The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04
CHE aeteekly STANDARD .
GENERAL LEES TESTIMONY
BEFORE THE RECONSTRUC c.
TION COMMITTEE.

1lON O0MMl1 i EE.
In the House of Representatives, on
Tuesday, Mr. Conkling, from the Joint
Committee of Fifteen, reported large
amount of evidence on the condition OF
the Southern States. The following is
the testimony of General Robert E.
Lee, who was sworn and examined on
the 18th of February, 1856:
By Senator Howard Where is your
present residence? A. Lexington, Va.
@. How long have you been i'll Lex
ington? A. Since the LIST of October
last--nearly FIVE months.
@. Are you acquainted with the state
of feeling among what we call the Sc
cessionists at present in Virginia to-
wards the Federal Government? A. |
do not know that l am. l have been
living very retired, and have had but
little communication with politicians.
I know nothing more than from my OBJ
servations and such facts as have come
to my knowledge.
Q. What is your opinion, from obser-
vations among the secession people, of
the state of the feeling towards the Gov
ernment, at this time? A. So far as
come to my knowledge, do not know
of single person who either feels or
contemplates any resistance to the Gov
eminent of the United States, or indeed
any opposition to. No word has reach
ed me to either purpose.
@. From what you have observed is
it your opinion that they are friendly
towards the Government, and they will
cooperate to sustain and uphold it in
future? A. | believe they entirely ac-
quiesce in the Government, and so far
as l have heard any one express an
opinion, they are for cooperating with
President johnson in his policy.
Q. In his policy in regard to what ?
A. His policy in regard to the restora-
ton of the whole country. haveheard
persons with whom | have conversed,
express great confidence in the wisdom
of his policy of restoration, and they
seem to look forward to it as hope of
restoration.
@. How do they feel in regard to that
portion of the people of the United Staes
who have been forward and Jealous in
the prosecution of the war against re-
bellion? A. Well, l do not know. |
have heard nobody express any
opinion in regard to it. As 1 said
before, I have not had much con-
nection with politicians in the country,
if there are any. Every one seems to
be engaged in his own affairs, and in
endeavoring to restore the evil govern
ment of the State. l have heard no
expression of sentiment towards any
particular portion of the country.
@. How do the secessionists feel in
regard to the payment of the Federal
debt? A. | have never heard any one
speak on the subject. | suppose they
must expect to pay the taxes levied by
the Government. have heard them
speak in reference to the payment of
taxes, and of their efforts to raise money
therefor, which suppose is for their
share of the debt. have never heard
any one speak in opposition to the pay
ment of taxes or of resistance to their
payment. Their whole effort has been
to try and raise money to pay the
taxes.
Q. From your opinion and knowledge |
of the people of Virginia, would they, |
if the question was left to them, repu-
date and reject that debt? A. l never
heard any one speak on that subject,
but from my knowledge of the people,
| believe that they would bein favor of |
payment of just debts.
@. Do they, in your opinion, regard
that as just debt? A. l do not know
what their opinion is ON the subject. l
have never heard any opinion expressed,
but | have never heard any opinion ex-
pressed contrary to it. Indeed, as |
said in the beginning, I have had very
little discussion or intercourse with the
people. / believe the people would pay
the debts they are called on to pay. 1
say that from my knowledge of the peo-
pie generally.
Q. Would they pay that debt, OF
their portion of it, with as much aIacri-
ty as people ordinarily pay their taxes
to their Government A. | do not
know that they would make any dis
tlnction between the two. The taxes
levied by the Government, so far as I
know, they are prepared to pay to the
best OF their ability. l never heard
them make any distinction.
Q. What is the feeling of the people
of Virginia towards the payment of the
so-called Confederate debt? A. | be-
lieve SO far as my opinions go--and 1
have no facts to go upon---they would
be willing to pay the Confederate debt,
too.
@. You think they would? A. /
think they would, if they had the power.
and ability to do so. I have never heard
any one in the State with whom have
conversed speak of repudiating any
debt.
Q. Isuppose the Confederate debt is
valueless, even in the market in Vir-
ginia. A. Entirely; so far as know.
1 believe the people look upon it as
lost entirely. | never heard anv
question on the subject
Q. Do you recollect when the Con-
tederate bonds were made payable? A.
have general recollection that thew
were made payable six months after a
declaration of peace.
Q. Six months after ratification of
peace between the United States and
the Confederate Government. A. I
think they ran that way.
@. So that the bonds arc not due vet