Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-09
testimony BEFORE THE COMMIT
FEB ON RECONSTRUCTION-BRO-
ZEN DOSES.
vOICEs FROM ALEXANDRIA,.
CHAPTER 4.


taken FEB 10, lS66.- EXTRACT
<,Gestion. Are you native of Firginla
:.nswer No, sir; | am a native of Kentucky.
Acva lived in Virginia during the war, for the
nest Dcrt in the service OF the government. |
@n: now officiating at Christ church Alexandria.
: &C: an Episcopal clergyman.
=. Have you Q pretty extensive acqualnt-
aaco With the state OF public teelngln Virginia?
l.. do not know how extensive it is :; | am
..rown more or less among the people from my
location and position.
). are you in the habit Of travelling good
9esi about the State?
t.. NC, sir; | cannot say that | am. My
acquaintance does nat extend over the State,
2:ceDt through persons from various parts OF
i. Is an editor Of paper am brought more
., less in connexion with people in ali parts OF
the country. -........ ..-
q. What, generally, is the eleeling among the
Episcopal clergy Of Virginia towards the gov.
eminent of the United States?
j. Well, sir, ircm my connexlon with Christ
church, | have had no opersonaliutercourse With
pny cergymen OF the State Of Virginia, and
therefore cannot answer the question from con.
7ersaGion with them. should judge not ia
-ora6ly Of it, however, from the action Of the
;,iocese in failiog to 60 as Bishop Gregg, of
Texas, did-that is, to act upon the theory OF
De facto government, on the church theory
that the church, as church, or the clergy as
clergy, cannot Interfere with the question of
government Church people consider the gov
2rnmen, as de tacto, and as such it's their duty
&c pray for that government, and to sustain 1t
il their Official and ecclesiastical relations -
Bishop Gregg remarked to me few days ago,
n conversation on the subject: i consulted
nobody in regard to my action IN forming q
southern church, when | supposed that the
Confederate government was de facto govern
ment; but the moment that the Confederate
government ceased to be de facto government,
:. did not wait to consult the authorities OF the
couthern church, but notified the presiding
yishop of the Episcopal church IN the United
Gtetes that We we're again in harmony with the
.ntional church" The fact that the diocese of
:'irgicia has failed to act on this the church
theory, on which the bishop Of Texas acted,
and On which the diocese OF Virginia acted IN
icaying the national church, and on which every
clergyman ought to act-the fact that the do
ce3e of Virginia has failed to put itself in con-
ne3ion with the nati0nal church, (the last that
hes failed to do so With the exception, perhaps,
OF South Carolina convinces me that there is
. good deal Of very decided feeling among the
clergy and laity against harmonizing with the
government, and cordially sustaining the same.
4 indicates strong feeling and sentiment among
;l5 people. This is the inference which l draw.
!. GH told that the bishop Of the diocese has
been foT an immediate union, and am satisfied
mat he would act promptly and decidedly were
Il Tot that he is hampered by the express action
=! :he diocese in convention assembled. The
convention is composed OF the clergymen OF the
diocese, and three lay delegates from each par
!3n so that the diocesan convention gives fair
representation OF the sentiment OF the church.
>. Has there been meeting OF the cOnven
lI01 recently?
l.. There was meeting at the close of last
September; since that time there has been
meeting of the council as it is called, Of the
Episcopal church OF the Confederate States
1t that council, the position Of the clergy Of
Virginia, I am informed, was the most decided
in sustaining the continuing of the council, and
most opposed to any union with the national
church. There is a series OF articles publishing
10 the Southern Churchman, ISSUED at Alexan-
d.iG, Va, and the main paper Of the southern
church, which are vindicatory OF the southern
church, The southern church is not satisfied
nth the general convention of the Protestant
Episcopal church IN the United States, being
aoti.e!r silent concerning the past, but appears
70 Dc Gesirous Of creating sentiment sustaining
taeir own action. The laity Of the church, par
tivuler!y those who have suffered by the war,
,ldon ladies' and others who have lost their
children, have, in a lew instances, begun to show
change of feeling, and seem now like looking
Il things in their true light As al evidence
oi tnis improved feeling, some of them come
!? Ger ohurch now; lit is the Union church Of
'1e place, the gathering point Of the Union
people: and has been open during the whole
,;;ai. ,:hc fact that there are some who attend
:!37et cAurca now, is, perhaps, a pretty good ev-
'tCAce 0; ? change Of feeling but they are
!slg :e,7, and besides the other influences to
produce i, the fact that am from Kentucky
lG& possibly some lit;Ie effect. But while this
!: tA2 effect upon a few, they who are pollti-
US0c, aGC desire to be politicians and the Lead
rs o. social life, manifest a more intensified
:t:!nS The females. those especially whose
P:ice has been humbed are more intense IN their
U'tein43s end eudeaeor to keep up a social ostra-
5 'tS'A AGAINST Union and northern people. They
H%Ac IRE gentlemen, and who have humane
'Ss!nGs, are disposed, | think to treat the ne
::'9t2 nth kindness, and really TO consider what
*, p"'t TOR them but they are 50 few, as in
..'TS'y community, and are so oyerpowered by
',IJcte that their voice can scarcely be heard,
;ras,; olG Is not heard to any extent. The great
iLvNoIa acout proper composition OF matters IS
ne. ~" .s@Ienal7ey prevailing and operative senti-
no- ,r'.' mat the cause Of the Union and the sup
ina'' aEIS ol the Union are not respectable. The
~. H>, LOT lear OF losing social caste, speak and
q sGo'hern,' so far as they may safely.
ei;;lo, nave you formed any opinion as to the
or ,r n.O VI PRESIDENT johnson hberahty in grant
PaToons and amnesties to rebels?
7ern L thlnk It has had, in all probability, q
,Nmo y in1urlous effect I think that while in
ID III !, I9aseS, 9 With the generous and open heart
ssss ~ Aas Ss mad the right effect generally, mer
SsIsEa, 1t has BAD the reverse sfes. from