Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-15

doun county and in the valley they have resolv-
ed not to employ the freedmen.
O. Are there associations for that purpose
A. Rather neighborhood association OF that
kind. [ know of several such.
O. How are they going to get thor work
done?
A. They will try to get white foreign immi-
grafton.
@. What is the reason Of that? Is not work
done by negro as good in their estimation, as
that done by white man?
A. The negro being free, they cannot say to
him, as they used to, Tom, you must do this,
and if you don't will give you cut. - They
cannot talk in that kind of way They say they
have raised the negroes and have fed them all
their lives, ard il is the negro's duty to work
for them.
0. The point Of modification is that they
cannot lawfully whip them any more?
A. Yes, sir that is it.
Q. They regard that as depriving them OF
luxury?
A. Yes; think so. have seen them per-
forming it as it it was luxury.
Q. Have you in your own mind any partlcu-
lar facts which you wish to state to The commit
tee-any facts illustrating your views?
4. only desire to say this-that unless
Congress relieves US by giving US some other
kind of government either a military govern
mcnt, or some other government that will pro
tect the firm Union men, the Union men, who
have been firm to the government, have got to
leave Virginia and the south. They cannot
90 back on my farm and reside there.
q. What have you to apprehend?
A. From their threats apprehend personal
violence.
@. Are such threats offrequent occurrence ?
A. Very frequent
@. You are Union man and an employee Of
the government?
A. Yes, sir.
O. Suppose you should be murdered by an
ex-rebel out Of revenge and from dislike to you
as 4 Union man, and suppose your murderer
should be indicted and prosecuted IN the proper
court of that district, and jury should be
called under the existing laws Of Virginia, have
YOU not grounds to suppose that, in case the
evidence was plain and clear, the jury would
convict that man?
A. That would depend upon circumstances
very materially. IF the case was very plain and
clear, and there was no possible chance to cover
it up, the jury might bring IN verdict of gull
ty, but it would be very pressing circumstances
that would compel them to do it.
Q. Under such circumstances you would
rather expect that they would render verdict
Of guilty, it the evidence was plain and without
doubt?
A. Yes, sir; if there was no possible chance
to avoid it. | have seen cases tried there sim
iIarly, Which, to me, were as plain as the sun
that shines, and the verdict was rendered quite
the reverse
Q. And that, you suppose, is owing to the
prejudice felt generally by rebels against Union
men?
A. Yes.
@. Are they still anxious for independence
Of the national government?
A. The leaders are all Of them. There are
a good many men who are very poor-reduced
almost to starvation-who say eve have got
enough fighting we are not going to fight any
more" But hitherto the leaders have always
induced them to do what they wanted, and
they will probably do the same in the future
G.. Has the material prosperity OF the people
in that district been seriously affected by the
rayages of the war?
a. Yes, sir; the valley Of Virginia, Lou
doun county, Fairfax, and some Of those coun-
ties, have been very materially injured.
Z. Have many estates been contiscated un-
der the laws Of the United States?
There were good many seized, but the pro-
ceedihgs were stopped and the cost paid
There were quite good many estates sold in
and some in Fairfax. - -
@. What would be the effect on the freed
men if the Union military forces were removed?
\. 1t would be an awful affair. 1t would be
which | have not language to ex
press.
Q. What would you anticipate?
A. The freedmen would be reduced to take
just what compensation their employers chose
to give them, and the latter would impose such
penalties upon them as they might deem ne
cessary The result would be really the ami
hilation Of the freedmen in short time 1t
would not take a great while They could not
remain. They would be starved to death.
9. How would it be in reference to the sick
and aged and infrm among tho freedmen?
Would the whites be willing to contribute any
thing for their support?
A. [ do not think they would
c. Would they leave them to die without
giving them a helping hand | speak OF the
people generally.
A. The general sentiment among the lead
ing people, | think, is, that they would rejoice
if the freedmen were out Of existence. They
would say, God speed them let themge out
of the way as soon as they can.
@. Why do they feel 50 to the freedmen?
A. I cannot tell you the reason why. They
tecI very indignant also toward the Union men
who had been living among them. They say
that the Union men-the northern fanatics
were the cause of their failing.
Q. Why should they detest the negro 50 bit
teri y ?-hc has been passive and substantially
neutral. "-
A. That is true. | suppose they hate him
because he was the cause Of the war; and be-
cause the result has not been as they antlcl-
pated.
O. Is that the cause Of their deep mortlli-
cation.
A. T expect that it is; | see no other.