Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-18
Alex. M. Stephens Testimony.

" WIlaC Wa'Jne uhOe Oh Une georgia Or
dinaDce?
A. The 18th or 10Th; think the 10Th of
January, 1861, though am not certain.
@. The question of secession was In
volved in the election of delegates to that
convention, was it not?
A.. Yes, sir.
O. And was there, on the part of the
candidates, pretty general avowal of
opinions?
A. Very general.
@. What was the result of the election,
as far as the convention expressed any
opinion, upon the question OF secession?
A. think the majority was about thirty
in the convention in favor of secession. /
do not recollect the exact vote.
O. In convention of how many?
A. In convention based upon the num-
ber of Senators and members of the House
in the General Assembly of the State. The
exact number don't recolleCt, but think
it was near three hundred; perhaps few
over or under.
O. Was there any difference in different
parts of the State in the strength of the
Union sentiment at that Time?
A. In some of the mountain counties
the Union sentiment was generally preva-
lent. The cities, towns and villages were
generally for secession throughout the
State. | think, with some exceptions, the
anti-secession sentiment was more general
in the rural districts and in the mountain
portions of the State; yet the people of
some of the upper counties were very ac-
tive and decided secessionists. There was
nothing like sectional division of the
State at all. For instance, the delegation
from Floyd county, In which the city of
Rome is situated, in the upper portion of
the State, was an able one, and strong for
secession, while the county of Jefferson,
down in the interior of the cotton belt, sent
one ot the most prominent delegations for
the Union. Icould designate other partic-
ular counties in that way throughout the
State, showing that there was not what
might be termed sectional or geographic
cal division of the State on the question.
@. In what particular did the people
believe their Constitutional liberties were
endangered or assailed from the Union?
A. | would say in their internal social
policy, and their apprehension from the
general consolidating tendencies OF the doc
trines and principles of that political party
which had recently succeeded in the choice
of a President and Vice-President of the
United States. 1t was the serious appre-
henson that if the Republican Organza-
tiOn, as then constituted, should succeed to
power, it would lead ultimately to avertical
subversiOn of the Constitution of the United
States, and all its essential guarantees of
public liberty | think that was the sincere,
honest conviction of the minds of our peo-
pie. Those who opposed secession did not
apprehend that any such result would nee
essarly follow the elections which had
taken place; they still thought all their
rights might be maintained in the Union
and under the Constitution, especially as
there were maioritiGs in both Houses of
Congress who agreed with them on Con-
stitutiOnal questions.
@. To what feature of their internal So
cial policy did they apprehend danger?
A. Principally the subOrdination of the
African race as it existed under their laws
and institutions.
O. In what spirit is the emancipation of
/, the slaves received by the people,?
, A. Generally it is accepted, think, in
good faith and with disposition to do the
: best that can be done in the new order of
things. In this particular
q. What at present are the relations
subsisting between white and black people,
especially in the relation Of employers and
employed?
A. Quite as good as in any part of the
world that ! have been in between like
cases of employers and employees, and the
, condition of things in this respect on my
return last fail was very different from
what it was when left home for my pres
ent visit here. During the fall, and up to
the close of the year, there was general
opinion prevailing among the cOlored peo-
! pie that at Christmas there would be di-
vision of lands. and very general indispO-
sition on their part to make contracts at all
for tile present year. Indeed, there were
,, very few contracts | think made through
out the State until after Christmas, Orabout
the first of January. General Wilson, who
, is at the head of the Bureau in the State,
and whose administration has given gener-
al satisfaction to our people, l think, was
very active in disabusing the minds of the
colored people from their own views in this
particular. He visited quite a number of
places, and addressed large audiences of
cOlored people, and when they became sat-
isfied they were labOring under mistake
in anticipating division of lands after
Christmas and the first of January, they
made contracts very readily generally, and
since then affairs in the main have moved
on quite smoothly and quietly.
Q. Are the negroes generally at work !?
A. Yes, they arc generally at work.
There are some idle; but this class consti
tutes but a small portion. ..-.
@. What, upon the whole, is their con-
duct--proper, under the circumstances
in which they have been placed, or other
wise? ..
A. Upon the whole. much better than
the most hopeful looked for
O. As far as you know, what are the
leading objects and desires of the negroes
at the present time in reference to them
selves?
A. 1t is to be protected in their rights of
person and property, and to be dealt by
fairly and justly.
Q. What, if anything, has been done by
the Legislature of Georgia for the accom-
plShment of these objects.
A. The Legislature has passed an act of
which the following is a copy: Number 90
An act to define the status of persons of
color, aud to declare the rights of such
persons. Section l. Be it enacted, ETC., That
all negroes, mullattOes, mestzoes and their
descendants, having One-eighth African
blood in their veins, shall be known in this
State as persons of color. Section 2. Be it
further enacted, That persons of color shall
have the right to make aud enforce con-
tracts, to sue, to be sued, to be parties and
give evidence, to inherit to be parties and
to have full and equal benefits of all laws
and proceedings for the security of person
and estate, and shall notbe subject to any
other or different punishment, pain or pen
atty for the commission of any act or Of
fense than such as are prescribed for white
persons committing like acts and Offenses.
The third section repeals all conflicting
laws. The bill was approved by the Gov
ernor March II, 1866.
O.. Does the act express the opinion of
the people, and will it be sustained?
A. | think it will be sustained by the