The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-04-03

w OlIOu OONcIul1cnO "a. wv iioo
know that they would make any dis
tinction between the two. The taxes
levied by the Government, so far as L
know, they are prepared to pay to the
best of their ability. I never heard
them make any distinction.
@. What is the feeling of the people
of Virginia towards the payment OF the
so-called Confederate debt? A. 1 be-
lieve so far as my opinions go-and l
have no facts to go upon--they would
be willing to pay the Confederate debt,
too.
Q. You think they would? A. I
think they would, if they had the power,
and ability to do so. 1 have never heard
any one in the State with whom have
conversed speak of repudiating any
debt.
Q. suppose the Confederate debt is
valueless, even in the market in Nlr-
ginia. A. Entirely; so far as know.
[ believe the people look upon it as
lost entirely. I never heard any
question ON the subject.
Q. Do you recollect when the Con-
federate bonds were made payable? A.
have a general recollection that they
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. 1
think they ran that way.
Q. So that the bonds are not due yet
by their terms? A. l suppose, unless
it is considered that there is peace now,
they are not due.
Q. How do the people of Virginia,
the secessionists particularly, feel to-
wards the freedmen? A. Every one
with whom have associated expresses
kind feelings towards the freedmen.
They wish to see them get on in the
world, and particularly to take up some
occupation for living, and to turn their
hands to some work. I know that eff
forts have been made among the farmers
near where l live to induce them to en-
gage for the year at regular wages.
Q. Do you think there is a willing
ness on the part of their old masters to
give them fair wages for their labor p
A. / believe it is so. The farmers gen
orally prefer those servants who have
been living with them before. / have
heard them express their preference for
the men whom they know who had
lived with them before, and their wish
to get them to return to work. I am
not aware of any combination among
the whites to keep down the wages of
the blacks. / have heard that in several
counties landowners have met in order
to establish uniform rate of wages,
but 1 never heard of any combination
to keep down wages, or establish rate
which they did not think fair. The
means of paying wages in Virginia are
very limited now, and there is differ
ence of opinion as to how much each
person is able to pay.
Q. How do they feel in regard to the
education of the blacks Is there
general willingness or unwillingness to
have them educated =? A. Where I have
been the people exhibit willingness
that the blacks should be educated, and
they express an opinion that that would
be better for the blacks and better for
the whites.
Q. General, you are very competent
to judge of the capacity Of black men
to acquire knowledge. I want your
opinion on that capacity as compared
with the capacity of white men. A. ]
do not know that 1 am particularly
qualified to speak on that subject as you
seem to intimate; but do not think he
is capable of acquiring knowledge as
the white man is. There are some more
apt than others. I have known some to
gain knowledge and skill in their trade
or profession. I-have had servants of
nv own who learned to read and write
very well.
Q. Do they show capacity to OBJ
tain a knowledge of mathematics and
exact sciences A. have no knowl-
edge on that subject. [ am merely ac-
quainted with those who have learned
the common rudiments of education.
@. General, are you aware of any
combination existing among the blacks
of Virginia, anywhere in the State, hav-
ing in view the disturbance Of the peace,
or any improper or unlawful acts ? l
am not | have seen no evidence OF it,
and have heard of none; wherever l
have been they have been quiet and or
derly, not disposed to work, or rather
not disposed to any continuous engage
ment to work, but just very short jobs
to provide them with the immediate
means of subsistence
much love for money and property as
the white race? A. I do not think it
has; the blacks whom know look more
to the present than to the future.
Q. Does that absence of lust Of
money arise more from the nature of
the negro than from his former servile
condition? A. Well, it may be in some
measure attributed to his former condi-
ton; they are an amiable, social race;
they like their ease and comfort, and L
think look more to their present than
their future condition.
Q. In the event of war between the
United States and any foreign power,
such as England or France, if there
should be held out to the secession por-
ton of the people of Virginia or the
other recently rebel States, fair pros
Pect OF gaining their independence and
shaking off the Government of the Uni
ted States, is it, or is it not your opin-
ion that they would avail themselves of
that opportunity? A. I cannot speak
with any certainty on that point I do
not know how far they might be actua-