Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-23
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMIT
TEE ON RECONSTRUCTION-BRO-
KEN DOSES.
FOICES FROM ALEXANDRIA.

CHAPTER H.
tssii1:c,sY Of DR.. ~ ~ LEWIS, taken Fib.
S, 1866.
Question. Where DO you reside?
answer Alexandria Virginia.
9. What is your occupation?
+. Physician.
.. Are you native Of Virginia?
l.. | am.
G.. How long have you resided in Alcxan,
2:ia?
l.. Since lS47, when that portion OF Virgin
:, was retroceded to Virginia.
q. What have Eeen your political connex-
cas- during the war?
il. vas with the confederate army.
The witness was cautioned that he was not
;ound to state anything that might criminate
:?imsclf:)
o. How extensively are you acquainted with
ne people in your vicinity?
4. + have been a practitioner there for some
Sine, and have quite an extensive practice in
Alexandria, but my intercourse is altogether OF
8. professional character. / never was a poll
;ician in my life, and have less disposition to De
one nav than ever
Q. Do you know the state of public feeling
n that county?
4. know the feeling, pretty much, Of my
Immediate circle of intimate friends. We dis
arss these questions very little now.
Q. What is the feeling towards the govern
ment of the United States on the part Of seces
5ionists?
A. believe that tie feeling of those with
ahom conversed is very friendly. I do not
Know anything to the contrary believe they
rie I perf2ctIy willing to be restored to their
tGormer condition, and to remain as good cti-
lens as any north of Mason and Dixon's line
believe that is the determination Of pretty
much everybody that have conyerSed with.
q Is there not feeling Of deep disappoint-
aent as to the result Of the war?
4 They we're disappointed in this respect
East they thought they would be restored to
:heir position in the Union sooner than has
0een done They are anxious to resume their
foationS, and to be again represented IN Con
y!osS.
.. What has been the effect upon the minds
s: cecessionists in your vicinity of President
.oanson's berality in extending pardons and
mnesties to the rebels?
+. do not know more than that they ap
Necate it. | have had no conversation
nth many who have been pardoned.-
= have been so exclusively and entirely de-
Toted to my profession, from necessity, since
came back, that have conversed very little
18th these persons; but in all conversations IN
-egard to the President they have always spo-
ZEN most cordially of his course, and they are
,!ery anxious and willing to sustain him in the
administration OF the government. | really
think that the resolutions passed by the Hr-
completely the sentiments and tone OF the peo-
pie of Virginia. [ believe that every man in
Virginia, of any sense or standing, subscrlbes
o those resolutions heartily and cheertuly
1.-THE resolutions cordially approve the policy
pursued by the President in the reorganization
= the Union
O. You think these resolutions cmbody, gen
3.elly, the feeling of the secession people OF
!irgna
!. Yes, sir.
:. How do they regard the freedmen?
I. believe they would treat them more
G;rGly if they were left to them, and not tram
:ieileG or bothered, than they are treated now.
...hcy DO not have any enmity towards them.
There is feeling Of Indifference towards them.
The people would rather get rid of them il
here we're any possible means Of doing so.
hey are nuisance in the present state OF ait
Giis. They will not work
). viii they not work if they are PAID
o. their labor ?
t.. They will not even do that, unless you
,,l7e them exorbitant wages-more than you
oogld get the labor done for by others.
J. Have they been demanding higher wages
sasn white laborers?
Il That is what hear from the farmers,
Lney also complain that they will not work for
them more than month Or two
Y. Is there not, generally, among their Ell
ployerss disposition to coastrain the freedmen
to work at low wages?
a. rather think not. Like everybody else,
hey like to get labor as cheap as they cah.
!lat Is the disposition pretty much every
7hert.
!. Do you know of any combinations among
employers to keep down the wages Of freed
men?
j. No, sir do not.
J. There is no general understanding to that
2':ect
/. No, sir
.. y. How do they teel in regard to the educa
'2l OF the freedmen?
Il. That | never heard anybody talk about.
DO not suppose they would object to it if it
G'd not interfere with them or tax them too
auch. Our communities have never been
'azed much for educating our white poor, and
suppose they would not like to be taxed much
" educate the negroes, especially in the present
tate OF poverty in the south; but / believe
'ne disposition on the part Of the pcople there
,:oud be to treat them kindly, and give them
-Fery, Justice that they are entitled to, and all
4e rights they are competent to exercise.
~ Suppose the negro should be allowed to
"A. Well, Of course, there would be opposi
.on 10 1t; but the opposition would not am 9unt
;" resistance to any law. -
:. You think not?
= 4 should thiDk not
": Would it not be likely to lead to scenes
! Violence and rio.?
ea1,o e1;No more than in any election-in the city Of
'''''nore tor instance-where there might be