The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-30
CHE Murfolk Cost.
FRIDAY. MARCH so, 1866.
OF GEN. r.. L. LEE,
BEFORE THE RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEES.


Question Where is your present resi-
dence Answer. Lexington, Va.
I @. How long have you resided In
| Lexington A. Since the first of De-
tober Iast-nearly five months.
@. Are you acquainted with the state
| of feeling among what we call Seces
sionists, in Virginia, at present towards
| the Government of the United States
| A. i do not know that | am. | have
been living very retired, and have bad
| but little communication with polili-
clans. know nothing more than from
my observation. and from such facts as
| have come to my knowledge.
@. From your observation, what il
your opinion as to the feeling Of loyalty
towards the government of the United
| States among the Secession portion OF
| the people of that state at this time =?
| A. So far as has come to my knowledge,
| do not know ola single person wHo
either feels or coDteuplates any resist
ancc to the government of the United
States, or, indeed, any opposition TO il.
| No word has reached me to either pur-
| pose.
| q. From what YOU have observed
among them, is it your opinion that
they are friendly toward the govern
me Mt Of the United States. and that they
| will cooperate to sustain and uphold
| the government for the future? A. /
believe that they entirely acquiesce in
| the government of the United States,
and, so far as have heard any one ex-
press an opinion, they are for co-ope-
rating with President Johnson i'm his
policy.
Q. In hispolicy in regard to what :?
| A. His policy in regard to the restora.
ton of the whole country. have heard
persons with whom | have converted
| express great confidence in the wisdom
of his policy of restoration, and they
seem to look forward to it az hope of
restoration.
| @. How do they feel in regard to that
portion of the people of the United
States who have been forward and zeal
Gus in the prosecution of the war against
the rebellion? A. Well, don't know
| / have heard nobody express any
opinion in regard to it. As ! said be
| fore, have not had much communica-
ton with politicians in the 1ountry, IL
there are any. Every one seems to be
engaged in his own affairs, and endea-
voring to restore the civil government
of the State. have heard no express
sion of a sentiment towards any particu-
| iaT pOTIiOu VI tue CouutIl.
@. How do the Secessionists feel in
regard to the payment of the debt of the
| United States, contracted i'm the prose
cution OF the war? A. / have never
heard any one on the subject. | sup
pose they must expect to pay the taxes
levied by the government. have heard
them speak in reference to the payment
of taxes, and of their efforts 10 raise
money to pay the taxes, which sup
pose are for their share of the debt. Il
have never heard any one speak la OPP
position to the payment of taxes, or OF
resistance to their payment. Theii
whole effort has been 10 try and raise
the money for the payment of their
taxes.
@. From your knowledge of the state
Of public feeling in Virginia, is it your
opinion that the people would, IL the
decision were left them, repudiate and
reject that debt? A. l never heard any
one speak on that subject, but from my
knowledge of the people | believe thai
they would be in favor of the payment
of all just debts.
@. Do they in your opinion regard
that as just debt? A. do not know
what their opinion is on the subject o
that particular debt. / have never heart
any opinion expressed; but i have nevel
heard any opinion expressed contrary "a
it. Indeed, as | said in the beginning
have had very little discussion or in
tercourse with the people. ] believ,
that the people would pay the debt
they are called upon to pay, | say tina
from my knowledge of the people gen
e.rally.
@. Would they pay that debt, or tbei
nor, ION of it, with as much alacrity q
neonlc ordinarily pay their taxes TO tn
govar,,no. 'ot +? A. ! do not know tina
thev ronId make any distinction be
tween the two The taxes laid by tin
government so !. ar as j know, they ar
prepared TO nav 20 the best of thei
ability. / never hea. ri theui make an.
distinction.
q. What are the feeIinA Oh .hat pof
ton of the people of Virgin :" M 'eeai'
to the payment of the soc, "'eu con
lederate debt? n. / believe, iar y
my opinion cOes-I have no facts F" y
upon, but merely base my opinion :"
the knowledge | have of the people.
they would be willing to pay the con.
federate debt, too.
q. 1ou think they would. A. Think
they would, is they had the power and
ability to do so. l haze never heard any
| VbS III 'bt btdtc VIII WHDtn i have
conversed speak of repudiating any
| debt.
q. i suppose the confederate debt is
almost entirely valueless, even i'm the
market in Virginia. a. Entirely. :, Fl. =
as know. j believe tie people generally
look upon it as lost entirely. / never
heard any question on the subject.
q. DO you recol.ect the terms of the
| confederate bonds ? when they war
made payable? a. L think | have n
general recollection that that they were
made payable in six months alter "A de-
claration of peace.
q. six months after the rattle alton of
o treaty Of peace, between the Unite;
states and the Confederate governments
| A. think they ran that way.
q. SO that the bonds are NOT dine vot
by their terms a. | suppose, unless il
Is considered that there is peace now
| they are not due.
q. How do the people of Virginia-tbe
SecessloDists more partieula rly-feel to-
ward the freedmen A. Every one with
whom L associate expresses kind feel
ings towards the freedmen. They wish
TO see them get on in the world, and par.
| ticularly 10 take up some e,ccupation ia,
living, and to turn their hands TO some
work. | know that effo rts have bee,
made among the farmers near where
live to induce them to engage for III,
year at regular wages.
q. Do you think tt ere ia n will;no.
ness on the part of til cir old ms sters 2,