Of tho "facs''
which led to the adoption of this Report, and to
the manner in which these ''facts" were obtained.
Our papers have, from time to time, published
reports of tho catechetcal oxercises held under
the auspices of this Committee Con. LEE, Ex-
Vice-President STEPHENS Judge SuARKEY, and
other distinguished Confederate leaders, were put
to the question, and homes ly answered according
to truth and the dictatesof their conscience. Their
testimony, however, hadno weight; it WAS not the
article wanted. The Committee perseyered, and
in course of time were completely, triumphantly
successful, in procuring the very sfacts" they
were in search of, and from distinguished South
ern ex-Confederate. What could be fairer on their
part, than to draw the logical inference from such
testimony
But who was this distinguished OK Confederate?
And what are the "facts' furnished by him be-
fore this Inquisition2 Tho following extract from
recent Cincinnati paper will answer these ques
tions:
Among the most important evidence taken by
the Congressional Reconstruction Committee is
| that OF Oapt. T.. Mackey. The witness ia native
La. He was Chief Engineer of the rebel Trans.
mississippi Department during the war, and sur
rendered on the 9th OF May, 1865, being at the
time member Of Con. Price 3 staff. A month or
Two later he was appointed Provost Marshal oi
Lowan, and the adjoining counties of Texas. He
entered energetically upon his duties,. and seems
10 nave acted IN all respects as loyal officer
should. He says he found the general sentiment
OF the people to be notony opposed to the Govern
ent OF the United States, but bitterly antagonis-
tic TO all who declared themselves willing to act
in good faith toward the Government-uhe good
faith to the Government in the Judgment Of the
people at largo in Texas, means, bad faith to the
community.
Now, before we proceed any further wi th the
Captains testimony, il may not be Improbable to
examine into his competency as witness in the
case. The internal evidence contained in the
foregoing paragraph is in itself very damaging to
the character and oredibility of the witness. He
surrendered as a member of Gen. PRICES staff,
May 27, 1865, and ga month or two later was ap-
pointed Provost Marshal OF Lowan, and the ad-
joining counties of Texas" (nnder Federal author
ity, be it understood). This is tho first and only
case on record, as far as our knowledge extends,
of Confederate officer being elevated to the dig
nitiesof Federal command; and that. too, within a
month or two Of his surrender and parolei Capt.
MAcKEY evidently found it as easy to change his
allegiance, and swallow all the necessary oaths as
to doff his weather-besten grey, and don the new
and shining blue. Happy he with conscience so
convenient. 'eeA-
But we never before knew that this species of
"easy" conscience formed commendable ouaIiH-
cation in the character of Witness Truth, we
believe, is supposed to be the cardinal requisite
for proper discharge Of this function. But what
regard for truth can be imputed to him, who, by
his words and actions gives the lie to-day to what
he said and did only four weeks ago2 We, Of
course, have no reference to his surrender nor to
his taking the oath Of slegience and acting up to
all it's requirements But why Provost Marshall
Another TITUS OATES, he Mt once sets out with
his newly acquired posse to arrest parties who, he
alleges, had made themselves specially obnoxious
to the Union cause during the war.
NOW, let us suppose the ''facts" given by Capt.
MAoKEY all in accordance with truth; that resist
ance was made to his authority; that he did find
the people ininical to the loyal cause [be it borne
In mind, ne is the representative Of the u United
statesl can we not very readily account for it ALL
on the most ordinary principles Of human nature?
ihe gallant Captain Was known to all these people
as i stingushed Confederate officer. True. he
was not Chief Engineer Of tho Trans mississippi,
as he states; but that is matter. With the most
brazen-faced shamelcssness he changes his coat,
and sets out to institute an inquisition into the
alsioyal acts OF these people-which acts, il such
there were, came to his knowledge by reason OF
his late association with them.
what must we style Captain MAoKEY2 A double
raitorr Did he enter the Confederate oause
against his convictions, and then by his rapid
conversion to the United States Provost Marsha},s
ONCE forswear his late sentiments? Shall we call
him spy2 Or is he simply to be regarded in tho
character OF States evidencep All these deduo-
tions arsfrom the Internal evidence contained in
his testimony. But, fortunately, we are not re.
Stricted to these. The previous character of n
witness is an important factor as regards the Gre.
dioility OF his testimony; and as Captain MAoKEy
is oiaSoned abroadas native Of Charleston, g. c.,
u s reasonable to suppose that his early oontem-
arlesknow something Of his antecedents.