Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-06-05
Bill Arp is Called Before the Reconstruc
tion Committee -(Suppressed
Testimony

To the Editor of the Metropolitan Record:
Mr.. Editor. Murder will out, and SO will
evidence. Having seen Dan Rice's testimony
before the Destruction Committee, | have felt
sorter sighted because no mention amt been
made OF mine. [ suppose it has been sup
pressed, but L am not to be hid out of Obscuri-
ty. Our country is the special jury and by and
by this business will go up before it on appeal.
The record must go up fair and complete, and
therefore L IL take occasion to make public what
l swore to. said a good deal more than l can
put down, Mr.. Editor; and at times my Ian
guage was considered impudent, but they
thought that was all the better for their side
for it illustrated the rebellious spirit heard
one OF EN- say: Let him go on-the ruling
passion strong in death. He's good State ev-
ldence."
When [ was put on the stand, old Boutwell,
swore me most tiercely and solemnly to speak
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth; and l observed that he was then enter
tanning about quart Of double rectifed, and it
looked like it had soured ON his stomach. Old
Blow was settin off on one side with memo
lslndum book, gettin ready to note down some
'garbled extracts.
Old Iron Works was chairman, and when he
nodded his Republican head, old Boutwell, says
he Your name Is Arp, [ believe, sir Z"
$50 Called says |. "a
''You reside in the State Of Georgia, do
you?'
Il can't say exactly" says I. II live in
Rome, right in the fork of two Injun rivers
I'm the State OF Georgia, says he fercely
In a state OF uncertainty about that, says
L. ''We don't know whether Georgia is a State
or not l would like for you to state yourself;
that this matter should be settled, and | will
nroceed to state''-
Never mind, sir, says he. "How old are
you, Mr.. Arp?'
That depends on circumstances, says L
y don't know whether to count the last five
years or not. During the war your folks said
that State couldnt secede, but that while she
was in a state Of rebellion she ceased to exist
Now you say we got out, and we shant get
back again until 1870. A mans age has got
something 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?'
Got no citizens yet, sir, that we know Of
l will thank you to speak of us as people.
well, sir, says he, ''Ill humor your obsti-
macy. 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. Cali it section"
MIR. Arp, are the people of your section suffi-
GENTLY humbled and repentant to come back
into the Union on such terms as we may think
proper to impose?'
'sNot much they aint,'' says 7. II don't
think they are prepared for it yet. They
Wouldn' voluntarily so it blind against your
hand. They say the deal wasn't fair, and
you We marked the cards, and stole the trunps /;
but at the same time they don't care a darn
what you do. They've become indifferent. and
don't care nothin about your Guy Fawkes busi-
ness. L mean no respect to you, gentlemen,
but swore to tell the whole truth. Our peo-
pie amt notlcln you, only out Of curiosity
They don expect anything decent, or honora-
bic, or noble from you, and they've gone to
work dlggln and plowln and plantin and raisin
boy children"
Right here the man with memorandum
scratched down a garbled extract, an old Bout
well says he: What do you mean by that, sir ?
What inference do you intend? 2"
I'm stating facts says l." ''You must
draw your own interences They ore raiisule boy
Children. Any harm about that? Any trea-
son? Can't man raise boy children? Per
hays you'd like to amend the Constitution and
stop it. Old Pharoah tried to stop it among
the lsraelites, but it didn't pay. He finally
caught the dropsy IN the Red Sea. We are
raisin boy children for the fun Off They are
q, good thing, to have in the house; as Mrs.
Toodles would say"
Mr. Arp are not the feelings of your people
very bitter towards the North p
Il beg your pardon, sir, but you'll 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, and there's heap of 'em North, sir, and
there's heap of widows and orphans there we
are sorry for but as for this here Radical par
ty, they look upon 'em like they was hyenas a
scratchin up the dead for lvn. It's as nat