Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-04-11

old masters to give them fair wages lur thci
labor? A. ! believe it is so. The iarmer
generally prefer those servants who have beet
living with them before. have heard theu
express their preference for the men whom
they knew, who had lived with them before
and their wish to get them to return to work
I am not aware of any combination among
the whites to keep duwn the wages Of the
blacks. l have heard that, in several Coun
tics, land owners have met, in order to es
tablish uniform rate OF wages, but never
heard OF any combination to keep dowr
wages, Or establish rate which they did no
think iai.. The means Of paying wages, il
Virginia, are very limited how. and there is'a
difference of opinion as to how much each
ps,son is able to pay. G. How do they
feel in regard to the education Of The blacks
Is there general willingness or unwilling.
ness to have them educated? a. Where
have been the people have exhibited vii
lingness that the blacks should be educated
and they express an opinion that that would
be better for the blacks and better FOR the
whites. @. General, you ere. very compc-
tent TO judge of the capacity of black man
to acquire knowledge. | want your opinion
on that capacity as compared with the capac.
ity of white men. A. do not know that
am SO particularly qualified 70 speak on that
subject as you seem to intimate, but DO not
think he is as capableof acquiring knowledgee
as the white ,nan is. There are some more
apt than others. Ihave known some to gain
knowledge aud skill in their trade or profes-
sion. hGte had servants of my own who
Iearddeed to read and write very we'll. Q. Do
they show o capacity. to obtain. a knowledge
of mathematics aad the exact sciences a.
have no knowledge on that subject. am
merely acquainted with tLose who have
learned the common rudimeats Of education.
Q. General, arc you aware of any combina-
ton existing among the blacks of. Virginia;
anywhere in tue State, having in view the
disturbance Of the peace, or any improper
and unlawful acts? a.. | anl not. 1 have
seen no evidence Of it, and have heard OF
none. Wherever | have been, they haVebeen
quiet end orderly; not disposed TO work, or:
rather, not disposed to any continuous engage,
mont to work, but Just very short jobs to pro-
vide them with the nlnediate means of sub
sistcnca. Q. Has the colvred race generally
as much love !or money anc property as the
white race /? a. do not think it las. The
blacks whom know look moro to the pres
ent than to Tie future. Q. Does that abb
sence Of lust Of money arise more from the
nature cf tie negro than from his former
serv:le condition? a. Well, it may be in
some measure attributed TO his former condi-
ton. They are an amiable, social race. They
like tlleir ease aad comfort, and, ! think, look
more TO their present than their future condi
tion..aQ.. -Iu the event of war between
the Utilized States and any foreign power,
such as England or France, il there should
be held out TO the secession portion OF the
people of Virginia, or the other recent
rebel States, Z far proSpec. Of gaining their
and sinking off the Govern
ment of the United States, is it or is it not
Jour opinion that ,hey would avail themselves
of that opportunity a. cannot speak
with any certainty on that point. do no;
know hos far they might be actuated by their
feelings. have nothing whatever 10 base on
opiuiOu upon. So far as know, they con-
template nothing of the kind nov. What
may happen n the future | cannot say. q.
Do you not frequently hear, in your inter-
course with seccssionists, in Virginia, ex-
pressions OF hope that such war may
break out? A. cannot say that ! have
heard it. On the contrary, | have heard
persons--I do hot know whether you could
call them sec. ssc,nists or not. mean tho.c
people in Virginia with whom | associate
express u hope that the country may not be
led into war. @. In such on event, dc
sou not think that that class of people whom
I call secessionists would join the common
enemy? A. It's possible. 1t depends upon
tie feeling of the individual. 9. If it is q
fair questlon-you may answer it or not, q:
YOU choose-what, in such an event, NIGH
be your own choice? A. [ lave no disT"ii
ton. row, to do it, and never have Lid
@. And you cannot foresee that such wculd
bs your inclination, in such an event? "A
No. l can only judge from the past; l dc
not know what circumstances may produce
1 canHot pretend to foresee events. So fal
as know. the wish of the people of Virginis
is for peace. Q. During the war, was il
not contemplated by the Government of tn.
Confederate States to form an alliance witt
some foreign nation, if possiblc2 A. I be-
lieve it was their wish to do so. 1t was thell
wish to have the Confederate Government
recognized as an independent Government
I have ne doubt if it could have made favo
rable treaties it would have done so. But
knew nothing of the policy of the Govern
msnt. had no hand or part in it; mere
lv eynress INV own opinion. Q. The ques
ton i am about to put to you, Jour may answer
or not, as you choose. Did you take an oatf
of fidelity or allegiance to the Confederate
Government? A. do not recolIect having
done so, but it is possible, when | was com
nissioned, did. / do not recollect whethe
it was required. If it was required, l tool
it, or if it had been required l would have
taken it; but do not recollect whether i
wGs or not.
BY Mr.. Blow.-Q. In reference to th'
effect of President j chnsor's policy, lift wer,
adopted, would there be anything like re
turn of the old feeling? ask tha:, bccauo
you used the expression, "acquiescing in th'
result" A. / believe it would take tiin
for tic feelings of the people to be of tha
cordial nature to the. Government that thel
were formerly. @. Do you think that thel
preference TOR that polay arises from desire
10 have good feeling and peace il the country
or from the probability Of their regaining pc
itical power? "A. So far as I know, th
desire of the people of The South, it is 70
the restoration of their civil government, ant
they look upon the policy of President John
ssn as the one which would most clearly ait
most surely re establish it. Q. Do you Sc
any change in reference to the poorer people
Of Virginia as regards industry? Are the,
as much, or more interested in developing
Their material interests than they were? A
| have notobssr,ed any change. Every on
now has to attend to his business for hi
support. Q. The poor classes are general
hard at work, are they? A. So far as
know, they are; know nothing to the con
trary have noticed 40 change in their re
lations to the colored people $50 far as kno"