, 1866-05-03
RECONSTRUCTION EVIDENCE


AE3t1WOUy Ot NENuA F0EkxQAAs
,WAsEISGrcx, Mara.-1he testimony today T.
Ported bY Mr. Washhn1ue, Of uAuos. from the
comuj.tea en- Reconsrr ion. relative to the ststss
Of f1otida. Louisiana ant fexas. presents no nas7
views heretofore oppressed by other w1tassses. It
embraces the examination 9! MAJ: Cen c; =: An
dtewf, during q pass ct 1861 IN Command Of the
District ot Houston, Tens; col:ts!ssl Noyeas ~
Truman. correspondent New York 1fpsss; DeBo v.
Of QeBoio'a A<tter Dr.. rurncs Formerly sdlsot OF
sdeai n Ts ss md t.
uat 4 Confederate engineer; Atlutant General
Thomas and MA1 Ten. Phil sheridan.
pa1,y II to % thc iocssies II @ Of + nashville sna Nv o.
leans, ID which places he has rpent large portion
OF the time stnco the war, in connection with cot
peopie @ f@ ~ se eane q ne IL % contsss Wiih ,lsa
an1ions for the re-toraion OF the Union aud favor
ably disposed ,wnrd tho Federal Government aud
The tcstnaony Of Gen. Phil. Sheridan; for~aid:d
By paA. hom New Orleans, a response to inter-
togatorieH sent 10 him, II a. follows:
ward The General Gosenunent1 Il =
a. bcllete they accep; the situation, AMI hare
~ earnest de*lrc for the restoration oi perfect
.mistaAahle tendency 70 etoE,fg the rehel1on.
sss5.e Of RoEss apon such psfsons, r. + psde =
cral Gov mentl =
r.. ,'sat On account of ts eisne9sy Of ihs Efsea.
9: H'hat would b the eject, IN yont opia'oa9:
spG stac IT,, osS.n,9n e r. + tns psople were '''
sclyc. mud that the senfible and substantial people
would tegrct the absehee Of military force.
e Afeths otjces Of the State nov In the hands
:. A., 4 yss5 lafeo number Of the otcss arc la The
bands Of returned confederate soldiers, ! ana
upab!e TO ray What their aelual sentiments arr in
t4eIr outspnken scuttments dcfcnd to some extent
rEon ha IL their best policy in or1er 10 hold the
nlnce. / hnse secn those high IN authority In a
q. What aIe regarded "a The chief reeonmenda-
Hons ios odlce. and what sort OF persons would be
elected without any outside tn1esfyreEccf
A. 1he tendency to elotiiy rebellion, gives those
who wcEe participants IN it,, preference With The
~ %... -,e-,a se .he eorusuon Q! tho loyal men
1tbfy %s5s 1 without an, protection by she Bs-
T. nj op1oion ia, that for the present they wousd
feel nnsais, md many Of thefn would lease the
g: State ,ear opinion i, 70 .hs necessity Of con-
A. lcopAlder II cc.s*aF1 10 sustain \ military
c1u capital and Union people, sn b RtTe an actnat
and moral support to, freedmen uul!l they haEt
time TO vo1k out their see1at .atns. ln1so sensvs
q. What IL your opinion ss to The necessity and
e1pt dtency Of the FEredtaent Durelul
freedman which arises from having some one 10
look nlles ard adyocatc h,s interests 4 enance
mlebt % made oy appointing 10 Inspector General
tant Inspectors under charge OF District Command
c7r, which Would be much more economical, hut
It would be imposing dn!les on the military which
little as as possible 10 do With evil adaiIs. -
Q. What would lie the position and fate Of
freedmen tfleft 10 the exclusive control Of white
4. fsar there would be great deal Of trouble
large number of people womb aca IN good faith
tonhtd tbera. but there would be many who 10
o. Stafe iuIly yoar opinion as 10 the capacity c,
eoloTcd people-xhat do they kuow aud 10 Wha1
extent can they exercise the Rights Of ffccmeas AFe
theY Wiling OF nnwilliu: to work without phrrical
compulston. with kfu0 treatment and fair wages,
and ttate fullf yorr opinion Of Whist Is the btst
corfee for Congress IN fntctnce 70 these peoplef
A. The cooFrd racc. like all other races, Layt
dlretens degrees Of Intelligence and capacity: IL
New Orle1ns, where coloied Pe9pls ar batter treas
cd that in any other city IN the Udited 6tates. hstt
Ia IN eIcellent colo1ed soiety, aEd vczy high De
Jou can 30 ,nto hs State Of Loufsiana and hud CO.!
osed about as ignorant As Il Is possble for ans
humsn heinG to be-. Freedmen, 20 f:t az am IN
| Shclner They learn rapidly Or not i bellc1
!hel1 neess.tas. compel them to 20 % 20. il t1I
they arc IKE al QLhef fdGf4. never h3fG kn0#&
las,o. for the love Of it. believe the best thin:
that cousrcss Or States caa do is 70 lesislstc M q
them @ tee1stty Ia iheir person and property. Ill
toc,al status Will oe worked out by The logic Of nc
o.t1y for bis labor, i ts the only lhooE that ca
| q. Please t1nkc such kuEgesuoua a. necnt i
your mind as to ths noss }aalcious @ a1a DE- smeen @
aeS5ns ost ef oi IT, liz
/ 4. The feeling snt eeu,tmcnts Of thosc w!thl
| the limit OF nj eoransnd u 4 good perhaps a
p5e d Lonifiana 1re poor, and 10 the best Of N
;o,s q pianisiIons il the sato ior debts COZ
ao plsntssions viii lsll inio The hands of Noslasr
| people. who. IRON present a1pearanccs, will .: q
dlttant period eon,rol Louisiana cycn tn sent
nenr. hav!ne this prospect be!orc them; +: f NJ
shoaid e1ist. be'.e1e hat ! na3o1,t! q the PEI
pic are not opposed 10 the General GoVernmen
perfect union with the other ssstcs. .Si
tui1clent time has not yet elapsea t
eaace the recollection Of their having bee
reduced fron, atItoence to limited means, and u
thagstn Of being conquered to <ubmcrge the tde
otjus1if1ns ttbel'on and IT. representatives. Thl
st'cr idea md ito consequence prevails to 80 sres
tho security Of eHl,cra0ts freedmen and caplta
Flcr1da Is not poor from old debts and tho hartc
/ nat like LooIs,ana, sd the toue and sentiment
tne peop!c VET Hf. and eFeat desus
uulnn. Texas Increased in wealth bJ th
rebellion, Among the best people there IL 200
feeling toxafd the Government. Tlete Il elas
ol lawless people there, however. which this sent
ment DOS moi control, and which cannot be 4o1
tolled except bY ths military. The aentimentt In hi
State Nll1 not change from The influence Of No7l
ern emigration and Northern capttaL Il /. esse1
tal that thr military, m considerable force. be
tained In The Department Of Texas.
have the honor tn be, iii,
Very respectfully, your oh'dt Eerr'f,
P. II. SuEBtpAN,