The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-04

that citizen of the United States should be
as frce to do and say what he pleases III vH-
ginia or Mississippi as he is in Maine or Mas
sachusetts? Il
Again:
By Mr. Howard-Q Understand you 70 . say ina
orally that had no to renew the
war, Oh anything Of the kind ? A. nave io io'S'A
in the M MoTa 70 heard that subject talked
any of the politcians9 A. No, Sir, nave not;
have heard that matter even state of things
S0Gna mes the Executive Government OF the United
States should be held by President wno nGe Mf.
S ,nnose Congress should exist here entertain
ino the same political opinions, thus presenting to-
from the Union would they not, In your opinion
avail themselves of that opportunity, or some OF
s sne@ at the time u their seigs sousd re-
main e.n5ttered and their affections atienated from
The rest Of the States, think it ucry probable they
might do to, provided they thought 1t aoas for their in
~. Do you not think that at the present time there
is deep-seated feeling Of dislike towards the Gov
eminent Of the United States the part OF the
masses of the Secessonists Z? A. do not know that
there is any deep-seated dislike think it is proba
BILE that there may be some luminosity stu existng
among the people of the South. -p..,l
O.. Is there not deep-seated feeling OF dsappont1
think that the time they disappointed at the
result of the war. ea,eer -, l.,s.f .-,,, -.
q. Do you mean to be UNDERSTOOD as SAVING .t "a
there is not condition of dscontentent against the
Government OF the United States among the Seces-
sionists generality A. knew none. % - the
Of tha UHtsd and
pie Of the United States much at the pIesenI Mne
sta 70 anS the sn Sates tthly and well A.
believe that thew viii perform all the duties that they
required to perform; THINK tnas 10 'he seerai
9. DO YOU think it would be practicable to con-
vct man in Virginia Of treason n Ior navmg taken
encs to verdict ofguiity A. Oh that point have
consider treason against the United States; ii you
refer to past actsj ylI dEAI stii. TlG1 Jl51 Jl
Mr.. Howard-Yes, Sir. rr
Witness-1 have no knowledge what their views
on that subject In the past are. gfa6ifIC tss ..f
Q. You understand my question; suppose jury
was empanneled in your own neighborhood, taken
BY To-, would IL be possible to convict, for instance
ed States and thus having committed the crime Of
could not consider that he had treason.
Q Suppose the jury should be clearly and plainly
the part Of Mr. DAVIS OF any other leading man, con-
sttuted IN itself the crime of treason under the Con-
likely to heed that instruction, and II the facts were
plainly IN proof before them convict the offender
A. -, not know, Sir, what they would do on that
1 .,y do not generally suppose that was trea-
son against the United States, do they? A. do not
tn s What az light would they view itq What would
be their excuse or justification How would they
am referring to the past and the feelings they would
have A. So far as know, they look upon the ac-
ton OF the State in withdrawing itself from the Coy
eminent of the United States, as carrying the indt
viduas: that the State was responsible for the act
not the individuals and that the ordinances OF Seces
nised condition Of war between the State and tie
General Government stood as their justification fol
bearing arms against the Government Of the United
States; think they so1d consider the act Of the Stost
as legitimate; that they merely using the reseru
ed rights which they had a right to do.
Q. State, If you pl ase, and If you are disfncuned
you need not do So what your own Pc sona views on
that question are? A. That was my view; that the
SCares, cariea along citizen Of Virginia, and
her laws and her acts were binding on me.
taxing sSas you s 2 se
Admissions like these from such a source
are pregnant with meaning, and to overlook
their significance in making up our estimate
of the true nature of Southern sloyalty,'
would be criminally stupid. General Lee is
plainly not a willing. witness, but the whole
tenor of his evidence goes to corroborate that
of Generals Schurz and Terry, and others,
government of the United States there is lit
tie or none at the South. We have room for
but one more extract, and we give place to
that because we believe that in common JUS
tice and generosity Gen. Lee is entitled to the
benefit of his own statement in relation to a
matter which more ethan any other must affect
his standing as man. sai Gel % j..
1t will be perceived that the oft-repeated
plea of 81 don't know" is here employed ts
the fullest extent. Whether in matter o.
such transcendent moment, SO intimately af
fecting not only his own honor, but that OF the
cause he had sespoused, such a degree ofig
1orance was oacusabIe in one holding his
spons;ble and authoritative position, is ques-
ton which men will be likely to decide to-day
according to the bias of their feelings, but
which posterity win bring to a more impartial
judgment: - =. g.As yisl..
By MIR. Howard--Q. 1 will put one question to you
to which you may respond or not, as you please.
wish to Inquire whether you had any knowledge
cruedes pfactced toward the Union prisoners at Lib
by Prison and on Belle Isle? A. Il never knew that
any cruelty was practiced and have no reason to be-
Heve that It was .practiced; can believe and have
reason to believe that privaons may have been exge
rienced by the prisoners, because know that prov
sions and shelter could not be provided for them
@. Were you not aware that the prisoners were dy-
ingtrom cold and starvationf A. Twas not. 400 2
Mr. Howard-I desire that you will speak youi
mind fully and freely this subject; for tits useless
to conceal from the fact that there to have
been created Dad ieelng hearts the people
atthe North. A. AS regards myself fnever had any
tured on the Held of battle, whom it then my bus
ness tosend to Richmond to the proper officers who
was then the Provost Marshal General; in regard tC
their disposition afterward had no control; never
gave an order about was entirely in the hands
the War Department. '''F"
O. And otin your hands? A. Not in mine. 70 a
Did these scenes come TO your knowledge at all
A. Never no report WIS made to about them
there was call for any to be made me; did hear
it was mere hearsay-that statements had been
made to the War Department, and that everything
had been done to relieve them that could be done
even finally 50 far to offer to send them some
other points-Charleston was one point naned--il
they would be received by the United States authori
ties and taken to their homes; twhether that Is
ornot, DO not know; it was merely report that
. heard. 80 - ~ i4 y
q. Were you In the same ignorance of the scenes al
Andersonville and Salisbury? A. Inever knew the
commandment at Anderso willie until saw by the
papers, after the cessation of hostilities, that Capt
Wrz had been arrested on that account, nor do
know now who commanded at Salisbury.
@. And of course you know nothing Of the scenes
those places? A. Nothing in the werld, as said be
fore; Isupp,se they suffered from the of abiiti
on the part of the ConfederateStates to supply the
wants; at the very beginning OF the war knew that
there was suffering OF prisoners both sides; but as
far as Icoud did everything In my power to relieve
them, and urged the establishment Of the cartel
which was established. 49, assa sfu
THE CONNECTICUT ELEoTIoN.
Gov. Brownlow said the other day that in
his opinion the President could not carry