Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-17
BEFORE THE COMMIT
.2E:3 ON RECONSTRUCTION-BRO-
,.tE..| DOSES
rOICES FROM ALEXANDRIA.

r0ICES FROM ALEXANDRIA,
CHAPTER 10
..:,s,::."s1oa% Of JOSEPH STILES, tahen
Jun. 81. 1866.
Question. Where do you reside?
b,ns7er. In Alexandria city. am citizen
q Fa;!ia= county, but am temporarily resid-
TX il alexandria. | was a refugee during the
::fI. end nave not gone back yet.
=, Mhs3e we're you born?
+. ia Burlington county, New Jersey.
:. :iow long have you resided in Virginia?
l.. Aoout twelve years. ..
-. Were you ever Shareholder?
l.. Ety wife had an interest in a slave estate,
~ I never became fully possessed OF it:
-. :3ou nave you been employed during the
l. -. nave been in tie military service of the
2czet1rent as guide aud scout and military
Ce:ac;iga. -. served three years and about ten
~cOltAS.
o. t2,h2. vas rather perilous service, was it
.o.: -.
l.. ZeS, sir, sometimes.
q. Relate some Of your adventures.
i. iefs my home 10 Fairfax county the
c;rr6av before the first Bull Run battle, and
:7:,neGiately became connected with the army
= hat capacity, and served until the first day
q Tu2e, 1854, when was captured by the
iaDa}s aIG served short term in Libby prison.
7-cnt through many other adventures incident
o mat business.
= HoQ long did you serve III Libby prison !?
/. .kbous two months.
=. The apprenticeship was sufficiently long
% volr comfort?
J., Yes, sir plenty. -.
=. low did they treat you there? =.
} The treatment was bad, but | Jared as
ell &C anybody else. They we're not exactly
.7~a,e oG NV business, or else should not have
20: axchanged Since my discharge from the
Military service, served short time as deputy
United States marshal, during which time l
>,c-ellei over some few counties in eastern Nlr-
ainis, libeIling property. met with q great
niny people, and talked with good many OF
rs returned soldiers and officers OF the rebel
:rr,y. and with good many citizens At the
ti7l5 2i Lees surrender the feeling appeared to
:a generally that they were glad to get home;
,iney we're worn out; they appeared to fear con
Iscation, taxation, and the penalties OF treason.
Lb5y.l the first of September | commenced col
Is?t;ng United States direct taxes III Virginia,
md since that time | have been continually out
Il the counties collecting, and have met with a
..C
people 10 have been gradually changing for the
,:orsa in my opinion. 1t seems to me that the
,apiC promotion of rebels, the old politicians,
c places CT trust and honor, has had a great
;erdency to render treason popular Instead OF
ocious. It appears to me that great many OF
,losc persons who at first were quiet are now
9egin1iing to talk about their rights again. l
t1ini, that the disloyal feeling of the people is
mnrn 3ov thor ~ w. m tpiv after
;h3 surrender of Lees army.
y What effect has the liberal policy of Pres,
dent johnson in granting amnesty and pardons,
ant restoring property that was conhscated, had
r0On their minds?
/. The general feeling and sentiment Of the
3eeoIe appears to be as have stated-getting
-'o!se, getting more uutrIendly to the govern
Han&. It appears to me that the lenlency OF
ne President was very bad for the Union peo
pic my man in that country who sets himself
p2 a3 candidate for office, and pretends to
9asa lis claim upon the ground that he has
ger legal to the government OF the United
Cities, would 0e considered impudent-hig
&C. The successful candidates for office all base
tHt:, claim upon the ground that they have
been positive rebels and that they fought this
tlilg out ! have heard them boast that they
"2Te in ne army until the surrender. These
m2r arc almost universally elected.
-. 30 they appear to be proud OF the part
hey have acted IN the war?
H. Lea, sir. There is a class of men In cas-
serH Virginia who are good, honest people,
~ley a:c :ireG of this thing. They are anx-
lors 10 see peace and quiet restored to the coun-
MS: 6ut unfortunately that class OF people,
Ike the Immigrants from the north, have very
LILLE &C say IL the reconstruction Of affairs
:,Ae disappointed politicians, the dlSappolnted
aN-:e1e; officers, who we're shareholders and
wealthy, and Rho now find themselves ina poor
1O2Gito3, seem to take the lead in these things,
nc II has often occurred to me that the editors
9nc politicians we're using the United States
nail rs ohannel for communicating matterap-
9,eslirs again TO the passions and prejudices Of
the people,
J. Have you any ground to apprchend
cnotaer outbreak in the rebel States?
/. 10, sir, ! think not. But it looks to me
aSth0ugh the politicians were attempting to
gain by political intrigue what they failed to
secure by resort to arms IF they cannot get
'le Independence Of the confederacy, they will
Try TO get all the control they can.
z. Suppose they could get the control of the
government of the United States, both III Con
SFeSS and in the executive branches, how would
f!Aey use their power, Judging from what you
n1 "1ve seen and heard among the rebels them
a. That is something I never thought of;
1,:55 they certainly would use it very arbitrarily,
JuG5ging from what they do.
v From what you have seen and heard,
lave lave you the impression that the masses Of the
S.oe,l SSSoel people have any respect for the United
hates bsnos government Or for the loyal people who
nave upheld il?
ba-- 70, sir. think there is majority of
enens. So ''no are to the contrary, decidedly So
40 spYSc'a'Iy TIE politicians and those other class
Tbo I1eleffed to. 4 loyal man, especially one
y; ne nas oeen actively loyal, stands ne chance
ibe vas xnoT OF justice among them at all. At
Wnr:eeiy nrsc term Of the circuit court of Prince
'''"'" county, indictments we're fonni against