Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-30
wAsHlxerox. March q.

WAsHIEGroN, March 2.
The testimony taken by the Recon-
struction Committee in regard to Virginia
and the two Carolinas was to-day reported
l In the House by Mr.. COnkling, nd or
| dered to be printed. The delay in report
/ ing it was caused by the absence OF Mr..
/ Howard, before whom all Of it was taken.
| There We're more than sixty with asses
I examined by the Senate and House in
I relation to the condition OF affairs IN
/ Virginia, North Carolina and South Car
olina. Some few witnesses were ex-
au1ined by him in relation 10 Southern
States, but their testimony was reported
with that Of the States 70 which itappiled.
Among the important of the witnesses eX-
aaiued in relation TO Virginia We're
Judge Underwood, who has been elected
United States Senator from that State,
but has not vet been admitted to seat
Mr. Lewis Mckenzie, in same position
in regard to the House Of Represent
atives Gen. Turner, commanding post
at Richmond: Gen. Terry, in command
Of the department. and Col. Orlando
Brown, Assistant Com missioner Freed
mems Bureau in Virginia, and loyalists,
including John Minor Bolts, G. ID. Ray,
of Augusta, Ga, Col ;. ). Lewis, Of
Rockingham county, and his brother,
Charles II. Lewis, late Secretary Of the
Commonwealth, Gen. Robert +. Lee, OF
the Confederate army, and Brighten.
Corse, Of the same; five members of
the Virginia Legislature, viz: J. B.
Baldwin, Speaker of the House Of
Delegates, W. Joyner, Chairman Of the
judiciary Committee, and Representa-
tive Gattan, with Dale, Carter and +. +.
Keon. menlb bers Of the State Senate, the
latter formerly a colonel in the rebel
army: the Rev. DR.. McMOnday, Rector
of Christs church, Alexandria, Va, !
Rev. J. W. HunniCutt, Of Frederic ksburg; |
seven colored men, including minister, /
a doctor, and a dentist, who is also 4
Baptist missionary, were examined. The I
witness whose testimony will be, 4
perhaps, most eagerly sought for, /
was Gen. Lee. He represents that /
nothing like a sentiment Of hostility TO |
the United States Government eE-
lists in Virginia; that there are no combi-
nations or eOnspiracies, having that
end in view; that the people, though dis
appointed and saddened by the result Of
the war, accept the result submissjvely,
and are now only looking 70 their mate
rial interests, and that the surest AMI
speediest modes Of Teclaiming the people
to the Government, and making them
its candid supporters Is 10 extend to them
equal political rights with the people OF
other States. As to the negroes, he eX-
presses his belief, which he says he has
always entertained, that the State would
be much better without them; and he
repudiates the idea that cruelties
were purpOsely inflicted on Fed
eral prisoners of war. The tesri-
mony of the members Of the
Virginia Legislature, who had come as a
to President Johnson, was
equally important and interesting. They
concur IN the opinion as to the complete
absence Of any feeling looking to a re-
newal Of hostilities with the Govern
ment; the question of coercion they say,
was settled at the point Of the sword, and
the people are content to abide by the de-
cisiOu and live faithful citizens OF the Re
public. They represent the feeling Ofthe
people at large, and of themselves, as
unalterably opposed to the idea Of ex-
tending political rights to the blacks.
The Legislature was engaged in rem0v-
ing most if not all obnoxious discrimi-
nations in law beween whites and
blacks.