Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-23

! @. How do the negroes generally behave;
are they orderly and submissive to the law?
A. They are very respectful to me, and
cannot say that [ have seen any bad misbehavior
on the part OF the negroes in Alexandria. The
| trouble on Christmas day was more Of drunk
en- frolic than anything else. [ do not think
there was any concert of action or purpose on
either side.
Q. How did this violence at Alexandria break
out? >.a.t|
A. My impression is that It arose from
drunken parties meeting each other in the
street. .
Q. DID the blacks give any proyocation so
| lar as you know?
\. l do not know who gave the provocation.
| l. suppose that IL just arose from drunken peo-
pie meeting on the street [ think it was whis
key, not design, on the part Of either party
[ have seen just as much disturbance in Alex
andrla on other Christmas days; certainly
have dressed as many wounded men on other
| Christmas days as on that day Down at Fish
| town have dressed more wounds III day IN
the fishing season. There used to be always
rows there There was some alarm expressed
by white persons in regard to negroes breaking
out in insurrcction that day; but had no ap-
prehen>ion Of it. | am very certain there was
no intention On the part of the whites to make
any disturbance that day, In community
there will, of course, be some men fond ofklck-
ing up fuss Or disturbance. [ believe the
people Of the south would be better citizens
than ever they were If they were just allowed
to assume their old position under the govern
ment OF course they have feelings which they
cannot diyest themselves Of as yet; but those
feelings would be soothed down very much by
restoration to their former relations with the
government
Q. What are your personal feelings now to-
wards the government of the United States?
:. Ny personal feelings are for the success
and prosperity Of the government, | have no
unkind feeling towards the government, and
never had any, so far as that Is concerned.
9. Suppose tEe United States should have
a war with some foreign power, such as Eng
laud or France, DO you not fancy that consld-
erablc portion Of the secessonists would be
ready TO embrace the cause Of the common
enemy?
A. That is question which / have often
| thought of. but which l am not prepared to
answer. think it very doubtful. Ofcoursa
there would be some who would do So As to
my own feeling, I would he very willing to be
let alone, te stay at hOme Or | will accept, if
| the Federal government would give me. posi-
ton similar to that occupied in the Confeder-
| acy
Q. You would be willing TO fight the COM
mon enemy?
a. Yes, sir, as q SUI geon, in my profession
| The feeling III opposition to the government
would be Gissipated very thoroughly, or GER
taiDly very quickly, by speedy acceptance,
on the part OF the federal government, Of the
States back into the Union. [ think they are
| harassed little.
O-.Was there not, during the rebellion, Il
very strong desire to have the government in-
volved in war with France or England?
A. Oh, certainly there was.
g. Was there not pretty prevalent feeling
that, rather than submit to the governm cnt OF
the United States, they would prefer to be
| under the protection Of France?
A. That was expressed by good many per-
sons not that the objection was so much to
the government of the United States under its
| Constitution, but to being under the control Of
the black republican party.
q. They did not like that party at all
A. No, sir
@. How do they feel toward the black re-
| publican party now
A. I do not know that they have any very
kind feelings towards them.
! @. How do they feel towards the majority Of
both houses Of Congress?
A. think they would rather see the black
republican party out Of power, and some other
party in power
Q. You think it probable they have more re-
spect and attachment for President johnson
than they have for the majority in Congress?
A Probably they may, simply from the fact
that President ohnsonis disposed to view their
present condition more leniently, and is more
anxious to restore them 70 their original rights;
whereas the black republican party is not dis
posed to do so.
@. Have they not all idea that Mr.. Johnson
is willing to have them readmittcd TO both
houses Of Congress without any further delay?
A. So far as my information goes, should
suppose that they may beunder thatimpresslon;
that President johnson is somewhat anxious
to have them restored Immediately.
O. And they suppose that the black rcpub-
lican party is opposed to that?
4. I suppose 50. They think this: that when
they went out CT the Union, as they thought
legally and consitutionally, and as they sub
mitted that to the arbitration Of the sword,
which arbitration has been decided against
them, they are willing to abide by the decision;
and as the republican party never acknowledged
that they were out of the Union, they do not
see now why they should be compelled to bring
about another war to fight their way back into
the Union. That party never admitted that
they were out Of the Union
" IL Is very Stucl " CcSlOi NV
secessionists is it not, that they were out Of the
| Union?
A. There were certain men who believcdin the
doctrine Of secession, and certain men who did
rot believe in it. Those who believed in the
right Of secession believed Of course, that they
were legally and constilutionally out OF the
Union, and were no longer subject to the au-
thority of the United States
O. Did you belong to that school ?
4. Yes, sir, [ belonged to that school. be-
lievedwe had perfect right to go out. went
out. not because I objected to the government
of the United States, hut because | was op-
posed to the Black Republican party. be,
longed to that school and entertained that opln-
ion.
O. Have you changed that opinion Low?