The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-01

or, rather, not disposed to eny continnons
engagement to work, but just very short
Jobs to provide them with the immediate
means Of subsistence. Q. Has the colored
race generally as much love for money and
property as the white race? A. do not
think it has. The blacks whom I know
look more to the present than to the fu-
ture. Q. Does that absence of lust of
money arise more from the nature Of the
negro than from his former servile condi-
tion? A. Well, it may be in some measure
attributed to his former condition. They
j are 81. .!..;aS.o, socia! -sos. They Ike
their case and comfort, and, think, look
more to their present than their future
condition. Q. In the event of war be-
tween the United States and any foreign
power, such as England or France, if there
should be held out to the secession portion
OF the people Of Virginia, or the other re-
Gently rebel States, fair prospect Of gain
ing their independence and shaking off the
Government OF the United States, is it or
is 1t not your opinion that they would avail
themselves of that opportunity? A. can
not speak with any certainty on that point.
do not know how far they might be ac-
tuated by their feelings. I have nothing
whatever to base an opinion upon. So far
as know, they contemplate nothing CT the
kind now. What may happen in the future
cannot say. Q. Do you not frequently
hear, in your intercourse with secession
lists, IN Virginia, expressions of a hope that
such war may break out? A. cannot
say that have heard it. On the contrary,
lbave heard Person'-I do not know whe-
ther you could call them secessionists or
not, mean those people i'll Virginia with
whom associate-express hope that the
! country may not be led into war O. In
such an event, do you not think that that
class Of people whom l call secessionists
would join the common enemy? A. It is
possible. It depends upon the feeling of
the individual. Q. II it is a fair question
you may answer it or not, as you choose
what, i'll such an event. might be Your own
choice? A: have no disposition, now, to
do it, and l never have had. @. And you
cannot foresee that such would be your in
cllnation, in such an event? A. No. can
only judge from the past; do not know
| what circumstances may produce; | can
not pretend to foresee events. So far as I
know, the wish of the people of Virginia is
for peace. Q. During the war, was it not
Confederate States to form an alliance with
some foreign nation, if possible? A. be-
| lievc it was their wish to do So 1t was
their wish to have the Confederate Govern
m mt recognized as Nh Independent Go
ver:ment. I have no doubt if it could
have made favorable treaties it would
have done so. But 1 knew nothing
of the policy of the Government. I
had no hand or part in it; I merely
express my own opinion. Q. The ques-
ton 1 am about to put to you, you
may answer or not, as you choose. Did
you take an oath Of fidelity or allegiance to
| the Confederate Government? A. do not
recollect having done so, but it is possible,
when was commissioned, l did. J do not
recollect whether it was required. If it
was required, took it, or if it had been
| required would have taken it; but I do
not recollect whether it was or not.
| By Mr.. Blow.-Q. In reference to the
effect of President Johnson's policy, if it
were adopted, would there be anything
like return of the old feeling? ask that,
escing in the result" A. believe it would
take time for the feelings If tine people to
be of that cordial nature to the Govern
ment that they were formerly. @. Do you
think that their preference for that policy
arises from desire to have good feeling
bability of their regaining political powe
| A. SO fur as l know, the desire of t..
people Of the South, it is for the restora-
tion of their civil government, and they
look upon the policy Of President Johnson
as the one which would most clearly and
any change in reference to the poorer
people OF Virginia as regards industry?
Are they as much, or moro Interested in
developing their material interests than
they were? y. have not observed any
change. Every one now has to attend to
AAAS DooAASH'S AoA LIS SuPpoit. ". 1ue
poor classes are generally hard at work,
are they? A. So far as know, they are; I
| know nothing to the contrary; I have no.
ticed no change in their relations to the
colored people; so far as 1 know, the feel
ings of all of the people Of Virginia are
kind to the colored people; have never
heard any blame attributed to them as to
the present condition of things or any re-
sponsibility. Q. Can capitalists and work
ing-mcn from the North go into Virginia
and go to work among the people? A. I
do not know anything tt prevent them;
their peace and pleasure there would de-
pend very much on their conduct; If they
confined themselves to their own business,
and did not interfere to provoke controver-
sizes with Their neighbors, do not believe
they would be molested; there is no desire
to keep out labor and capital; on the con-
trary, they are very anxious to get labor
and capital into the State; the manner in
which they would be received (as said
before) would depend entirely ON the indi-
viduals; they might make themselves oD-
noXious, as we can understand.
BY Mr.. Howard-Q. Is there not general
dislike of Northern men among secession
lists? A. suppose they would prefer not
| to associate with them. I do not know
that they would select them as associates
O. Do they avoid and ostracise them So
cially? A. They might avoid them. They
would not select them as associates, unless
| there was some reason. l do not know
that they would associate until they be-
came acquainted. L think it probable that
they would not admit them into their social
circles