The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-30

@. There are very rev coiO,eu iao'
ers employed, / suppose, Those VINO
own farms have employed more or ,ess
Que or two. Some are so poor that thty
have to work themselves.
O. Can capitalists and workingmeh
from the North go to any portion OF VII
rinia with which you are familiar and
20 70 work among the people? A. ]. do
not know anything to prevent them
Their peace aud pleasure would depend
very much on their conduct. If they
confined themselves to their own bust
ness, aud did not interfere to provoke
controversies with their neigbbOrs, do
not believe they would be mOlested.
O.. There is no desire to keep out labor
ana capital? A. Not that | know of.
On the contrary, they are very anxious
TO get capital into the State.
O.. You see nothing of IA disposition to
prevent such thing A. have seen
nothing, and do not know of anything.
AS said before. the manner in which
they would be received would depend en-.
tirely upon the individuals themselves
They might make themselves obnoxious
as you can understand.
} BY Mr.. Howard:
@ Is there not general dislike OF
Northern men among secessOnists? A
suppose they would not prefer 10 ass0
ciate with them. | do not know that
they would select them as associates.
O.. Do they avoid and ostracise them
soclaily? A. They might avoid them.
Chey would not select them as assocl.
.tes unless there was some reason. i DO
,,ot know that they would associate with
them until they became acquainted. l
think il probable that they would not
3 ad,,it her into their social circles.
BY Mr.. Blow:
a., what is the position of the colored
mel, in Virginia in reference to the per
sons they work for? Doyou think they
would prefer to work for Northern men
or for Southern men? A. | think it
very probable that they would prefer the
Northern man, although have no facts
to go upon.
@. That having been stated very fire.
ouently in reference to the Cotton States
does it result from fear of bad treat
g ment on the part of the resident popu.
lation or from the idea that they will be
more fairly treated by the new corners
What is your observation in that respect
in regard to Virginia? A. / have nc
means of forming an opinion; do not
know any such case in Virginia l know
of numbers of the blacks engaging with
their old masters, and know of a good
many who prefer to go off and look fol
new hohes whether it is from any dis.
like of their former masters, or from 9
desire to change, or that they feel more
free and independent, do not know.
@. What is your opinion in regard t.
the material interests of Virginia? d.
you think they will he equal to wha
they were before the rebellion, under the
c,anged aspect of affairs? A. 1t viii
take a long time for them to reach thei
former standard. / think that after sOmt
years they will reach it, and / hope ex
ceed it but it cannot be Immediately, il
my opinion.
q. IL VIII take number of years
A. IT will take number of years,
think.
O., On the whole the condition O
things in Virginia is hopeful, both in
regard to its material interests and the
future peace of the country? A. have
heard great hope expressed, and there il
great cheerfulness and willingness t.
labor.
@. Suppose that this policy of Presi
dent Johnson should be all you antici-
pate, and that you should also realize all
that you expect in the improvement oil
your material interests, do you think
that the result of that will be the grad
u;L restoration of the old feeling? A
That would be the natural result, ]
think, and see no other way i'm which
that result can be brought about.
@. There is fear in the public mind
that the friends OF the policy in the
South adopt it because they see in it the
means of regaining the political position
which they lost in the recent contest.
do you think that that is the main idea
with them, or that they merely look at
1T, as you say, rs the best means of re-
storing civil government. and the peace
aud prosperity OF their respective states
"A. As To the first point you make, do
not know that ever heard any speak
lIpnn it, never heard the points sepa-
rated. J have heard them speak gene
rally as To the effect of the policy OF
President johnson. The feeling so far
as know, now is that there is not that
equality extended TO the southern states
as is enjoyed by the North.
o. You TO nof feet down there that
while you accept the result that we are
as generous as we ought to be under the
circumstances? A. They think that the
North can afford to he generous.
IL q. fhat is the feeling down there ?
"A. Yes, and they think it is the best
policy. Those who reflect upon the
subject and are able to Judge.
q. understood it TO be your opinion
that generosity aud liberaity towards
the entire south would be the surest
metns OF regaiDing their good opinion
"A. Yes, and the speediest.
BY Mr. Howard.
o. | understood you to say, generally,
thai you had no apprehension of any
combination among the leading seces-
slonists to renew the war, or anything
OF the kind? A. [ have no reason in the
world TO think so.
@. Have you heard that subject talked
over among any of the politicians? A.
No, sir, have not. l have not heard
that matter even suggested.
q. Let me put another hypothetical
state of things. Suppose the Executive
Government of the United States should
be held by President who, like Mr..
buchanan, rejected the right of coer-
cion, socalled and suppose a Congress
should exist here entertaining the same
political opinion, thus presenting to
the once rebel states the opportunity to
a gain secede from the Union, would they
or not, in your opinion, avail themselves
OF that opportunity, or some of them
A. / suppose it would depend upon the
circumstances existing at the time. If