Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-05-31
BILL ARP
Is Called Before the Reconstruction Committee
SUPPRESSED TESTIMONY

lSUPPhESSED
To the Editor Of the Metropolitan Record /:
Mr.. EDITOR: Murder will out, and so
will evidence. Having seen Dan Rice's tes-
timony before the Destruction Committee,
have felt sorter slighted because no men.
ton amt been made of mine. 1 suppose
it has been suppressed, but 1 am not to be
hid out in obscurity. Our country is the
special jury, aud by and by this business
will 20 up before it on appeal. The record
must 60 up fair and complete, and therefore
I'll take occasion to make public what |
swore to. said good deal more than |
can put down, Mr. Editor, and at times my
language was considered impudeut, but they
thought that was all the better for their side,
for it illustrated the rebellious spirit
heard one of 'em say "Let him 60 Oh
the ruling passion strong in death. He's
good States evidence"
When I was put on the stand old Bout.
we'll swore me most 6ercely and solemnly to
speak the truth, the whole truth, and noth-
ing but the truth, and | observed that he
was then entertaining about quart of dou.
bic rectifed, and it looked like it had sour.
ed on his stomach Old Blow was settin
off on one side with a memorandum book,
gettin ready to note down some 'garbled
extracts"
Old Iron Works was Chairman, and when
he nodded his Republican head, old Bout
we'll says he: "Your name is Arp, believe,
sir ?'
$50 called" says
"You reside in the State of Georgia, do
your"
81 can't say exactly" says /. 81 live
in Rome, right in the fork of two injun riv-
ers."
"In the State of Georgia" says he fierce,
ly.
"Iu state of uncertainty about thai" "
says I. "We don't know whether Georgia
is State or not. | would like for you to
state yourself, if you know. The state of
the country requires that this matter should
be settled, and will proceed to state, =
"Never mind, sir" says he. "How old
are you, Mr.. Arp?"
sThat depends on circumstances, says
I. III don't know whether to count the
last FIVE years or not. Durin the war your
folks said that State couldn't secede, but
that while she was in state of rebellion
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's about as near as can come to my
age sir.' =.
"Well, sir" says he; 'are you familiar
with the political sentiments of the citizens
of your State ?"
SCOT no citizens yet sir that We know of.
will thank you to speak of US as people
"Well, SIR" says he, "I'll humor your
obstinacy. Are the people of your State"
"Don't speak of it as State sir, if you
please. I'm Oh oath now, and you must ex-
cuse me for being particular. Call ii a 'sec'
ton
"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 to impose ?"
"Not much they aint," says l. "l don't
think they are prepared for it yet They
wouldn't voluntarily 80 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 nothin about your
Guy Fawkes business. mean no respect