Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-04-02

GENERAL TERRY S TESTIMONY We pub
Ish this morning the Testimony lately given it.
Washington, before the so-calIed Reconstruc-
lion Committee, by General A. H. Terry, cou-
mandant Of this Department. We have n"
disposition to comment on it, further than to
declare, not our opinion merely, but CUR per-
feet knowledge that General Terry's main
statements and opinions do great injustice to
the people Of Virkna--a circumstance not to
ne wondered at, after, his admission that he
does not come in direct personal ;nn,act with
the people Of Virginia. and that he has ''no
social intercourse with any except those known
TO BIZ Uuivn peope'-by which term We sup
pose he means people who opposed, at the
time, the action taken Ly thu Virginia Conven-
ton on the 18th April, 1861 Let it be re-
nembered, the question with the people OF
Virginia, at the date mentioned Was not whe
Tier they were for or against continued union
Of the States. Down to that time they bad
shown their Astounding zeal for the Unlon-
and their Convention, three tourths of whom
Were elected as Uniouists, and because they
were UnioniSts had been and were engaged,
heart and soul, in efforts to save the Union.
But the question presented tO the convention
and the people on the 18th April 1861. by the
Proclamation Of Mr.. Lincoln, ordering Virginia
formed cn fed, racy-was whether, beiuy
comp lied to fight H. would fight with the
North against the Sourh. or with the South
against the North. Symrathy and pri"ciplc
(tne principle that the Federal Government
possessed no constitutional or lawful power
10 make war upon Statc~) both prompted an
lmmem'iiate and unanimous chElce in favor
OF the South. Secession fo!luwed mere y a.
formal and unimpOrtant incident. With IL
secession did not car>c the war. but the war
caused secession. And we take to Say that
in the Counties DOW recognized as compoolng
Virginia, and Under General Tcrrys cum-
mand, while all dcp0rcd the necessity OF TAX
my If, there were absolutely next TO none ot
The people VINO di>Seutcd from this action o.
rhc State. II has only 10 consult the roll
books IN the question Of the ratification OF the
ordinance Of secession by the people when
thrc WIS 4 pcrtc ty free clcction) to 81 l>ty
him elf Of the truth Of what &c here state. In
tbs city. for example, out Of a vote Of several
thousands. there were. if VIC remember 'rrcct
". on'y two who voted agan>t the ratification.
From these facts NC lcdu,c the conclu .ion that
nnr few Of the pc"pic with whom General
Terry tells us he asso ia'cs misr' present tn
fact wi.cn they claim % have cen U"ion men;
and, disappearing his fact, they will mis-
present any other. Others Of them ar new
re Ill MS and wanting III correct information.
Others still are men OF VIGOROUSLY cranky
minds, who see nothing correctly. The really
honest, truthful and intelligent among Cd resi-
Il IL :. who wee in favor Of obcy'ng President
Lincoln ell FIR rroop-. with whom General
Terry may have me-, a s"arc"ly sufficient, we
imagine 10 justify the Use If the word association.
lfnc, cral Terry WISHES really to unh' rstand the
state OF feeling in Virginia let him "a ctullv
read the tc, 'imonv OF Gcn RAJ Lrc y single
scn'".cn firm him is worth q world Of sub
all, as may reach him from r.tend c or &C.
cent?. ''l!nion i'co;'lc '-Ricimo"H Uhin.