Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-30

very much on their own conduct. III they com
fined themselves 20 their own business, aad did
not interfere 10 provoke controversy with
their neghbors, / don't believe they would be
mciested. There is no desire TO keep out labor
and capital On the contrary, they are very
anxious to get labor and capital into the State,
The manner in which they would be received, as
l said before, would depend entirely upon the
individual. They might make themselves OBJ
nOXiOus You can understand.
BY Mr.. HOward-Is there not general dislike
OF Northern men among seeess0nistsf a sup
pose they wOniG prefer not 10 associate with them
/ do not know that they would select them as
sociates. q Do they avoid them and ostracise
their society A. They might avoid them. They
would not select them as associates unless there
was some reason. 1 don't know that they would
associate until they became acquainted. / think
it probable that they would not admit them into
their social circles.
would rather work for Northern than South
ern man? A. think it very probable that they
would prefer the Northern man, although have
no facts. know of numbers of the blacks engag-
ing with their masters. and know of good many
who prefer to go of and look for new homes.
Whether it is from any dislike to their former
masters. or from desire t9 cnange' or tnat they
What Is your opinion in regard to the material
interest of Virginia. Do you think they will be
equal 10 what they were before the rebellion, un1
long time for them to reach their former stand
ard. | think after some years they VIII reach 1t.
hope they will exceed it but It can not be hoped
number Ofyears 2. On the whole, the condition
ofthngs in Virginia is hopeful, both in regard to
its material interests, and the future peace OF the
country? A. l have heard great hopes expressed.
and great cheerfulness and willingness to labor.
g. Suppose that the policy Of President johnson
should be all that you anticipate, and that you
should realize all that you expect in the improve
ment ofyour material interests. do you think that
the result of that will be the gradual restoration
of the old feeling? A. That would be the natu-
that result can be brought about Y. There Is a
fear in the public mind that the friends OF the
policy in the South adopt 1t because they see IN 1t
the means Of regaining the political position
which they lost in the recent contest. Do you
think that is the main idea with them, or do they
merely look 70 It. as you say, as the best means OF
and prosperity Of their respective StatesY A. AS
to the first point you make do not think that l
ever heard any person speak upon II. L never
heard the points separated. have heard them
speak generally as to the effect Of the policy Of
President johnson. The feeling Il. so far as L
know, that there Is not that equality extended to
the Southern States as is enjoyed by the North.
Q. You do not feel, down there, that while you
accept the result we are as generous as we
ought to be. under the eirc9nstaneesT cum, an les A.
rous O. That is the feeling down thereY A.
Yes and they think it is the best policy-those
who reflect on the subject and are able 70 Judge
Q. understand it to be your opinion that gene,
rosity and Iberalty toward the entire South would
be the surest means of regaiping their good opln-
ion? A. Yes, and the speediest., y understand
"
sions of any combination among the leading Sc
cessiOnists TO renew the war, or any thing OF the
kind? A. have no reason IN the world TO thlnk
So O. Have you heard that subject talked over
among the politicians? A. No, SIR, have not
have not heard that matter suggested. z; Let
me put another political case: Suppose the Exec
utiye chair of the United States should be filed
by a President like Buchanan, who rejected the
right Of coercion, so called; and suppose Con-
gress should exist here entertaining the same po,
litcal opinions thus presenting to tAe once rebel
States the opportunity to again seeede from the
Union would they, or not In your opinion
avail themselves of that opportunity or some
Of them? A. L suppose 1t would depena
upOn the circumstances existing at the time. II
their feelings should remain embittered and their
affections alienated from the rest OF the States
think it very probable they might do so, provided
they thought il was to their interest. do not |
know there is adeep feeling of dislike towards the
/ think il itprobableso some anlnoslty
may exist among some ofthe people. think that |
they were disappointed us to the result ofthe war
| know of no condition of discortent against the |
Government among the secessionists. L believe ]
that the people will perform towards the doVern-
ment all Of the duties they are required 70 per-
form. think that is the general feeling. q Doyou
think that it would be practicable teeonvlcta |
man in Virginia of treason for having taken part |
In this rebellion against the GOvernment, by Nir-
yinia jury2 A. On that point have no knowl- /
edge and l do not know what you would consider
treason against the Government II you mean |
past acts Mr.. Howard-Yes. sir. General Lee
have no knowledge as to what their views on
that subject in the past are. Y. You understand
paneled in your own neighborheod taken by lot. |
would if be practicable to convict, for instance,
jefferson Davis, for having levied war on the
United States, and thus having committed the |
crime of treason3 A. think il would be very pro-
Dable that they would not consider he had com
nitted treason. do not know whether Jury
would heed the instructions Of the court to convict
he offender. q. They do not generally suppose
hat it was treason against the government, do
hey? A. | do not think that they do so con-
'der it, so far as | know: They look upon the
lction Of a State in withdrawing from the Gov
carrying the individuals In It along
with it, and that the State was responsible for
he act and not the individual. | am now refer
ring to the past. O. State. if you please and if
you are disinclined you need not answer the
lueston-what your own personal views on that
question werep A. That was my ylew-that the
act of Virginia, in withdrawing herself from
the Union. carried me along, a 5 a citizen of Nir-
Zinia, and that her laws and her acts were bind
in taking the course you didP A.
Yes. sir. q. have been told, General that you
have remarked TO some of your friends, in conyer-
sation, that you were rather wheedled oTkcheated
In that course by politicians. A. do not recolect
ever making that remark. do not think ever
made it. q. II there be any other matter about
which you wish to speak. do so freely. A. Only 1
in reference TO that last question put to me.
may have said. and | may have believed, that
.he positions of the two, sections which they
held 10 each other brought about by the |
of the country; that the great mass of
IF the people, if they understood the real ques-
ion. would have avoided it, but not that had
been Individually wheeded by the politicians.
But did believe at the time that it was an un-
condition of affairs, and might have
been avoided iffOrbearance and wisdom had been
practised on both sides.
General Lee then closed his evidence in stating
n reply to questions that the people of the South
gould not like the proposed Constitutional |
Amendment; that he was not aware of any cruel
les practised on our soldiers at Belle Isle, though
he was aware they suffered many privations. He
declares distinctly that he had no command over
he prisoners depots, and did not even know, un-
il he saw in the papers this summer, who COM
handed at Andersonville.