The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-04-26

throughout the State, [ think, with
some exceptions the anti.secession sem
timent was more general in the rural
districts and in the mountain portions
Of the State, yet the people of some of
the upper counties were very active and
decided secessionists. There was moth.
ing like sectional disunion of the
State, at all for instance, the delega
ton from Floyd county, in which the
city of Rome is situated, in the upper
portion Of the State, was an able one,
and strong for secession, while the coun'
ty of Jeffei son, down in the interior OF
the cotton belt, sent one of the most
prominent delegations for the Union
[ could designate other particular coun,
ties in that way throughot the State,
showing that there was not what might
be termed sectional or geographical
division of the State on the question.
G. In what particular did the peo,
pie believe their constitutional liberties
were assailed or endangered from the
Union? A. Mainly, [ would say, in
their internal social polity, and their
apprehension from the general consoli-
dating tendencies of the doctrines and
principles of the political party which
had recently succeeded in the choice of
a President and Vice President Of the
United States. 1t was the serious ap
prehension that if the Republican Or
ganization, as then constituted should
succeed to power, it would lead ulti-
mately to virtual subversion Of the
Constitution Of the United States, and
all its essential guarantees Of public
liberty. | think that was the sincere
and honest conviction in the minds of
our people. Those who opposed scces-
sion did not apprehend that any such
results would necessarily follow the
elections which had taken place; they
still tho1ght that all their rights mig ht
be maintained in the Union and under
the Constitution, especially as there
were majorities in both Houses Of Con.
gress who agreed with them on costitu
tional questions.
O. To what feature of their internal
social policy did they apprehcnd dan.
ger
A. Principally the subordination oI
the African race as it existed under
their laws and institutions.
Q. In what spirit is the cmancipa
ton Of the slaves received by the peo
pie?
a. Generally ir is acquicsccl in, anj
accepted / think in perfect good faith
and with disposition 10 do the bes
that can be done in the new order o
things in this particular
.. What at present are the relation:
subsisting between the white and 5laob
people, especially in the relation of EN-
ployer and employed?
A. Quite as good, | think, as in any
part Of the world that ever | have beer
in, between like classes of employed anC
employer; the condition of things il
this respect, on my return last fall, wa
very different from what it was when
left home for my present visit to thi
city during the fall, and up to tn,
close o. the year, there was a genera
opinion prevailing among the coloreC
people that a Christmas there would b.
4 division Of the lands, and very gen
eral instruction on their part not t.
make any contracts at all for the pre-
sent year Indeed there were very fey
contracts, think, made throughout tn
State, until after Christmas or abou
the 1st of January. General Til.son
who is at the head of the Bureau in tn
State, and whose administration ha
given very general satisfaction to ou
people, think, was very active in dis
abusing the minds of the colored peopl
from their error in this particular III
visited quite q number of places in tn
State aud addressed large audiences o
colored people, and then they became
satisfied that they were laboring uude
a mistake in anticipating division 0
lands, After Christmas and the lst o
January, they made contracts very read
lily generally, and since that time affair
have in the main moved oD quit,
smoothly and quietly,
O. Are the negroes generally a
work a? A. Yes sir, they are general,
at work, there are some idlers, but thi
class constitute but small proper
ton.
Q. What, upon the whole, has beer
their conduct; proper under the cir
cumstances under which they have beer
placed or otherwise ? A. Asa whole
much better than the most hopotu
looked for.
Q. As far as you saw, what are the
leading objects and desires of the ne
gro population at the present time il
reference to themselves A. 1t is t.
be protected in their rights Of persons
of property to be dealt by fairly an(
justly.
O. What, if anything, has been don,
by the Legislature of your State Tor tn,
accomplishment of these objects? ? A
The Legislature has passed an act o