Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-29
o. ne people q the South what e your observation

Of The people q the South what your observation
A. From the Confederate soldiers have heard
no expression of any other opinion. They looked
upon the war as necessary evil, and went through
it. have seen them relieve the wants OF Federal
soldiers on the field. The orders always were that
the whole Held should be treated alike. Parties
were sent out TO take in the Federal wounded
as well as the Confederate, and the surgeons were
told to treat the one as they did the other. These
orders have been given by me repeatedly on every
field.
Q. Do you think that the good feeling on their
part towards the rest of the people has continued
since the close of the war;
A. know nothing to the contrary. | made sew
eral efforts to exchange the prisoners after the car
| tel was suspended did not know why it was sus-
pended. do not know to this day which side took
the initiative. | knew that there were constant
complaints made on both sides. | merely knew it
from public rumor. | offered to General Grant,
around Richmond, that we should ourselves ex-
change all the prisoners in our hands. There was
committee from the Christian Association, think,
which reached Petersburg and made an application
to Inc for passport to visit all the prisoners at the
South. My letter to them suppose they have
told them that had not that authority, that it
would be only obtained from the War Department
at Richmond: but that neither they nor could re-
lieve the suferngs of the prisoners, that the only
thing to be done for them was TO exchange them;
and to show would do whatever was in my power,
offered them to send to City Point all the prisoners
command extended, provided they returned an
equal number of mine man for man. ! reported
this to the War Department, and received an answer
that they would place at my command all the prs
oners at the South if the proposition was accepted
heard nothing more on the subject.
z. Has there been any considerable change in
the number of negro population in Virginia during
the last fonr years!
A. suppose it has diminished, but do not
know.
Q. Diminished in consequence of more negroes
going South than was made up by the natural in
creasel
A. My generel opinion is that the number has
diminished, and for the reason you give.
.. | sHppOse that the mass of the negroes in
Virginia at the present time are able to work-that
there not many helpless ones among them
A. There are helpless ones, certainly, but | do
not know to what extent.
o. What is your opinion about its being an ad.
vantage TO Virginia to keep them there at all ? Do
you not think that Virginia would be better of
if the colOred population were to 60 to Alabama
louisiana and the other Southern States
4. | think it would be better for Virginia if she
could get rid of them. That is no new opinion with
me. | have always thought so, and have always
been in favor of ncipation-gradual emancipa-
ton.
o. As question of labor alone do you not think
that the labor which would flow into Virginia if the
negroes leave il for the cotton States would be far
more advantageous to the State and to its futule
prosperity.
A. think it wonld be for the benefit Of Virginia,
and believe that everybody there would be willing
to aid it.
Q. Do you not think that the State of Virginia
is absolutely injured and its future impaired by tie
presence of the black population there z!
A. | think it is.
q. And do you not think it is peculiarly adapted
to the quality of labor which would flow into it from
its great natural resources in twas made more
attracted by the absence of the colOred race
4 | do