Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-17
From Washington.
Appointments.

WAsHISGrox, April I6.-The President to-
day nomin ated to the Senate for confirma-
ton, Mr.. Smythe, President of the Central
National Bank, to be Collector for the port
of New York, and Samuel G. Courtney to be
United States Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, vice Mr.. Dickinson
deceased.
1t il rumored and on authority, that
leaves little if any doubt of its truth, that
Henry Stanberry of Ohio, has been appoint
ed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States for the Southern Dis
trlct, vice Justice Catron deceased.
The Committee on Reconstruction.
Among the mass of testimony submitted
to-day from the Committee on Reconstrue-
ton was that of Hon. Alex. ii. Stephens.
Mr.. Stephens gives as his opinion that an
overwhelming majority of the people of
Georgia are exceedingly anxious for the res
toration of the Government, and for that
State to take her former position in the
Union and enjoy all her rights and adjust
all her obligations as State under the Con-
stitution of the United States as it stands
amended His opinion is that the sentiment
of the people of Georgia is that the exer-
else of the right of secession was resorted
to from desire to render their liberties and
institutions more secure, and from belief
on their part that this was absolutely neces-
sary for that object. He thinks that the
people are perfectly satisfied with the expe-
riment and that they will never resort to
that measure of redress again. He believes
that the only hopa for their liberties now is
the restoration of the Constitution of the
United States and of the Government under
the Constitution.
Examination of Alex. II. Stephens
WAsHrxsTox, April ia. H. Stephens
was before the Reconstruction Committee
on the lIth inst. He was sworn and ex-
anined by Mr.. Boutwell,, as follows:
Q. State your residence?
A. Charlottesville, Ga
o. What means have you had since Lees
surrender 10 ascertain the sentiments of the
people of Georgia with regard to Union?
A. was at home in Georgia at the time
of the surrender Of General Lee, and re-
NAMED there till the 11th of May, and
\ during that time l conferred with the peo-
nle tn nv immediate neighborhood, with
| Governor of the State and one or two other
| leading or prominent men in the State. From
| the 18th of Nav until nv return to Georgia,
which was on the 26th of October, had no
means of knowing anything of the public
sentiment there except through the public
press and such letters as received from the
| time of my return until left the State on
nv present VlSlJ mere 1 Aau n very e6teH-
| siye intercourse with the people, visiting
| Augusta and visiting Millidgeville during
| the session of the Legislature. First on the
| first embling, again in January on their
| Resembling and again IN the latter part oi
February. While there l cOnTersed very
freely and fully with all the prominent
leading men or most of them in the Legis-
lature, and met a great many of the promi-
nent influential men of the State not con-
nected with the Legislature, and by letter;
and from correspondence with men in the
State, whom I have not met / believe thi:
embraces a full answer to the question as tc
nv means of ascertaining the sentiment:
of the people of that State upon the subject
stated in the question.
Q. As the result of your observation, whai
is your opinion of the purposes OF the peo-
ple with reference to the reconstruction o.
the government, and what are their de-
sires and purposes concerning the main
tenance Of the government.
A. Ny opinion and decided opinion il
! that an overruling majority of the peopl'
of Georgia are exceedingly anxious for tht
restoration of the government, and for tn
State to take her former position in tn
Union to have her Senators and represen
tatives admitted into Congress, and TO EMO.
: ali her rights and to discharge all her obi
! cations as a State under the constitution o
! | the United States ss it stands amended
O. What are their present views concern
d ing the Justice Of the rebellion? Do the
At present believe that it was reasonsbl
or proper undertaking, or otherwisef