New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-29
RECONSTRUCTION.
Evidence Of Gen. Terry Before the
Committee Of Fifteen.
POLITICAL CONDITION OF VIRGINIA
sPseis Dispatch TO The N. Y Tribune.
WASHINGTON. "Wednesday. Nal

Iefry DclOle the kecOnsuuctlOn committee:
GEN. TERRY's EVIDENCE
Major Gen. Alfred H. Terry sworn and cxamined
by MI Howard O. Whist is Your rank in the army
A. L am MaioT-General Of Volunteers ard Brigadier
General and Brevet Major General in the United States
army.
@ Where are you now stationcdi A. In Richmond.
Virginia.
Q. How long have you been in command there1 A.
Since about the middle Of last June.
O. What amount Of force have you in your Depart
menti A. Iy the last return there were present and
sbsent about 942 men; the number actually present IN
the Department including officers Of the Veteran Re
serve Corps reporting 70 the Freedmen's Commissioner
is between 9 600 and 100
O. Al what points are they chiefly stntionedg A Az
Richmond Fredericksburg, Charlottesville. LynchbuTc
Bristol Dansvile. Petersburg. City Point Norfolk
Fort Monroe, Yorktown and williamsburg These
are mostly one and two Company posts.
What Is the territorial xont Of your Department
a The State OF virginia with the exception Of Alex.
sndria FAIRFAX and London Counties and the northern
part OF The Shenandoah Valley
q. Heve you much TO do with the Freedmen. Bureau
IL your Department. A. have great deal Of bust
ness comes TO from the Bureau and am in constant
COMMUNICATION with Col Brown, the Assistant Com
missioner.
Q. What yoDr means Of knowledge of the state Of
affairs In virginia or throughout your Department
A do not come in direct pc sonal contact with the
people of Virginia much as many Of nv subordnates
DO; have no social Intercourse with any except those
known 70 be Union people
Q. Why nOtf a. They do not suit me- and ii is mel
ther becoming my position the commanding officer
of the Department consistent with my self respect
from the business that comes TO officially from OFF
cal reports OF nv subordinates and from officers III
formation OF occurrences which receive nom those
of my own people In whom have confidence; II IS de-
rived also from what see in the public press 10 Viz
giRin, and from what Is brought TO my attention Off
eally snd unoficiay by the Commissioner Of Freed.
mems affairs; frequently see citizens on Official bust
ness bot not a. frequently my subordinaeS do my
business is chiefly done Oh paper.
=. What. generally. is the feeling the part OF the
Secession element toward the Unioniss whether native
Nrginisns or persons from other States 4. think u
Is hostile II has been 10 the feeling toward
the people Of the North; do not think that IL has
senaiy changed from what 1t was before the war aud
during the war; there il El the same hatred OF and
the same contempt for them.
q how much social intercourse is there between
themt A. Very little SO far as my knowledge goes;
very little indeed.
Are you prepared TO say that the state Of feeling
between SecoSslOniss ana UnlOnlss is one OF bitter
hostility A. think i L.
O. are Unionisis secure in the enjoyment Of their
rights in the midst Of Secession community there
@ Can they safely rely on the State Courts for Justice
to themselves and protection TO their rights A. No
Sir think not
@ How would II be. for instance if suit between
strong Union mar. whether residing there or from
ioyal State, aud SecesiOnist would you approhend
that jury called in ths regular way in Virginia would
be injurious against Union mans A. While do not
know Of any such csses such Is my impression IN regard
to the feelings Of SeceSsionsts toward Union men, that
think that the rights of the latter under these crcum
stances woad not be secured; know from conyersa-
lion with Union men that such Is the general impress
sion among them.
O. What 90 the Seoessonists appear TO desire What
great object do they have IN yiewf a. IL the ifst
place having failed % MAINTAIN the separate nationality
which they asserted tney desire TO keep u enselves
separate people. and 10 prevent BY any means IN their
power. becC MING homogeneous nation; secondly.
they desire to make treason honorable ana loyalty In
famous and to receive a. far as they may be able po'
o And. Of course the great object which they imrne
datey have IN view is the possession Of political power
A. Yes. Sir.
Q. How do they regard President Johnsons liberal
policy IN demonstrating The States. and granting par
dOns and amnestiesi a They seem TO be very much
blessed with il; they would Of course. regaTd with
great favor any action tending TO restore them TO their
former status.
O. DO you hear any expressions Of ds'oyay among
then toward President JOhnsoni a. do not.
Q. Suppose they get into power again With their iuA
Representation In Congress and with President who,
Ike MI buchanan should diSavOw the night Of tie Gov
eminent Of the United States 10 coefce State. and
should decline to the military force OF the Govern
meat 70 prevent secession woud they or would they
not II your opinion again secede from the Union and
attempt to set up independent government a. IL
these or any other cir cnustances should occur and
should be announced that IOtWi hsanding tie former
failure they then vO0d have certainty OF success.
shiuk they would attempt TO Secede again.
q State whether they are 10 the heoit OF speaking
contempuouy Of tie Govetnment OF the United States
az a political institution a. They are.
q. DO you know or have you any reason 70 belieYe
that there are now exciting IN your Department, OF
cOts III scies among the Seeessionsts win view ~ The
Ultimate estabsh1ent vi Southern independence, OF
renewal Of the Rebellion. directly OF indizecuyf a
know Of nOre.
Have you any reason 10 believe in the existence OF
any a. have none.
o. In the event Of a war between the United States
and any foreign Government, such as England or
France and ia the event Of thore being prospect OF
the establishment OF Southern independence by an ALI
snce between the Secession element Ia the South and
The foreign enemy have you any reason 20 suppose that
that element would alT itself with tie foreign enemy
or take any part in the against the United states
A think tAat such has been the punist ment when
tbey have received their recent attempt 10 throw on
the authority Of the Government uniess there was
very strong prospect Of sncces they would be reluctant
70 engage In her attempt Of tie klnd win or WIN
~ Alliance. bnt should powerful fOreign enemy land
upou the SoutherH they would receive some ma
teria aid and much sympathy under all circumstances
should the circumstances be snen az 10 M M s sne
their independence, avery large portion Vi e PeoP'e
Of the South would join the enemy.
a a I'd ia view oil the contingency OF foreign war
with powerful nation and The occurrence o. sacn az
Invasion OF territory you regard the Rebel states
one or altogether element OF strength ~ the GOV
eminent Of the United States at the present tmef a
No Sir; on the contrary most decidedly al element o.
o. This conclusion, take it, you have drawn from
careful observation OF the sentiments and ieehg OF tne
Southern people 30 far ss you have Aad al opportunity
O. What is their treatment generally toward the
Freedmen A. /; is very various many persons are
creating tho Freedmen kindly and justly endeaNorihg
60 accommodated themselves 10 the changed crcum'
stances OF the times and 10 enter INTO the proper e
lions with them as between the empoyes anu .ne
noyed. many others, the contrary treat them win
rTeat harshness and Injustice and seek TO obtain thef
service without just compensation and TO rednee tne
60 condition which will give TO the ioieI Ministers ~
che benefits of Slavery and throw upon them none Oh s
So far as you Judge which class is the most nunsr
.bose Who treat the freedmen kindly, or those who
go, tha,r With Injustice and severyf a. The latter.
O. Do you think they greatly predomina,e In nun
befsi A. 1 can hardly estimate me reia'l'e pi0p''
atoms, should think they predominant
o Do YOU suppose, from what you have seen anu
heard and from What you know, that 1t wo9la DC sae
20 intrust the great body Of freedmen IN Virginia 81
elsewhere in the South the care OF the ocai aalho
.ies or the local LegislAturesf A. i DO not