The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-03-28
Observation-Disclosures.


ton, made report to the House Of Represen-
tativeS, of that portion OF the evidence which
related particularly to Virginia. a.is.
The evidence is conflicting. The public
must decide on which side belongs the truth
The following is synopsis of the evidence;
A report of evidence was made to-day from
the Committee of Reconstruction, from which
it appears that among the more important
witnesses examined in relation to Virginia,
were Judge Underwood, Lewis Mckenzie,
General Turner, commanding the post at
Richmond, Major Gen. Terry, Col. Orlando
Brown, Chas. H. Lewis, late Secretary of the
Commonwealth, Gen. Robert E. Lee, Brig.
Gen. Corse, John B. Baldwin, VIM. H. Joynes,
John M. Bolts, and others from that State,
including seven colored men.
General Lee represents that nothing like
sentiment of hostility to the United States
Government exists in Virginia; that there are
no combinations of conspracies having that
end in view; that the people, though disap-
pointed and saddened by the result, are sub
missive, and are only looking now to their
material interests, and that the surest aud
speediest means Of reconciling the people to
the Government, and making them its cordial
supporters. is to extend to them equal politi-
Cal rights with the people Of the other States.
AS to the negroes, he expresses the belief
which be says he has long entertained, that
the State would be much better without them.
He repudiatas the idea that cruelties were
purposely inflicted on Federal prisoners of
war. s... E
The testimony of members of the Virginia
Legislature, the gentlemen who had come as
AL t- Irl IL
important and interesting. They concur in
the opinion as to the complete absence ofany
feeling looking to renewal of the contest
with the Government. The question of seces-
sion they say was settled by the sword, and
the people are content to abide by the decision
and live henceforth faithful citizens of the Re-
public. They represent the feeling of the peo-
pie at large and of themselves as unal,erably
opposed to the idea of extending political rights
to the negro and whites AS to civil rights the
Legislature were engaged in maturing meas
ures removing most if not all obnoxious dis
examinations in the laws between whites and
blacks. On the question of the course which
Virginia would take in case Of war between
the United States aud any foreign power
which might offer the South promise of es-
tablishing their independence, their testimony
was decidedly on the side of loyalty.
On the other hand, the United States Off
GERS, Generals Terry and Turner, and Colonel
0. Brown, and most if not all OF the unqua-
fed Unionists, concur in representing the sen
timent Of the people Of Virginia in relation to
the Government as improved aud as rather
having become enbittered since Lees surren-
der. They say that at that time the people
were humble, sick of war, longing for peace
on any terms, and ready to accept gratefully
the pardon Of the Government, and to submit
to any conditions that might be imposed, while
now they are arrogant, exactiug and intoe-
rant Most of the witnesses of that class ex-
press he decided opinion that the withdrawal
of tne Federal troops and the Freedusen's Blu
reau, would be followed by an unrelei1ting
prescription Of white Unionists, and persecu-
tons and remission to slavery OF the coIored
people. The change Of feeling is very gene-
rally ascribed by these witnesses to the Presi-
dents liberal policy,
In regard to the public debt the people Of
Virginia are represented as in favor OF its re-
quotation, OF at least of COM ining it with the
Confederate debt. the witnesses who nave
been connected with the Confederacy, how
ever, deny this. and represent the people as
willing to pay their share of the Federal debt
by taxation. On this subject General Lees
opinion is that they are willing to pay both
and opposed to the Republication of either.
Outside of these matters of general inquiry,
there is one historical episode connected with
the secession Of Virginia AID the outbreak Of
the rebellion, on. which the testimony of these
witnesses were taken. There Was confer
ence sought for and obtained by Mr.. Lincoln
with a member of the Virginia Secession Con-
vention, John B. Baldwin, delegated by the
Union members of that body, prior to the
opening of the rebel batteries on Fort Sump-
ter. a-
The first statement on the subject was from
John F. Lewis. an incorporating Union
man all through the war, and who had been