Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-03
Testimony before the Reconstruction Com
mittee

In the House Of Representatives on the 9th
Committee of Reconstruction, from which it
appears that among the more important wit
nesses examined in relation to Virginia were
Judge Underwood, Lewis Mckenzie, General
Turner, commanding the post at Richmond !;
Major-G General Terry, Colonel Orlando Brown,
Charles H. Lewis, late Secretary of the Com
monwealth General Robert Il. Lee, and Brig
adler General Corse. John B. Baldwin, VIM.
T. Joynes John NJ Bolts, and others from this
State, including seven colored men, were also
examined
General Lee represents that nothing like a
sentiment of hostility to the United States Gov
eminent exists in Virginia; that there are no
combinations or conspiracies having that end in
view that the people, though disappointed and
saddened by the result of the war, accept that
result submissiyely, and are looking now to their
material interests; and that the surest and
speediest means Of reconciling the people to the
Government, and making them it's cordial sup
porters, is to extend to them equal political
rights with the people Of the other States.
AS to the negroes, he expresses the belief,
which he says he has long entertained, that the
he repudates the idea that cruelties were pur-
posely inflicted on Federal prisoners of war;
b The testimony of the members Of the Virgin
ia Legislature gentlemen who had come as a
delegation to President Johnson-was equally
important and interesting They concur in o.
pinion as to the complete absence of any feeling
looking to renewal of the contest with the Gov
eminent. The question of secession, they say,
was settled by the sword, and the people were
content to abide by the decision and live hence
forth faithful citizens of the republic They
represent the feeling of the people at large and
Of themselves as unaterably opposed to the idea
of extending political rights to negroes, while,
as to civil rights, the Legislature was engaged
In maturing measures removing most it not ALL
of the obnoxious determinations in the laws be-
tween whites and blacks
On the question of the course which Virginia
would take in case of war between the United
States and any foreign power, which might af-
ford the South promise Of establishing their
independence, their testimony was decidedly on
the side of loyalty.
On the other hand, the United States officers
Generals Terry and Turner, and Col. Brown,
and most, if not all, Of the unqualified Union
men-concur in representing the sentiment Of
the people of Virginia in relation to the Govern
ment as unimproved, and as rather having be-
come embittered since Lees surrender. They
say that at that time the people were humble,
sick Of war, longing for peace on any terms, and
ready to accept gratefully the pardon Of the Gov
eminent, and to submit to any conditions that
might be imposed, while now they are arrogant
eXacting and intOleTant
Most of the witnesses Of that class express the
decided opinion that the Withdrawal of the Fed
eral troops and of the Freedmen Bureau would
be followed by an unrelenting prescription of
white InIOniStc and tho r,prcnoI1tiOD and rarOic-
sion to slavery Of the eolored people. The
change Of feeling is very generally ascribed by
these witnesses to the President liberal policy
In regard to the Federal debt, the people of
Virginia are represented as in favor OF its repu-
diation, or at least of combining with it the Con-
federate debt The witnesses who have been
connected with the Confederacy, however, deny
this, and represent the people as willing to pay
their share Of the Federal debt by taxation
On this subject, General Lees opinion is, that
they are willing to pay both, and opposed to a
renudiation Of either