Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-10

federate debt?
A. l believe, so far as my opinions go-and
| have no facts to go upon-they would be will
ing to pay the Confederate debt, too.
Q. You think they would?
A. | think they would, if they had the pow
er and ability to do so. have never heard any
one in the State with whom I have conversed
speak of repudiating any debt.
| q. | suppose the Confederate debt is value
less, even in the market in Virginia.
A. Entirely; so far as [ know, [ believe the
people look upon it as lost entirely. I never
heard any question ON the subject.
|, Q. Do you recollect when the Confederate
bonds were made payable?
A. have a general recollection that they
were made payable six months after declara-
tion of peace.
Q. Six months after ratification of peace be-
tween the United States and the Confederate
Government.
A. I think they read that way.
Q. So that the bonds are not due yet by their
terms?
A. I suppose, unless it is considered that
there is peace now, they are not due.
q. How do the people of Virginia, the Sc
men?
A. Every one with whom / have associated
expresses kind feelings towards the freedmen.
They wish to see them get on in the world, and
particularly to take up some occupation Tor
living, and to turn their hands to some work.
/ know that efforts have been made among the
farmers near where live to induce them to en-
gage for the year at regular wages.
0. Do you think there is willingness on the
part of their old masters to give them fair wages
for their labor?
A. believe it is so. The farmers generally
prefer those servants who have been living with
| them before / have heard them express their
preference for the men whom they know who
had lived with them before, and their wish to
! get them to return to work. [ am not aware of
any combination among the whites to keep down
| the wages of the blacks. [ have heard that in
several counties landowners have met in order
to establish uniform rate of wages, but [ nev-
er heard Of any combination to keep down wages,
or establish a rate which they did not think
fair. The means Of paying wages in Virginia
are very limited now, and there is difference
of opinion as to how much each person is able
| to pay.
@. How do they feel in regard to the educa-
| ton of the blacks? Is there general willing
ness Or unwilingness to have them educated?
A. Where [ have been the people exhibit a
willingness that the blacks should be educated,
and they express an opinion that that would be
better for the blacks and better for the whites
| Z. General, you are very competent to judge
of the capacity Of black men to acquire knowl-
edge. want your opinion on that capacity as
compared with the capacity Of white men.
A. do not know that | am particularly quail
ifed to speak on that subject as you seem to
intimate but I do not think he is as capable of
acquiring knowledge as the white man is
There are some more apt than others. have
known some to gain knowledge and skill in their
trade or profession. have had servants of my
own who learned to read and write very well
! ha ,cho 70 ol+
knowledge Of mathematics and exact sciences? !?
A. l have no knowledge on that subject. I
am merely acquainted with those who have
learned the common rudiments of education.
| u. General, are you aware of any combina-
ton existing among the blacks of Virginia, any
where in the State, having in view the distur-
bance of the peace or any improper or unlawful
acts?
A. am not; have seen no evidence of it.
and have heard Of none; wherever | have been
| they have been quiet and orderly, not disposed
to work, or rather not disposed to any contin-
uous engagement to work, but just very short
| Jobs to provide them with the immediate means
of subsistence.
@. Has the colored race generally as much
love for money and property as the white race? :?
A. | do not think it has the blacks whom
know look more to the present than to the
future.
@. Does that absence of lust ofmoney arise
more from the nature Of the negro than from
his former se1vile condition?
A. Well, it may be in some measure attribu-
ted to his former condition; they are an amiable,
social race; they like their ease and comfort,
and [ think look more to their present than
their future condition.
@. In the event Of war between the United
States and any foreign power, such as England
or France, if there should be held out to the Sc
cession portion Of the people Of Virginia or the
other recently rebel States, fair prospect Of
gaining their independence and shaking off the
Government of the United States, is it, or is it
not your opinion that they would avail them
selves of that opportunity?
A. l cannot speak with any certainty on that
point; | do not know how far they might be
actuated by their feelings; have nothing
whatever to base an opinion upon so far as [
know, they contemplate nothing of the kind
now; what may happen in the future [ cannot
say.
Q. Do you not frequently hear in your inter-
course with secessionists in Virginia, expressions
of a hope that such war may break out?
A. l cannot say that have heard it; on the
contrary, / have heard persons Il do not know
whether you could call them secessionists or
not-I mean those people in Virginia with
whom | associate) express hope that the
country may not be led into a war.
@. In such an event do you think that that
class Of people whom l call secessionists would
join the common enemy?
A. It is possible-it depends upon the feel
ing Of the individual.
@. If it is fair question (you may answer it
Or not as you choose) what, in such an event,
might be your own choice?
A. | have no disposition now to do it, and
never have had
@. And you cannot foresee that such would
be your inclination in such an event?
A. No; | can only judge from the past I
do not know what circumstances may produce ;
[ cannot pretend to foresee events: So far as 1
| peace.
Q. During the war was it not contemplated
by the Government of the Confederate States
to form an alliance with some foreign nation if
possible?
A. believe it was their wish to do so; it