Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-07

? | Penaeucs' put ne thought they had no ides
I; OF hghtIRg. He believed a largo portisn o
them would join the common enemy if the,
thought there was any reasonable prospec
of success, but he was clear in idea the,
: would not fight the North any more, as theI
. are now satisfied with the experiment.
; Acting Provost Marshal General Brooke
/ Of Alabama, said they seemed to be frettins
generally under the military rule. This
result was one heard much disloyalty.
= Question-If the people Of Alabama wert
left to themselves to act as they pleased
: would they prefer to remain under the pre-
sent government or see the COnfederacy re-
; established2
Answer think the majority would pre-
fer TO see it established.
W. 4. P. birmingham, of Waterville,
, Me-, testified that he had had restricted
commercial Intercourse with the insurrec-
tionary districts in Mississippi. He thought
in March, before Lees surrender, the gen
ersl feeling within the Confederate lines, of
all classes, was one Of entire submission to
the Federal authorities. There was a dis
position TO accept readily any public oAicsr
the Government might send them in a civil
or military capacity. There Was than a
feeling that they had no rights or that these
had been forfeited by the rebellion. Sub
sequently the feeling seemed to disappear
and after the policy Of President Johnson
was thoroughly inaugurated the old bitter
ness seemed to develope. They desired to
have the arrangement and control of their
own State in their own hands. Mississippi
would prefer the re-e5tablishment of the
C0niederacy by at least three-fourths Of her
people.
/ Major II. 4. Harrington testified that he
was three years in Arkansas during the
war, and had been there sirse the peopls
| seemed willing TO accept the results of ths
| contest. \ large majority Of them are glad
| that peace has returned, aHi do not regret
the fall of the COnfederaey. He had spoken
with officers of the Confederate army, and
! they told him they were glad the war re-
suited as it did. They looked on the lead
ers at the commencement as patriots, but
now they had different views Of them and
had lost confidence.
QuestiOn-Wonld a majority of the people
Of Arkansas if they could, establish the Con-
federacy2
Answer-I think the majority Of the peo-
pie now prefer the Union. The residents
of the northwestern part Of the STATE own
ed but few slaves and were strongly attach
ed to the Union. Some Of the returned
rebels found fault with the test oath, and
some with the Amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the State striking out the word free,
and, placing the white man and negro on
an equality as regarls contract etc. Quaif--
lied suffrage might find some supporters
among any respectable numbers, but un-
qualified suffrage would hardly find any
advocates. There is a strong prejudice
against the colOred man in tlis respect
The negro shows more disposition to con-
tract with Northern men rather than their
former masters
Major J. W Smith, of Little Rock, Ark,
testified that there was no trouble of any
kind in that section. Where he lived some
of the rebels have returned, but he believes
that four-ffths of those who who went into
the rebel army are dead. Judging from
present indications he supposed their in
tentiOns are to be good loyal men, Most Of
the prominent men have obtained or sought
to obtain Northern men as partners. Ths
feeling in Arkansas is improving. There
has been no disposition to take up for Office
men who have been complicated with the
Iebc zion. He thought all members elected
to Congress ought to be good loyal men,
Major General Thomas testifes to the
condition of affairs in Georgia, Alabama,
and Mississippi. He says the people of
Alabama are anxious to have that State in
a regular position in the Union, but they
are not yet PERSONAL yirisndly to the Union.
Men of the suoih have had fair trial
ence, and have failed completely. They now
profess to have given up the contest, and
express themselves a. desirOus Of resuming
their relations with the government Origi-
nally. and while the question of secession
was first under discussion, the majority Of
the people of the South voted against the
ordinance of secession. Alabamawas taken
out Of the Union BY political trickery- The
majOrity however, in order to preserve their
property, acquieseed in seeming to give up
the Union and advocate secession Some
of the original Union men thus converted,
have remained rebels and are now strong
sympathizers with the enemies Of the gov
ernment. Othess have expressed their
gladness that the rebellion has been closed,
but their interests and sympathy had
such bold upon them up to that
time, and it is very difficult to obtain a
clear expression of sentiment on any sub
iect IN parts of North Alabama the public
sentiment is decidedly in favor Of the Gov
ernment, but in other portions Of the State
he thought the sentiment of the people
might be expressed in this manner, namely,
If they thought they could estabheh
Southern Contederrey, they would prefer it.
In many parts of the State life and proper
was insecure. Evidence Of others bearing
on the same points and to the same effect
was given.
United States Senator elect William D.
Snow, residing at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, tes-
titled that all his sympathies were with the
United States; took no part IN the war
against the United States; did all he could
in favor ofthe Union; unsbletO say whether
it would be safe to withdraw the military,
but he thought if this should be done, or
der would be preserved.
Ezra Hiersradt testified that in Louisiana
be had heard many persons say they had
no regrets for what they did, and are only
sorry they did not succeed. Could not say
such is the general feeling amongst those
lately in hostility against the government,
but was certain it was the feeling of many.
He was also certain there was deep feeling
among certain class Of persons against the
payment of the national debt, as well as
against revenue laws Of the government.
The framework Of society was in very
disturbed state.
There is in Alabama disloyal sentiment
Though ne thought the Union sentiment
prep0nderated. If the national troops or
the Freedmen's Bureau were withdrawn
from Alabama what would be the result 10
the freedmen He said he did not believe
that Union men or freedmen could have
justice done them
Question-How would it be with the men
who dnring the war avowed themselves
neutral.
Answer-Unless they had very warm,
personal friends they could not live in the
State.
In further testimony General Thomas said
there was no danger from negroes unless the
whites treated them badly. He did not
think that Georgia differed materially from
Alabama. There was much personal hatred
toward the negro in his relation as a freed
man, but this has been successfully con-
trolled through the Freedmen's Bureau, and
the feeling continues to improve in all
States. The people Of Mississippi appear
to be more impulsive and more prone to
stand up for and assert their opinions. 1t is
a difficult matter to describe the difference
between the people Of these States Yet
there is a difference; the people OF Missis-
sippi do not listen to argument and discus
sion with as much ealmness as the people
Of Alabama.
He had receivedwarning of the hostile Sc
cret organizations. Do not know the extent,
but am taking measures to ascertain.
think there Is no real danger TO be appre-
hended, because the military authority and
power Of the government Is ample TO put
down any serious demonstration The Oo-
ject is to embarass the government IN prop
er administration Of affairs Of the country,
by exerting and making strong efforts to
gain very important concessions 10 the
South. and if possible to repudlate the na-
tional debt or gain such an accendency IN
Congress, as to prevent the provisions for
its assumption by Congress; also in case the
government should become involved IN for
eign war, to watch their opportunities to
strike for independence of the States lately
in rebellion, but he said he knew Of men,