The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-04-12
The Smelling Committee.

The Smelling Committee.
Gen. Robert L. Lee, late commander of
the Confederate army, has been before the
reconstruction commttce Of the Rump
Congress. and his evidence is published in
full Tie courtesy OF Gen. lee was all
his friends could wish The co.inlittec.
re opine were bot we'll satisfied with She
candor exhibited l,y tue General. We can
only afford to copy small part Of the co-
loquy and shat Which We give is a far
specimen OF the wnoie:
Q.--Do you not frequently boyr. 10 Yoar
intercourse With sccessionists IA Virginia.
expressions Of hope that such (iorcigu J
war may break out ?:
Al can not s:y that have hear! il
On the contrary. have heard persons-i
90 not know whether you call them seccs-
sionists or not mean those reor'c in
Virginia with whom associate-expross 4
hope TIA; the country may not be iel into
. :. war.
Q.-ln such an event, 80 you s;.ini, that
cla,> " pconlc whou. ! call secessionists
would jo;n the corli..on enemy?
At is possible /; depends upon the
feeling Of individuals
Of it is 4 fair question --you may
! answer it or not rs you choose-what, in
such IN eyc@t I. ght lie yoa- ch!.o;cc?
Al have no disposition now to do it;
ard never have had
Q.-You cannot torcsee that such would
bo your inclination in such an event?
A.-No, can ouly judge from tho past.
| do not know what circumstances may
produce. / cannot pretend 10 iorcsee
events. So far as | know, the people Of
Virginia are for pence
We do not remember any thing that ap>
proachcs This, unless it may he the cheese
colioquy in or l;D.cricoa COUSIN.
Lord Duna1easy-will you have piece
of cheese?
Koaag Lady-No, I thank you I never
cat cheese.
L. D.-Chcesc is good; don't YOU love
cheese
I. Mo. I DO not.
L. D.-Nhy don't you love cheese?
y. Ii can't ny why | don't love it !;
but I don't.
l.. Does your brother love cheese :?
i. Ii haven't any brothcr
y. D.--Do you thinl, if you had d
brother, he would lero cheese ?'' 8.
We continue our extracts:
Q.--Is there not general dislike ol
northern men among secessionists?
Al suppose they would prefer not 70
associate with them. 90 not know thaf
they would select them as associates
C.-Do they avoid aud ostra~ise (!f1
their society?
A.--Thcy might avoid them. They
would not seict them as associates unless
there was some reason | do not know
that they would associate with them until
they become acquainted. think it pl OBJ
able that they would not admit them into
their social circles.
Q-Do you think that colored persons
would rather work for . northern man
than Il southern man
Al think it very probable that they
would prefer northern man, although |
have 30 facts to go upon.
q understand you 10 say .,,at YOU
i:ad no apprc!cnsicus OF any combination
among The leading secess!onis;s % renew
the war or anything Of .lie kind
Al have no reason il the world to
think so.
Q.-f.ave YOU ever ..earl that subject
talked 6E;sr :lg.;O nDitlPllne
A.-No, sir: have not | have no
heard that matter even suggested.
o let ne pat another Suppose the
Government of the United Stale, should
be held by a President, who, Ike Ducliau>
an. rejected the right OF coercion, so-called
and suppose Congress should exist here
entertaining the same political opinions.
thu, presenting ,le rebel States the oppor-
tun ty 10 again secedc l.cm the Union,
would ;iey not in you~ opinion. avail ;Iica-
selves of that opportunity, or some OF
them
A. suppose !; would depend upon the
circumstances existing at the time
Q-Iou say YOU do not recolect having
sworn allegiance and fidelity to the Con,
ictieraic Government:
Al do not recollcct; nor do | know
tha; it was ever required. was regularly
commissioned in the army Of the Copied-
crate States; but | don't really recollct that
the oath was required If it was, / have
no doubt ! took it; or, if it had been re-
quircd, | should have taken it..