Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-07

equality, the southern people WOulo prefer
their total annihilati,p" " [ had regarded him
as we'll Informed, and almost as candid man
as We have among the rebels.
Z. Have you heard similar expressions from
white persons Of lower condition?
A. Soor after the Christmas riot in Alexan
dria, one man remarked to me that he would
kill niger as soon as be could zee him. !" |
th:uk the first man expressed the sentiment Of
the educated the last expressed the sentiment
of the vulgar aud uneducated, especially of the
returned rehel soldiers.
q. Have you any reason to suppose that
there has been and still is any concert or cou-
spiracy among the freedmen to produce distur-
bauce in the State OF Virginia. TO seize he
lands OF their masters, or do any other illegal
act to the prejudice OF society or OF individuals
A. l am confident there is no such dtslgu.-
| certainly know the sentiment Of the leading
colored men there am president OF the
Freedmen's Relief Association Of Alexandria,
and have had intercourse with the leading
coloGed men upon the various subjects, church
es schools, &c, and have contributed as lib
orally as could TO the building of school houses
and churches for the colored people and lthlnk
| have their confidence.
Q. Have you any ground to suppose that
any such concert or conspiracy exists or has ex-
isted?
A. am satisfied that no such conspiracy
has ever existed; on the contrary have found
those people very peaceful and law abiding.
Q. Do you suppose this disposition on the
part Of the whites peryades the State of Viz
ginia generally?
A. | think it does ADd | think the prin-
cipal reason for it is the assistance the negroes
rendered the Union cause during the rebellion.
When [ was holding court at Richmond recent
!y, had 3 conversation with one OF the leading
men in that city, and he said to me that the
enlistment of negro troops by the u. 5. was the
turning point OF the rebellion that it was the
heaviest blow they ever received He remark
ed that when the negroes deserted their mas
terS, and showed general disposition to do SO
and join the forces ct the Ualted States, intel
ligent men everywhere saw that the matter was
enGed have often heard similar expression
Of opinion from Others, and am satisfied that
the origin OF this bitterness towards the negro
is thiE belief among leading men that their
weight thrown into the scale decided the con-
test against them. However the fact may be,
[ think that such is a pretty we'll settled con-
cIusion among leading rebels in Virginia.
G. Have you any knowledge OF or any rea-
son to suspect the existence of, q conspiracy or
plan in Virginia or elsewhere in the rebel States
to reopen the war OF TO set up another rebel
lion?
A. [ have not; on the contrary, although
they are now quite as rebelllous IN spirit as
they have been at any time, believe their pre-
sent design is to attempt to accomplish their
purpose through the ballot box,
q. What is their scheme? What is their
idea
A. I think l understand their scheme. |
l. - l>o
some split in the Union party, which will ena-
BILE them in concert with the Democratic party
Of the North, to succeed by voting better than
by fighting. GLE
@, Let me put Hypothetical case 10 you
Suppose that by means of combination with
the so-cslled Democratic party, alias C0pper
head party, alias Conservative party, they should
again obtain political power in Congress, and IN
the executive department; suppose this to be
the result OF combination between the ex-rebel
party in the South and this so-caled Democ at.
ic party in the North, what would be The effect
OF that ascendency upon the rebel States?-
What measures would they resort to?
A. They would attempt either to accomplish
repudiation Of the national debt, or an ac-
know ledgment Of the confederate debt, and
compensation for their negroes. | think these
would be their leading measures, their leading
demands; and think If either the rebel Debt
could be pIacei upon au equality with the ma
lioua! debt, or both could be alike repudiafed,
they would be satisfied Bur the leading splE-
It's would claim compensation tor their negroes,
aud would expect to get it by such @ com!,lna
ton e.. ir
O. Suppose they should not succeed in their
schetDe of repudlatins the national debt, or IN
their other scheme of the asSumption OF the
rebel debt; what would they finally do, provl
dud they had the power?
4. It they had the power they would un.
douhledly again 60 cut of the Union, because
being arstocratic and not republican in their
tastes and feelings, they would greatly prefer
some other torn of government. | have for
twenty years past known that that Was the teeI-
Ing among the leading men. l think they al-
ways would have preferred an arlstocratlc gov
ernment to any other.
Q. What degree Of cordiality exists general
y among the people Of Virginia towards north
ern men and loyal people?
4. There seems TO be aD almost total sepa-
ration, socially, politically, relgiously and edu
cationally. For instance, we have lve Union
churches and five churches which are recog-
nized as rebel churches in the city OF AlexaD-
dria-all white churches and then we have
six colored churches there, that are intensely
loyal; auG there is hardly ever an instance
where man Of one political feeling goes to a
church OF different political belief. | do not
know of half dozen ins' ances In Alexandra.
Q. How are we'll bred northern men treated
by the rebels when they visit Alexandria Or
other parts of Virginia
4. do not know that they are treated at
all; they are simply let alone according 70 my
impression | do not think they are treated
uffeusiyey The Union element is very consld-
cradle 10 Aexaudria-enuugh so to be respected.
O. There is no disposition to form social ALL
ances or acquaintance with them on the part OF
the rehels?
A. The separation is very pronounced indeed.
O. They are rather disposed to be separate
people?
A. II would seem SO, at al events. Past re-
COLLECTIONS seem to be very controlling IL their
social relations.