Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-04-07
Testimony OF Gen. Lee.


The testimony of Gen. Robert E. Lee
before the Reconstruction Committee
making some thiriys,x manuscript pa
ges, was submitted in the Senate to-day.
He gives it as his opinion that tho people
Of Virginia would, if able, be willing TO
pay the Confederate deb, {; says that the
whites express kind feelings towards the
freedmen and are willing TO pay them lalr
wages. The whiles, he says. would pre-
fer that the freedmen should be educated,
az better for them and better for the
blacks. Thinks the blacks not as capable
of acquiring knowledge as The whites is
not aware of the existence of any combI-
nation among the blacks of Virginia for
the disturbance of the peace they are
quiet and orderly. bot not disposed TO
work except on temporary jobs, 10 pro
vide them with immediate means of sub
sislence Is no, able 10 form an opinion
whether in the event Of war between
The United States and any lorei IN power,
such as England or France, the people Of
the South would avail themselves Of the
opportunity TO enGeavor 10 gain their IN
dependence. SO far as he knew they
contemplate nothing Of The sort row. Has
heard people of Virginia with whom he
associates express TIE hope that the coun-
uy NAV not be lead into a war. In the
event of such war he had no disposition
10 ioin the common enemy and never
! had. He did not recolect ever having
taken the oath Of allegiance 10 the Con-
! federate Government, though he may have
done so " hen he was commissioned. So
| far az he knows The desire Of the people
of The South is for the restoration Ot the
civil Government, and they look upon The
policy OF President Johnson as the one
which would most clearly and most sure
lv re establish it. Thinks il probable
that the Secessionisi, would prefer not Ia
associate with Northern men. Thinks
that generosity and llbersliIy towards the
entire South by the North would be the
surest and ,peediest means of regaInIng
their good opinion. Witness does no.
remember having remarked 10 trends IN
ccnversalCn that he was NheedIed into
secession by politicians, but may have
,a,,, thai The position which The two sec
lions held towards each other was bro,
sbou, by the politicians of the country
lha, the great masses Of the people, il
they understood the real question, would
have avoided it. Witness believed al lhe
time that it was an unnecessary condition
Of affairs, and might have been avoided il
| lforbearance and sisdom had been prac.
uced on both sides. In reference 10 the
amendment proposed 10 the Constitution,
Gen. Lee testified that at present Virginia
would probably acrep, the smallest repre-
sentalion rather than allow The negroes to
vote. Ii was his own opinion that al ibis
time the blacks cannc, vote inteIigentIy.
and that giving them the right OF suffrage
would open the door TO good deal OF
demspoeuesn, and lead 10 embaTrass-
men. in various ways. Thinks the mas
ses of The Southern people have no sym
palhy for schemes of emigration 10 Mex.
co. Wines. thinks that Virginia would
be better of if she could get rid Of the
colored population. That is no new opin
ion with him. He has always been in
favor of gradual emancipalion.-Wash,
ington Star.
Gen. Terry and other officers testify
that i, would be unsafe to freedmen and
Unionisls to remove the troops from Vlr-
ginis. The change Of feeling is described
by these Witnesses TO be due 10 Pres!-
den, Johnson's liberal policy.
John Minor Bous and Colonel Lewis
testify TO the remarkable slalemen, that
Mr.. Lincoln made a remark 10 Messrs.
Bolts and Baldwin, in April, 1861, that
he would evacuate Fort Sumpter if tie
Virginia Convention adjourn sine die.
Mr.. Bolts was asked by the committee:
"Are YOU perfectly sure, according TO
your best recollection, that Mr. Lincoln
iolG YOU ,ha, he had made that proposition
10 Mr.. Baldwin, 10 evacuale Fort Sumter
on This condition"
Mr.. Bots.-"I know it as well as !
know yeu are standing before me, and
lha. am answering your question"
Mr.. Bolts then goes on TO say that il
Mr.. Baldwin had fulfilled his duty the
Virginia convention would have adjourn
ed; and that the ordinance of secession
would no, have been passed.
Too Good 10 be Lost.