Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-08
BEFORE THE COMMIT
TEE ON RECONSTRUCTION-BRO,
EEN DOSES
VOICES FROM ALEXANDRIA,.

Grstiasony Of JOHN c. Underwood,
taken jan. 81, lS66.- CONCLUDED.
Question. State whether you are q member
elect OF the Senate OF the United States?
answer have been elected by the legisla-
ire OF Virginia to the long term in the Senate.
=. When were you elected?
:: | was elected about year ago to I'LL the
7acancy about to occur in the Senate by the re-
.iiamcnt Of Mr. Garlic, for six years.
J. State what Is your own feeling in regard
o The readuission of the rebel States into the
Union; wish you to make clean, breast Of it.
t. ct course | have strong personal inter
as1 in the admission, ut least, Of members OF
Congress elect; but that is entirely oVerpower-
& by The conviction that the lmmediatc admls-
sion OF the Southern, States would produce un-
pleasant consequences. | fear that il would be
tGtai TO the peace OF the country.
=. What is the general feeling among the
E;rginans in rega,d to negro suffrage in that
;j:ate?
i. think the loyal men, who | suppose 60
.:ct amount to anything like one-tourth of the
white people, are in favor of it. The loyal men
are 90 far as know, almost invariably in favor
6" equal suffrage.
:. Would they limit the right OF suffrage by
ing qualification
:. think tkerc is some difference Of opin-
i0r on that subject among the loyallsts. Some
wotld prefer to see it limited, either by educa-
,iona or property qualifications, Or by service
in tae syzly Of the United States; have heard
:hG& opinion expressed frequently.
.. Would they generally prescribe proper
u qualification?
: -! think it is not so generally favored as
3.lAei OF the otherS-either education or mill
cry service. But | have beard some say that
they you'd like a property qualification; that,
hoTeyci, they would ike to see applied as we'll to
whites as to blacks. At present we have no
property qualification.
:. The mode Of voting in Virginia-has it
not been, under her law, for ages, viva voce
t.. it has been.
=. Not by ballot?
L.. 30, sir.
q. How do the rebels feel in regard to ne
:;rCss Toting-L mean those who have been
>23els?
&. Well, sir, I think they arc nearly uuani
::.2z:s in their opposition to it.
=. IN case the right of suffrage should be
:ven 10 the negroes there, is itlikely that there
iii oe outrages and disturbances OF the public
92aoc, scenes of violence aud riot?
l.. -! think that some bad men might per-
:.a2s assault negroes when they come to the
3olis. think it probable that there would be
us >"nces Of that kind, but do not apprehend
s:iything very serious.
-. Would rebels themselves if in authority
IS :nuDci pal officers, preserve the peace With
aiac:;y and defend the negro?
l.. We'll, sir, prejudice is strong against the
leeG0, because they regard him as having turned
tcc scale against them;l thick that is very pre-
,.,l:Gg notion now, that the negro turned the
cc2ie against The rebels. His adherence to the
- :, 4 In
nttrraIy produce an unkind feeling against
Aizn. That feeling is not universal. | must do
cone O. my rebel acQuaintances the justice to
2Gy that thoy consider that the negro was justl-
32G il tie course he took; that it was human
??ttlS4 tC strike for freedom.
-. IL case Of hOstilities between the UnltCd
,J%ctea end one Of the frst-rate European pow
ere, IS your opinion that the masses OF the
2ec3.a OF Virginia would stand firmly by the
go!a:nment Of the United States and defend it
aGGins5 foreign invaders and foreign hostllltles?
=. think their hostility to the conQucrorS,
:3 :aeg call them, the Yankees-which means
everybody rom the north-is greater than 1t IS
&c almost a0y foreign power, and they would
2rei1c. tc be associated with any respectable
.irroDean power, rather than have their present
compulsory association with their conquerors.
=. INFER from your answer that there would
&c GGnaer Of their adherng to the enemies OF
ne country?
H.. : fear there would be danger of that if
jAey jeitit would be safe.
=. # they thought that ii would give them
&c occasion 20 escape from the government OF
jh3 J1ijed States would they not avail them
22l7a3 oG it?
H. ! mink most of them would think
,h2l: tastes and habits and feelings are all arls
"a IA ~
'2cr. o. even monarchy, TO republican gov
too; he States, as they say, out of the Union.
:. During the civil war has there been any
considerable feeling among the Virginians III
IeEot ol establishing 6 monarchy in the conted-
22cY?
:. Of course had no association with the
55e2ce?& GGr!ng the rebellion; we were separated
y TWO ares OF bayonets, and | could not speak
e. 20 :heG
=; Speak according to the best information
!Vr nf' derived at that time or since.
4: kno:I that many Of them would prefer
%aa' saey would call a strong government-an
'!iSsoofa1y, government of the wisest, of the
property holders, OF the intelligent as they
;;opIc 9aE-to government of the rabble of
;;9c people, [ know that that is very prevail
!us cpi1,on: have convcrsed with leading
i"e4 oa .bc subject.
~. That is the standing at present among
,sr$!a:Sn9 o: Jefferson Davis, in point of pop
- >>e Is not as popular man as Gen. Lee
T., gay means. Hcis regarded as their rcpresen-
Sc'i ,t%3 nan, but know that he is net really as
'Tb"is esteemed as some others at the south
6;'e 6ies' are those who are strongly opposed to
i5o. I'M. ~ fNchmoud; some OF the newspapers
rno,5 npS Tere Yer very hostile, particularly the Rich
Of of; &, " nat are some of the principal defects