Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-07-07
Prof POrshcy Before the Recon
structiOn Committee.

On the application OF the honora
ble Reverdy Johnson, Of Maryland
Col. Forshey, formerly Of this city
now of Texas, was summoned to ap'
pear before the Reconstruction Com
mittee, to testify to the condition
and disposition of the States "lately
in rebellion" He told them, in 0
very straightforward way, a good
many truths:
@. OF what State are you q resi-
dent. and how long? A. have re.
sided twelve years in the State of
Texas,
@. From what State did you emf.
grate to Texas? A. ! claim to be a
Virginian, though chiefly reared in
Ohio, whittier my father removed
from Virginia in my childhood; re.
ceived my collegiate education at
Kenyon College, Ohio, my military
and scientific education at West
Point; my life Of manhood has been
passed in Louisiana and Texas.
@. Have you been in the rebel ser.
vico, and in what way? A. l have
served during the war; was Lieuten-
ant Colonel Of Engineers. chiefly en-
gagged in the defences west Of the
Mississippi.
@. What is the state Of public or.
der and obedience to the United
States authorities in Texas and the
other States of which you have &C.
knowledged? A. Good order and
obedience are universal in Pexas
and elsewhere, as / believe. 1t has
never been otherwise in Texas, un.
less probably on the Rio Grande
frontier there may be occasional ex-
ceptions among the turbulent char.
acters that have no special habita.
ton either side Of the border.
@. Please state whether that good
order you describe is due to the
presence and authority Of the Uni.
ted States troops, and whether, upon
their removal, there would not be
disorder and disloyalty? A. 1t is
certainly in no degree due to the
presence of troops. In fact, any ex-
ceptions to the remark may be i'm
puted to the fact that soldiers are
about. Their removal would be ev-
erywhere public blessing. unless
needde on the frontier to guard
against Indians or Mexican robbers.
@. Why do you say "irritating,"
are they not we'll l-behaved? A. Gen
orally they are, but their presence is
understood as an emblem ofour SUBJ
mission. Every bayonet is a sym.
Dol of our subjugation, and is viewed
as an evidence that our surrender
and parole are not received in good
faith. We need no watching, and
naturally dislike the guards that
watch us.
@. Would loyalmen be safe among
you without Federal protection? A.
All men were safe before there was
any Federal authority among US
After the surrender we were months
without officers or law. A military
order vacated or annulled all official
functions. and deprived Us Of every
species Of legal restraint, and for
many months furnished no substi.
tute for the authority suppressed
Troops have not at any time reach.
ed our interior generally, and yet,
throughout the vast area Of Texas.
Just replenished by the return Of
fifty thousand disbanded soldiers,
there was as good order and as much
respect for rights and morals as any
Northern State or elsewhere. / re
gard it as a great test Of our civili-
cation; / wish the fact to be put on
record in our favor. The same was
true, as believe, in most Of the
Southern States. Not a single re.
sistance to Federal authority has ev-
or taken place TO the present day;
and when it is considered that half
a million of men have just returned
from q conflict Of four years. in
which they have fought for national
life and honor, we think they should
claim a respect that should remove
sentinels and disband the armies,
white and black, that watch us.
@. 1t is generally believed that
the troops are kept to humiliate the
people2 A. Perhaps that would too
strongly express it. They feel it is
calculated to humiliate, and that
those who order it are reckless Of
this fact. We believe it to be OBJ
vious to all, both North and South,
that negro troops placed to guard
their late masters, is viewed with
repugnance and proper indignation
BY every man, woman and child OF
true spirit in the South; and some of
the military treatment of the South
is accepted by them as intended to
degrade them.
@. Hive negro troopsbeen gene
rally sent as garrisons in Texasf
A. Fortunately they have not
On the frontier they have been sent
in great numbers, but we have very
little population there, and do not
feel it. At Galveston they have had
them. but only passing to and from
other service. 1fear that the results
would have been serious had they
been generally sent through Texas.
There are some things our returned
soldiers 'woald not bear, and l be-
lieve that is one. The question as to
the safety of loyal men ! have not
fully answered. From the time OF
surrender there were agents and
drummers, and cottbn' bdyers from
the Northern States all over Texas
and at this time they and other EN-.
igrants and travellers from the loysl
States, 90 called. probably number