North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-06-27
BILL ARP Is CALLED BEFORE THE
RECON COMMITTEE.
SUPPRESSED TESTIMONY

i
will evidence. Having seen Dan Rice's
testimony before the Destruction Commit
tee have felt sorter sighted because TO
mention amt been made of mine. | snp-
posesit has been suppressed, but am OF
to be hid out in obscurity. Sur country is
the special jury, aud by and by this busi-
ness will 60 up before it on an appeal
The record must go Up fair and complete,
and therefore I'll take occasion to make
public what / swore to. said good deal
more than l can put down, Mr.. Editor. and
at times my language was considered i'm
pudent, but they thought that was all the
better tor their side, for it illustrated the
rebellous spirit--I heard one of 'em say
Let him 90 op-the ruling passion is
strong in death. He's good States evil
! dence."
When | was put on the stand old Bout
well swore me most fercely and solemnly
to speak the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, and | observed that
he was entertaining about quart ofdouble
rectifed, and it looked like it had soured
on his stomach
Old Blow was settin' off one side with a
memorandum book, gettin' ready to note
down some "garbled extracts
| Old Iron w forks was chairman, and when
he nodded his Republican head, old Bout
well, says he:
"Your name is Arp, believe, sir?"
$50 called" says l,
"You reside in the State of Georgia, do
you:'
Il can't say exactly says |. 81 live
in Rome, right in the fork of two injun
rivers"
If the State ofGeorgia," says he fierce
ly.
''In state Of uncertainty about that" )"
says |. "We don't know whether Geor-
gia is State or not. IwouId like for you
to state yourself, if you know. The state
of the country requires that this matter
should be settled, and shall proceed to
/ stale"
Never mind, sir" says he. How old
are you, Mr.. Arp?"
THAT depends upon circumstances"
says l. Il don't know whether to count,
the last five years or not. Durin' the war
your folks said that a State couldn't seccde
but that while she was in a state Of REBEL
ion she ceased to exist. Now YOU say we
got out and we shan't get back again until
1870. A mans age has got somethin' to
| do with his rights, and if we are not to vote
| don't think we ought TO count the time.
That 5 about as near as can come to my
age, sir"
Well, SIR says he; "are you familiar
with the political sentiments of citizens of
your State ?"
Got no citizens yet, sir, that we know
of. | will thank you to speak of US as
"people."
"Well, sir" says he, ell humor your
obstinancy. Are the people of your State
Don't speak of it as a State, sir, if you
| please. I'm on oath now, and you must
excuse me for being particular Call it
section"
"Mr. Arp, are the people of your section
sufficiently humbled and repentant to come
back into the Union on such terms as we
may think proper 20 impose:"
"Not much they amt" says /, q don't
think they are prepared for it vet. They
wouldn't voluntarily 60 it blind against
your hand. They say the deal wasn't fair
and you've marked the cards and stole the
trumps but at the same time they don't
care darn what YOU do. They've become
Indifferent and don't care nothing about
vour Guy Fawkes business. / mean no
respect to YOU, gentlemen, but was swore
TO tell the whole truth. Our people amt
a noticin' you only out of curiosity. They
don't expect anything decent, or honorable,
or noble from you, and they've gone to
work diggin', and plowin', and plantin', and
raisin' boy children"
Right here the man with memorandum
scratched down garbled extract, and old
Boutwell,, says he:
What do you mean, by that, sir -
What inference do you intend 2"
I'm Stain facts" says /. You must
draw YOUR own differences. They are yais-
in boz Children! Any harm about that
Anv treason! Can't man raise boy
children! Perhaps You would like to
mend the Constitution and stop it? Old
Pharaoh tired to stop II among the lsra-
lites, but it didn pay. He finally caught
the dropsy in the Red Sea. Weare raisin
boy children for the fun of it. They are
good thing to have in the house, as Mr..
Toodles would say
Mr.. Arp, are not the feelings of your
people very bitter towards the North 2"
"Ibeg your pardon, sir, but you Il have
to split the question, or else I'll have to
split the answer Our people have very
high regard for honorable men, brave men
noble hearted men, ann there's a heap of
'em North, and there's a heap of widows,
and orphans there we are sorry for; but as
for this here Enatical party, they look up
on 'em like they were hyenas scratchin'
up the dead for a livin'. It's as natural to
hate 'em as it is to kill snake. It's utter
ly impossible for me to tell the strength,