The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-06-07
Emerson ynte4igeltter
Bill Arp is Called Before the Re-
construction Committee.
SUPPRESSED TESTIMONY.


TO TIE Editor Of the Metropolitas Record {:
Mr.. EDITOR: Murder will out out, and
sowill evidence Having seen Dan Rice's
testimony before the Destruction Com
mittee, I have felt sorter sighted, because
no mention amt been made of mine. L
suppose it has been suppressed, but am
not to be hid out in obscurity. Our coun-
try is the special jury, and by-and-by
this business viii go up before it on ap-
peal. The record must go up fair and
complete, and therefore I'll take occasion
to make public what swere to. | said
q good deal more than I can put down,
MIR. Editor, and at times my language
was considered impudent, but they
thought that was all the better for their
side, for it illustrated the rebellious spir-
It'll heard one of 'em say: 'Let him
5 go on-the ruling,passion strong in death.
He's good States evidence"
When was put on the stand, old
Boutwell, swere me most fercely and SOL
emily to speak the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, and observ-
I'D thathe was then entertaining about o
quart of double rectifed, and it looked
like it had soured on his stomach. Old
Blow was settin off on one side, with
memorandum book, gettin ready to note
down some s'garbled extracts"
Old Iron-works was Chairman, and
when he NODDED his Republican head, old
Boutwell,, says he: aYour name is Arp,
I believe, sir 2"
aSo-called,n saysI :
ssYou reside in the State Of Georgia, do
your =.
aIoan't say exactly says I. t'I live
in Rome, right in tho fork Of two lnjun
rivers"
.sIn the State of Georgia. says he,
fercely.
SIN state of uncertainty about that, :"
says I. eve don't know whether Geor-
ria is State or not. would like for
you to state yourself, if you know. The
state of the country requires that this
matter should be settled, and l will pro-
ceed to state
s.Never mind, sir" says he. "How old
are you, Mr.. Arp 2"
aThat depends on circumstances" says
: I. aI don't know whether to count the
last I've years or not. During the war,
your folks said that State couldn't Sc
cede, but that while she was in state of
rebellion she ceased to exist. Now, you
say we got out, and we shan't got back
again until 1870. A mans age has got
somethin to do with his rights, and it we
are not to vote, don't think we ought to
count the lime. That's about as near as
7 can come to my age, sir"
2 ssWell, sir" says he, "are you familiar
with the political sentiments of the citi-
zens Of you State Z"
SCOT no citizens yet, Sir, that we know
Of. Twill thank you to speak Of us as
people,
ssWeIl, sir" says he, aIll humor your
obstinacy. Are the people Of your State
aDon't epeak of il as a State, sir, if
you please. Pm on oath now, and you
must excuse me for being particular. Call
it a section"
Arp, are the people Of your section
sufficiently humbled and repentant to como
back into the Union onssuoh terms as we
may think proper to impose@
eNot much they ain't," saysI. II don't
think they are prepared for it yet. They
wouldn't voluntarily 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 Indifferent, and don't
care nothin about your Guy Fawkes bus
iness. Imean no respect to you, gentle
men, but I was swore to tell the whole
truth. Our people amt noticin you on
" out of curiosity. They don't expect
anything decent, or honorable, or noble,
from syou, and they've. gone to work dig
gin, and plowin, and plantin, and rsisin
boy children"
Right here the, man with memoran-
dunn scratched down garbled extract,
and old Boutwell,, says he: "What do
you mean by that, sirS What inference
do you intend ?" .
sl'm Stain facts,p says I. "You must
draw your own inferences. They are