The Portland daily press., 1866-04-04
Testimony Of General Lee before the Com
mittee ON Racor .tr,ct;o,, .I.s l..I


Mr. Conkling, is printed in full. Our limited
space forbids our laying the whole of it before
our readers, but we make few extracts from
'nose portions which possess the chief inter-
es" !" VIII be perceived that the evidence is
VI lne most reserved and guarded character.
ihat indeed was to be expected. and cannot
justly be made ground of censure. but WE
cannot help thinking that the peculiar man.
ner in which this reticeifce is manifested Is. 10
say the least, unfortunate. The point which
must most forcibly strike every one who ax-
amines his testimonyis Is the astonishing nnn-
ber of things which General Lee does not
know! If we are to judge from his own state
ments, no one within the limits ofthe defunct
Confederacy was, and is, so profoundly igno-
rant of all which he might be expected to
know as the Commanding-chief of the Con-
federate forces. In answer to question as
to how the people of Virginia feel toward
those who have been active in putting down
the rebellion he says: II don't know; I have
heard nobody express any opinion in regard.
70 it." The question was put to him: "Hoy
do the secessionists feel in regard to the pay
ment OF the debt of the United States, con-
tracted in the prosecution of the wa-?o
A. have never heard any one speak on the
SUBJECT; suppose they must expect to pay the
taxes levied by the Government: Ihaye heard
them speak in reference to the payment of taxes,
and OF their efforts to raise money to pay the
taxes, which, suppose, are for their share of
the deot; / have never heard any speak in op-
position to the payment of taxes, or of resis-
rlna IN khnrr A. - "a.
been to try and raise the money for the payment
OF the taxes. d. - p 5. = y =
"; From your knowledge of the state of
public feeling in Virginia, is ii your opinion
that the people would If the question were left
to them, repudiate and reject that debt
a. pever heard any one speak on that sub
lect; but rom my knowledge of the people, L
believe that they would be in favor OF the nav
ment of all just debts.
Q. Do they, in your opinion, regard that as
just debt Al do not know wnat their opin-
ion is ON the subject of that particular debt: /
have never heard any opinion expressed con-
trary to 1t; indeed, as l said in the beginning,
have had very little discussion or intercourse
with the people; believe the people will pay
the debts they are called upon to pay; say
tnat % from my knowledge Of the people gener-
! q. Would they pay that debt, or their por-
ton of it, with as much alacrity as people or
dinarily pay their taxes to the Government.
a.; a. W nos Arow mat tnef would make any
the Government SO far az noyv ne 'ahes axes aa Dy
pared to pay to the best of their ability Il never
Ao'e = .nem "aAe any distincton. ,.f ..,
neen,e ~ vro;na IL; ,;;eng i; OF tnat portion OF the
the so called Confederate debt A. believe, so
iar as my opinion goes, have no facts to go
kpowIedre have % of tbe y nsoPIa oplnions on tne
would be willing to pay the Confederate debt
with whom have conversed speak of repudia-
ting any debt. e.o -4t 'i ia s9J
@. suppose the Confederate paper is almost
entirely valueless, even in the market in Vir-
ginia !? A. Entirely, so far as know; believe
the people generally look upon it as lost en-
tiroiy; I never heard any question on the sub
ject. ie.s .
@. Do you recollect the terms OF the Confed-
crate bond1-when they were made payable
A. think have general recollection that
they were made payable six months after dec
laration of peace.
@. SIX months after the ratification Of
treaty of peace between the United States and
the Confederate Government A. think
they ran that way. 49, f-a7es.p4 az
@. So that the bonds are not due yet by their
terms +? A Isuppose unless tits considered that
there is peace aaOac, then drenot due.
.s...
Inc inierence u piali Inat We arc " ''sSo coiI- /.
slider that peace has been established, then the
Hov~4 1IArN ~ lnt.& Ia 1xrn
ooneeoA "'o ue'' % eue' .f 90
With regard to the sentiment OF the peo-
ple of Virginia toward the freedmen. the Cen
-, !, .,s,o..,,.. -. ,.-...,,.,. rI. 49,
- - 'oe "N' .no'e 'Atiis.s' :. '.'A
e p ~, sla, spn- ~. a .nn = = - A.'.. ~.
$50 - 80. ~, -, :. :,
- - 49, r,..ns - oau.ot,or ~ 81,
,ow ' - '',.S >'' '.,-'' -
'owis : .t'' p- s's S1eess''' -ss =. 20
In d ude M evens o oi war oe'wegn @ tne uMted
or France. if there should be held. ont to- the
Secession portion Of the people OF Virginia or
Of ga;nino their INDEPENDENCE and shak1nr off
the Government Of the the. United states, Is Il, or
Is MOI, Your oPl4ou sna: NY woIiu asali
serves Oh tnat 9ppol.uty ~ oannoe speah
WIN any ~ ~ 'nas poih' ~ uo nos Anow
uow li snoy .k;. - y .nsn e.
so fr s Yio,c - -,
inaof ~ GS,J nom, ,rsnt mai, 6nnne ~ ne a.
~ 30 80, 80 "'o
En xo', o%g ~gt f-sousntlv bsor ,, ;,,ar
's,.sa ~ w;tS aaoass;sa;a.s T., V;rd; ;g;o nrss-
course WIN Secesslonls.s IN Virginia e1pless- s
e.ouS opa. '.'' a.. - Iyoo.d 81
ont ON the controrv have heard nersors0I do not
know whether you could call them Secession, %ois
lists or notf mean tnose people IN vHslniA :
with whom associate express lne noPe 'nS' ~
inc may Ho, te da Von tbiphat that
| class of people whom / call Secessionists
| would Join the common enemy A nts pos
I sible; st depends upon the JeeHng of the s'd1-
| ridual. sif gf in..ls...T 4l3 -1.- Nr
r..... - .l .,.,--,
Inc inpof'ahce vi 'hese achiissions, COM
| ing from zen. Lee, cannot De overlooked, and
a., ,oav ho nrof;tob,v -ronaaroa y. 1.--
my - N,,,.-..s, s 49, " s"o's
| who nave sucn unimted faltn m the restored
| LOYALTY of the Southern communities. and are
| -.,.,. - o., 49,, ;,,,,,,.,,,...,' -
30 anAiou' " Deo 'nen Anneuia'ely restored
" Sna az. ~ ~. I'M .aen' S'.,n.l,s =, 'ns country
w "o - ''e''A "'''n''i " 'n'
''no",ns 'AA. ~
Q; Can capitalists and working men from the
which You are familiar A. and nd 90 to work among Nc
the people A. lido not know of anything to
Pomd Ssnend peace anf th conSust