The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-29


WASHINGTON, March q.
The testimony taken by the reconstrucnon
comm,ttee IL Colorado, Virginia ard the Car
olinas vss TO-DAY reported in the House ~
M. Conkline and ordered to be printed. Ihe
dai.v = report;ne it was caused BY the. abb
ssrrs ~ Senator Howard before whom oil OF
= ~. taken. There were moro than sixty
v;tresses examined BY Senator Howard in
relation to the condition of affairs in the States
Of Virginia, North Carolina and South Caro-.
lima. Some few witnesses we're examined by
him in relation to other Southern States, but
their testimony WAS reported with that of the
States to which it applied. Among the more
important Of the witnesses examined in rela-
ton to Virginia were Judge Underwood, who
has been elected United States Senator from
that State, but has not yet been admitted to .
seat; Mr.. Lewis Mckenzie in the same posi-
ton in regard to the House Of Representa-.
tives; Gen. Turner, commanding the post OF
Richmond: Gen. Terry, commander of the de-
partment, and COL Orlando Brown, assistant
commissioner Of the freedmen's bureau, sta
toned at Richmond: half a dozen Virginia
loyalsts, including John Minor Bolts, Chas.
d. Craze, Of Augusta county; John r. Linn,
of Rockingham county and his brother Chas.
Linn, the late secretary of the Commonwealth;
Gen. Robt. E. Lee, Of the late rebel army
and Brig. Gen. NJ. D. Case of the same. Five
members of the Virginia legislature name
ly, John B. Baldwin Speaker of the
the House Of delegates, VIM. II. Jaynes,
chairman of the judiciary, and R. B. Grather,
with Dale, Carter and E. G.. Ker, members of
the State Senate-the latter formerly Col
in the rebel army-the Rev. DR.. McMundy,
rector Of the Christian Church at Alexandra;
Rev. j. W. Hannicutt, of Fredericksburg;
- II. nfn
doctor, and dentist, who is also Baptist
Missionary, were examined.
The witness whose testimony will be per-
haps most eagerly sought for, was Gen. Lee.
Il is telegraphed in full He represents that
nothing like sentiment of hostility to the
United States government exists in Virginia.
That there are no combinations or conspira
cies. Having that end in view, that the
people, though disappointed and subjected
BY result of war, accept that result submiss'
lively, and are only looking now to their ma
ter;al interests, and that the su. est and speed
lest means of reconciling the people to the
government, and making them its cordial
supporters, is to extend to them equal politi-
cal rights with the people of the other States.
As to the negroes, he expressed the belief
which he says he has always entertained,
that the State would be much better without
them. He repudiates the idea that cruelties
were purposely inflicted on Federal prisoners
of war. The testimony of the members
of the Virginia gentlemen who had come as
q delegation to President johnson. was equal
" important and interesting They concur
in opinion to the complete absence Of any
feeling looking to renewal of the contest
with the Government. The question of CO.
ercion they say was settled by the sword, and
the people are content to abide by the decis.
ion and to live henceforth, faithful citizens
of the Republic. They represent the
feelings of the people at large, and
of themselves as unalterably opposed 10 the
idea ofextending political rights
The Legislature we're engaged in removing
most, ifnot all, the obnoxious determinations
In law between blacks and whites.