Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-31

lne people OF Ugluih Il iOI peace.
O. During the war was il not c0ntem
plated by the Government of the Con
federate States TO form an alliance wit
some foreign nation if possible2 A.
believe il was their wish to do so.
was their wish TO have the Confederat
Government recognized as an indepen
dent Government. / have no doubt If
! could have made favorable treaties
would have done so. But l know moth
; ing Of its policy. had no hand or par
! in it. I merely express my own opinion
@. The question | am about tO put t
YOU You may answer or not, as youc
Did vou take an oath OF fidelity or ale
: ciance to the Confederate Government
A. I do not recollect having done so, bu
il is possible when l was commanding
! did. do not rec0llect whether it wa
required. fit was required I took it, o.
{ ifft had been required / would have ia
ken it. But ! do not recollect whether i
was or not
By Mr.. Blow-Q- In reference TO The
effect of President Johnson's policy, If il
was adopted. would there be anything
like a return Of old feelings? l asked
that because you used the expression,
80 Acquiescing in the RESULT A. be-
lieve il would.
Q. Do YOU think that their preference
for that policy arises from a desire tC
have good feelings and peace in thecoun-
try, or from the probability Of their ac-
auiring political power? 4. So far as
know Of the desire of the people of the
South, it is for the restoration Of their
Constitutional Government and they
look upon the policy Of President John
son as the one which would most clearly
and most surely re establish ii.
Q. Do YOU see any change in reference
10 the people Of Virginia as regards in
dustry are thoy as much or more inter
ested IN developing their material inter-
ests than they were? A. l have not
/ observed any changes every one now
has to attend 10 his own business for his
/ support.
/ q. The poorer classes are generally
! hard at work, are they? A. So far as l
know, they are; / know nothing 10 the
contrary; have noticed no change in
their relations 10 the c0l0red people, as l
know the feelings Of all the people of
Virginia are kind to the coiOred peple.
have never heard any blame attributed
10 them as TO the present condition Of
things, or any responsibility.
Q. Can capitalists and working men
from the North go into Virginia and 20
10 work among the people? a. l do not
know anything to prevent them. Their
peace and pleasure would depend very
much on their conduct If they applied
themselves to their own business, and did
not interfere to provoke controversies
with their neighbOrs, don't believe they
would be interrupted. There is no desire
10 keep labor and capital out of the coun-
try, They are very anxious to get labor
into the State. The manner in which
they would be received, asl before stated,
would entirely depend upon the individ-
uals; they might make themselves OBJ
noXiOus, as you can understand,
BY Mr.. HoWard-ls there not a great
dislike Of Northern men among seces-
sionists2 A. ! suppose they would pre-
fer not to associate with them. / do not
know that they would select them as as
sociates.
q. Do they avoid and ostraeize their
society? A. They might avoid them.
They would not select them as associates
unless there was reason, ! do not know
that they would associate until they be-
came acquainted. / think ii probable
that they would not admit them into
their social circles,
BY Mr.. Blow-Q. Doyou think colored
persons would rather work for a North
ern man than a Southern man? A.
think it very probable that they would
prefer the Southern man, although /
have no facts, I know of blacks engag-
ing with their masters; l know Of 8
good many who prefer to 20 off and look
for new homes. Whether it is from any
dislike to their former masters, or from a
desire to change, or that they feel more
free and independent, l do not know.
q. What is your opinion in regard TO
the material Interests of Virginia do
YOU think they will be equal to what
they were before the rebellion, under the |
changed aspect OF affairs? A. 1t viii |
take long time to reach their former
standard. I think after some years they
viii reach it, hope they will exceed ii; |
but il can't be immediate. In my opin- |
ion it viii take number Of years.
Q. On the whole, is the condition of |
things in Virginia hopeful, both in regard |
to its material interests and future peace |
of the countrye a. ! have heard great |
hope expressed, and great cheerfuiness |
and willingness to labor.
Q. Suppose that this policy Of Presi- |
dent JohnsOn's should be all that you an |
ticipate, and that you should realize all /
that YOU expect in the improvement of /
your material interests, do you think the |
result Of that will be the gradual Testora- |
ton Of old feelings. A. That would be /
the natural result think, and SEQ no 1
other way in which that result can be |
brought about,
Q. There Is a fear In the public mind |
that the fliends Of the policy in the |
South adopt it because they see in IL the /
means Of freorgauizing the political posi-
ton which they lost in the recent contest /
DO you think that is the main idea with /
them, or DO they merely look to il, as you /
say, as the best means Of restoring their 1
civil government and the peace and pros |
perity Of their respective States? A. As |
TO the first point you make, do nc. !
think that ever beard any rlspsou speal. |
upon Il, ! peTef heard The point suc- |
gested lba&a Heard them speak generally |
as to the effect of the policy of President 1
johnson. The feeling, so far as ] know, is |
that there is NOT that equality extended 4
10 the Southern States as is enjoyed by /
the North.
Q. You do not feel down there that, /
while you accept the result, we are as
generous as we oughtto be under the cir /
cumstanees? A. They think the North /
can afford to be generous,
Q. That is the feeling down there? A.
Yea; and they think that il is the best /
policy--those who reflect on the subject
and are able to Judge
@. ! understand il to 10 your opinion 4
that il would be tte surest means Of re- 1
tanning theirgoOd opinions A. Yes, and /
the speediest.
q. ! understand you 10 say, generally, !
that you had no apprehension Of any
among the leading seces-
sionists 70 renew the war, or any thing
Of the kind9 A. ! have no reason in the
world to think So /
O. Have YOU heard that subject talkea (
of among the p0liucians2 A No slr,
have not. have moi heard that matter
suggested.
@. Let me put another political case.
SuppOse the Executive Chair Of the /
United States should be filed by Presi- 4
dent like Buchanan, who rejected the
right Of coercion fsO-calledl and suppose
a Congress should exist here entertaining !
the same political opinions, thus present.
ing TO the once rebel States the opportu-
nifty to again seeede from the Onion, |
would they or not in your opinion avail |
themselves Of that opportunity, or
some Of them? A. suppose il /
would depend upon circumstances |
existing at the time. If their feelings /
fections alienated from the rest Of the |
States, / think 1t very probable they /
might do so, provided they thought it 70 |
their interest. ] do not know that there /
is 3 deep feeling Of dislike toward the |
Government ] think it probable some |
animosity may exist among some Of the |
peorle. ] think sometimes they were /
disappointed As 70 the result Of the war.
I know Of no condition of discomfort
against the Government among the Sc
cessionists. i believe that the people
viii perform toward the Government all
of the duties they are required 10 per-
form. 1 think that Is the general feel
ing, W @
q. Do YOU think II would be practical
bic to convict s man IN Virginia Of trea-
son for having taken part in this nebel-
lion against the Government by q Vir-
ginia jury, without packing IL with di-
rect reference to verdict of guilty. A.
On thar point have no knowledge, and
] do not know what yeu would consider