The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-31
CONGRATULATIONS Of General Terry be.
fore the Committee OF Fiftccn-Pclitical Con.
ditiaN Of Hiruinin

Major General Alfred II Terry. sworn md
examined by Mr.. Howard. Cues ton What
Is your rank In the army Answer am
malor-general OF volunteers, and brigadier-
general and brevet major general in the United
States army.
Q,-Where are you now stationed2 AIN
Richmond, Va.
GLOW long have you been IN command
thereH A.-Sincc about the middle of last
June.
Q.-What amount of force have YOU in your
department A.-By the last return there
We're present and absent about two thousand
nine hundred and forty two men the number
actually present in the department. including
officers OF the veteran reserve corps rcporling
10 the Frecdmcn'S Commissioner, is between
two thousand six hundred and two thousand
seven hundred.
Q.-At what points are they chiefly sta.
toned? Alt Richmond, Fredericksburg
Charlottesville, Lynchburg Bristol Danvile
Petersburg, City Point, Norfolk, Fort Mon
roe, Yorktown, and Williamsburg. These are
mostly one and two company posts.
R.-What is the territorial extent of your
department? Attic State of Virginia with
the exception Of Alexandria, Fairfax, and
Loudoun counties and the northern part o!
the Shenandoah Valley.
Q.-Haye You much 10 do with the Freed
men 5 Bureau i'll your department? Al
have. n great deal of business comes 10 me
from the Bureau, and am in constant com
munication with Colonel Brown, the Assistant
Commissioner.
Q.-What are your means OF knowledge OF
the state of affairs in Virginia. or throughout
your department? Al do not come in direct
personal contact with the people Of Virginia
rs much rs many OF my subordinateS do |
have no social intercourse with any except
those known 10 be Union people.
Q.-Why not? A.-They do not suit me
and ii is neither becoming my position, as the
commanding officer of the department, nor
consistent with my self respect, 10 seek them
l.,
the business that comes to me officially, from
official reports of my subordinates, and from
officers information OF occurrences which
receive from those of my own people IN whom
! have confidence. II is derived also from what
i see in the public press i'll Virginia, and from
what is brought 10 my attention officially ana
unoliicially by the Commissioners of Freed
mems Affairs. l frequently see citizens on
Official business but not as frequently rs my
suborainates do. My business is chiefly done
on paper.
Q.-What, generally. j. the feeling on the
part OF the secession element toward the
UnioniSts, whether native NirSiullns or per
sons from other States? Al think II Is as
hostile as il ever has been. As 10 the feeling
toward the people OF the North, | do not think
that il has essentially changed from what it
was before the war and during the war. There
is still the same hatred of, and the same con-
tempt for them.
O.-How much social intercourse is there
between them? Avery little, so far rs my
knowledge goes very little indeed.
p-Are YOU prepared 10 say that the state
of feeling between scCeSSioni>tS and Mon
lists is one of bitter hostility? Al think
ii is.
Q.-Are Uniouists secure in the enjoyment
of their rights III the midst OF u secession
community there? Al do not think they
are.
O. Can they safely rely on the stat" courts
for iusfice 10 themselves and protection 10 their
rights? A.-NO, sir, think not.
p.-How would il be-, tor instance, If suit
between Il strong Union man, whether resi-
ding there, or from loyal State, and seceS-
sionist-would you apprchend that Jury
called in the regular way in Virginia would
he INJURIOUS against q Union man. A.-N ME
| do not know of any such case, such is my I'M
uression in regard 10 the feelings of secession
ISIS toward Union men, that | think that the
rights of the latter, under these circumstances
would not be secured. know from CONVEX
saton with Union men that such Is the gene
raj impression among them.
Q-What do the seceSSiOniSts appear 10 de-
sire What great object do they hay" III
view? An The first place, having iailea 10
maintain the separate nationality winch thcS
asserted, they desire 10 keep themselves Sci'i,
rate people. and 10 prevent, by any means III
their power, our becoming Il homogeneous ma
ton: secondly they desire 10 make treason
honorable and loyalty Infamous, and 10 rtco-
yer, rs iaraS they may be able, poh!ical power
O-And of course the great object winch
they Immediately have III view Is the posses
sion of political power? Ayes, sir.
o .-How do they regard President John
sons liberal policy in re1onstructinS me St3'e'
and granting pardons and amneSticS A.-lhe5
seem 10 lie very much pleased WIN II. lheS
would of course, regard with great favor any
action tending TO restore them 10 lhelf former
stairs.
@ DO YOU hear any expressions Of disloy
atty among them toward iIe>lucIiI 'oi'''9"l'
Al do not.
@ Suppose they get into power again with
their full representation III congress, ana
with q President who, like Mr. Buchanan,
Shnnld disayow the right of the Government
of The United States 10 cuerce STATE, anu
should decline 10 use the military force OF Inc
Government TO prevent secession, would 'heH
or would they not, in your opinion, again ST.
cede from the Union and attempt 10 set up IN
independent government. Ali theSe OF
auy other circumstances should occur, ana II
should be announced that, Notwithstanding
the former failure, they then would nave Il
certainty OF success, ihlilh '4'y ""''" ~
tempt 10 secede again. 49,.
O.-State whether they are in the hlolt o!
snealxinc contemptuously of the Government
of the United States rs Il polltlcal INSTITUTION
A.-They are. .,.,,-,,, -
believe that there are now existing Ill yo''l
denartment, or elsewhere in the Rebel
States any combinations or conSpIrtcles among
the secessionists with Il view 10 the ulilma' &c
establishments of Southern independence, on Il
rectly? Al know of none
o Have YOU any reason 10 believe In me
existence of any? Al have none.
O In the event of Il war between the
United States and any foreign government
such as England or France, and III The eNehl
of there being prospect of the establishment
of Southern independence by an alllilCe De,
tween the secession element III the South ana
the foreign enemy, have you any reason 70
suppose that the element would any llStii
with the foreign enemy, or take any part III
The war against the United States Al
think that such has been the punishment
which they have received Tor their rcceh'
attempt to throw of The authority OF lhc
Government, unless there was very strong
prospect of success, they would be rcliclan ~
engage in another attempt OF the klhd, WIN oi
without alliance: but should powerful 10
reign enemy land upon the southern coast me
would receive some material ana ana nihcI
sympathy under all circumstances shouia tii'
circumstances be such rs 10 promise lhcln theii
independence, a very large portion OF the peo-
nile of the South would Join the enemy.
q And in view Of the contingency OF Z
foreign war with Il powerful nation ana tH'
occurrence of such IN invasion OF our telll-
tory do YOU regard the rebel states, one OF
,Itorether as an element of strength III lh'
Government of the United States AT the pres
emf time? A.-No sir; on the contrary, l4os
.Nt A