Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-31
BILL ARP Is CALLED BEFORE THE RECON
| STRUCTION COMMITTEE.
SUPPRESSED TESTIMONY

To the Editor Of the Metropolitan Record:
Mr.. EDITOR Murder will out and will evi
dence Having seen Dan Rice's testimony before
the Destruction Committee, I have felt sortel
mine. I suppose it has been suppressed, but
am not to be hid out in obscurity. Our country
is the special jury and by and by this business
will go up before it on appeal. The record must
60 up fair and complete and therefore I'll take
occasion to make public What [ swore to. [ said
a good deal more than I can put down, Mr.. Edi-
tor, and at times my language was considered i'm
pudent, but they thought that all the better
it heard one of 'em say Let him go on-the
ruling passion strong in death. He's good States
evidence
When was put on the stand old Boutwell, swore
me most fiercely and solemnly to speak the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and
observed that he then entertaining about a
quart of double rectifed, and it looked like it had
soured on his stomach. Old Blow was settin of
on one side with memorandum book, gettin
ready to note down some garbled extracts"
Old Iron Works was Chairman, and when be
nodded his Republican head, old Boutwell, says
he /: -" Your name is Arp, believe, sir ?"
$50 called, says I.
':You reside in the State of Georgia, do you ?'
81 can't say exactly, says 1. 81 live in Rome,
right in the fork of two injun rivers"
g In the State of Georgia" says he tiercely.
In a state of uncertainty about that, says /.
eve don't know whether Georgia is State or
know. The state of the country requires that this
matter should be settled and will proceed to
state, -
"Never mind, sir" says he Glow old are
you, Mr. Arp ?"
'That depends on circumstances, says l. I" I
don't know whether to count the last five years or
not Durin the your folks said that State
couldn't secede, but that while she was In state
of rebellion she ceased to exist Now you say we
got out and we shan't Bet back again until 1870
A has, rOt IA with g
rights and if we are not to vote, don't think we
ought to count the time That's about near as
can come to my age sir.
"Well, SIR says he, care you familiar with
the political sentiments OF the citizens OF your
State ?"
"Got no citizens yet sir that we know Of I
will thanh you to speak of us as people,"
"Well, sir says he, "I'll humor your obstina-
cy. Are the people of your State -
"Dont speak of it as State SIR if you please
I'm on oath now, and you must excuse me for be-
ing particular Call it a section
nMr, Arp, are the people of your section sufh-
GENTLY humbled and repentant to come back into
Union on such terms as We may think proper to
impose p
"Not much they aint," says I. 81 dontthink
thew are prepared for it yet They wouldn't vol.
UNFAIRLY go it blind against your hand. They say
the deal wasn't fair and you've marked the cards
and stole the trumps but at the same time they
don't care darn what you do. They've become
lQO1uerenG ana OOn care uOLl1u aDOub your
Fawkes business. I mean no respect to you, gen
tlemen, but was swore to tell the whole truth
Our people amt noticin you only out of curiosi-
ty. They don't expect anything decent, or honor
able or noble from you, and they've gone to work
diggin and plowin and plantin and raisin boy
children"
Right here the man with a memorandum
scratched down a garbled extract, and old Bout
well says he "What do you mean by that sir !?
What Inference do you intend q
"I'm Stain facts, says I. "You must draw