The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-10
GEx.rHonAs,s TESTIMONY.

An immense amount of testimony has beer
taken and published by the Congressional Re
construction Committee Hundreds of the
most prominent amongst the military men
quartered in the South, as well as of leading
Southerners and ex-rebels, have been exam
ined. and the impression Of the public mind
as to the continuing hostility Of the great
mass Of rebels TO the Government Of the
Union, to the loyal men of the South and to
the freedmen lately their slaves is confirmed
and strengthened by this testimony.
On two points, that the present disposition
OF the rebels would soon result in the re-en.
slavement of the blacks and the forcible eiec-
ton of the white Unionists OF the South, Gen.
THOMAS is explicit, aud his testimony is more
than confirmed by Generals GRlERsoS,
SwAYNE, HowARD and scores of others
General Thomas said
] am satisfied that until better state of
feeling shall arise there, if all restraint should
he removed the freedmen would be thrown
back into a condition of actual savery-that
Is, they would be compelled by legislative en-
actment TO labor for little or no wages. and
the legislation would assume such a form that
they would not dare to leave their employers
for fear Of punishment
Q. How would it be with men who, during
the war, had beer avowed Union men?
A. Unless they had very warm personal
friends they could not live in the State. They
would be ANNOYED so much in various WAYS
that they could not live there in any peace or
comfort
Q. WHAT'S the feeling of lhe people, so far
as Won know, in regard TO receiving emigrants
from abroad, or from the Northern and West
EN- States? Would they lie received kindly
or otherwise
A. | think that emigrants from abroad
would be kindly received. but | think emf
grants from the North would be treated coldly
or with indifference.
Q. What is your opinion of the danger Of
trouble with the negroes if they remain where
they are?
A. There is no danger from them whatever
unless the whites treat them so badly that
they are compelled in self-defence to rise
against th IN.
Q. Whit is the disposition and capacity Of
the n ,eroes for education?
A. he disposition is universal among
them, cspe tally among the younger portion
TO acq re educat on Their capacity for re
ceivin ins ruction has not yet been fully dc
velope |, b from all | can learn from CONVEX
sation with different persons, they possess a
far capacity for acquiring knowledge ]
think the second generation can be instructed
much more easily and much more thoroughly
than the present generation, because, in
measure, the mind of the negre is entirely
undeveloped at present, excepting in the
matter of practical observation.
Q. What is the disposition of the negro to
labor? Is.there any trouble with him in that
respect, if he is offered fair wages and assured
Of receiving his compensation?
A. ! think in every instance when the
negro has become assured that he would be
paid fair wages, he has gone 10 work willing
Is, and has continued to work as long as the
contract has been faithfully performed en- the
part Of bis employer.
Ifthese views Of a West Point officer and
no politician be correct, how can any loyal
man desire to see military control rem owed
from people who are hostile to ali Union
men, and who are bent on the reinstatement
of the South