New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-02
IN, Lees Testimony before the Reconstrus
49,. tion Committee.
HIGHLY INTERESTING EXAMINATION.

n HIGHLY INTERESTING EXAMINATION.
photographic Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
SWAsHNGroN, March 27-The JOINT com M ron'
n fifteen reported to-day, to both Houses OF Con.
less. the evidence Of General Robert f. Lee, OF
/ views on the Southern situation. The follow i
Ia is full extract of all important pohis: oh s
Mebruary H. he was sworn and examined by sen.
Tor Howard, as follows, Q. Where 9;l Is your
Resent residence?" A. Lexington, virginia" I
slow long have you been in Lexington, a; I
Since the lst of October last nearly five months"
& MAre YOU acquainted with the state of feeling
knonp what we call secessionists, at present, ~
#rgnia. toward the federal government
IA. ~ do not know that am. l nave
6een living very retired, and have had but
Hitte communication with politicians. know
nothing more than from my own observation ana
nom such facts as have come to- my kno"ieage.
smong the secession people of that State 81 the
feeling to wards the government at tins tune a.:
$50 far as has come to my knowledge. 90 no'
know of single person VINO either leeis OF ton u
TEMPLATES any resistance to the government OF
me United States, or, indeed any opposition;
No word has reached me to either purpose. ~
"a. ''From what you have observed is IT your
scpinon that they will cooperate to sustain
and uphold it in the future? A. " believe
fhey entirely acquiese in the government,
and so far as l have heard any one express
An opinion they are for cooperating with
Sf pr G' Johnson in his polcy.d @. lin his
Epocy in regard to the restoration Of the whole
Eeountrv?'' A. Have heard persons with whom
Id have conversed express great confidence IN me
Ewisdom of his policy of restoration and they seem
no look forward to it as hope OF restoration
q. "How do they feel in regard to that portion
Of the people of the United States who have been
Jealous in the prosecution Of the war againss ue
rebellion ?" 4. "Well, | don't know l have
Aeard nobody express opinion in regard TO II.
As said before, have not had much converse,
Hon with politicians in the country, II mere arr
Hny Every one appears TO be engaged IN ms own
Ytfairs. and in endeavoring to restore the civil
Sovernment of the State. have heard no expires.
on of sentiment towards any particular poftioh o.
Ne country" Q. "How do the secessionlsts feel IN
Tpard 10 the payment of the Federal debit. A. =
Eaye never heard any one speak on the SUBJECT; J.
Impose they must expect to pay the taxes eVieu W
M government. I have heard them speak Ia REFER
ne to the payment of taxes and their efforts tt
Mise money thereafter, which suppose Is lor incl
Mare of the debt have never heard any ont
Speak in opposition to the payment OF taxes of y
. Resistance to their payment. The whole ehoi. M y
heen to try 10 raise money to pay the taxes"
From your opinion and knowledge OF the peopl
IN Virginia would they, if the question was lelt U
Them repudiate that debt!' A. " never near
ar,y one FAY or speak on the subject, but from N,
Knowledge OF the people, believe that they WON ON
be in favor of payment OF al. lqst ueots: y -
They il your opinion regard tat a. 5is 70 ON tb.
Isnbiect have never heard any opinion e4presse
Econtrary to it. Indeed, as said in the beginnn!
II have had very little discussion or inSe
nav the debts they are called on to pay. Sd
Hal from my knowledge of the people generally
al "Woud they pay the debt, or their portion
Nh. with as much alacrity as people ordinarily pi
faxes to the government" A. IL do not kno
sthev would make any distinction between the "
Makes laid by the government so far as kno
prepared to pay to the pest Of lne
20. s'What is the feeling of the people OF virgin
M4oward the payment of the so-called Coniedefa
debt % A. 81 believe, so far as my opinion go
and have no facts to go upon they wooiu
-viiI;ng To nav the Confederate debt, too"
B..You think they would?" A. 81 think they wo'
sSif they had the power and ability to do so. ha
SE never heard any one in the State, with whom ma
.conyersed, speak of repudiating any, debt" 9.
sunnose the Confederate debt is valueless even
the market in virginia." A. q Entirely, 50 iar
E know. believe the people look upon u t' as l.
E9 entirely, / never heard any question on the 81
me- iect.n G. "Do you recollect when the come
E% rate bonds We're made payable? q A. nav
MI general recollection that they were made palya
E ak months after declaration of peace"
E8 Six months after ratification of peace betw'
the United States and the Confederate goeVe
ment ~ A. ~ think they ran that way" =,
$50 that the bonds are not yet due by u
terms? ~ A. 81 suppose unless it is console .,
that there is peace now. they are not due:'
How do the people of Virginia, the secession 81;
particularly, feel toward the 1reeamen s ~
esss q Every one with whom have associated exp
Ell kind feelings toward the freedmen. L
l wish to see them get on in the world,
particularly to take up some Occupation Io
ES living, and to turn their hands to some work
know that efforts have been made among the
mers near lear where i've to induce them to eng
# for the year at regular. wages" " J. 10 20,
Xiii think that there is willingness on the pa
their former masters to give them fair IT,, wages ts
their labor?' A. AZ believe it is SO. Inc fari
generally prefer those servants who nave peer
ing with them before. have heard them eXl
lS their preference for the men whom tney II
l who had lived with them before, and their wis
x get them to return to work. am hot awa
Ng any combinations among the whites to keep 6
M the wages of the blacks. nave hearo tnaS ~
law Hour order
M tabsh uniform rate of wages but never
M of any combination to keep down wages t or e
a@ lish a rate which they. did not think falr.
4@ means of paying wages in Virginia are very
M ted now, and there is difference of opinion!
8S# how much each person is able to pay" o. y
$M do they feel in regard to the education OF
sSA blacks Is there general Willingness or !
M lingness to have them educated?' A. :" w
e& have been, the people have exhibited wiiin
A that the blacks should be educated, and thu
press an opinion that it would be better sc to
8M you are very competent to Judge of the ca
5E Of black men to acquire knowledge. wan
HE opinion on that eapaclty, as compared wit
IM that am particularly qualified to speak O
IM subject, as you seem to intimate but /
I& think he is as capable Of acquiring
l% edge as the white man. There some
.l8 ant than others. ! have known Sol
gain knowledge and skill! in their
IM or profession. l have had servants
TE own who learned to read and write very we
Mill 3.Do they show capacity to obtain kno1
hE of mathematics and the exact sciences ?"
W8 have no knowledge on that subject. I am
BA' acquainted with three who have learned the
HE mon rudiments of education" @. "Genel
WV Won aware Of any combination existing amt
Mk blacks of Virginia, any where in the State,
ia in vice the disturbance of the peace or a
INH propef Or unlawful acts :" A. 81 am not.
aS@ seen no evidence of it and have heard o
se'Eg wherever have been they have been qu
M orderly, not disposed to work, or rather l
e@ posed to any continuous engagementto We
~ lust very short jobs to provide them with tn
p"As iiate means of subsistence O. ''Has the
4 M face generally as much love for money and
~ ty as the viii e race A.. Il don't think 1t h
\ IsE blacks whom I know look more to the
n MD than to the future" Q. Does that abseI
Arc lust of money arise more from the natur
HS''as negro than from his former servie copdlut
n Isl "Well, it may be attributed to ms 1ofI1
IA E dition. They are an amable race. l
A their ease and comfort, and | think LOOK
~...18 their present than their future condition.
M the event of a war between the United 81
III III any foreign power, such AZ England or II
Ife line there should be held out TO the secession
db. tB of the people of Virginia, or to the other
"a H. rebel States, a prospect OF gaining their u
lOl ence, and striking at the government
IN United States is it or is 1t not your
N N that they would avail themselves
opportunity?' A. II cannot spea
any certainty on that point | do not H
far they might be actuated by their re-
have nothing whatever to base an oplnl
- ggd4lS
pEak. "a " ss.7slft