Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-30
5aiIgAaiun and Ameritan.
FRIDAY, MARCH so. 1855
ReddiIuy Matter on Each Page.
GEN. LEES TESTIMONY
Before the ReconstI'uc-
tiOn Committee.
Highly interesting Examination.
Highly interesting Examination,

u
Where is your present rcsidence2 A. Lexington
Virginia. o. How long have you been in Lexing
ton A. Slice the lst OF October last, nearly fv,
months. @. Are you acquainted with the state o
feeling among what we call secessionists at pre-
sent. in Virginia. toward the Federal Govern
ment? A do not know that L am. have bee.
living very r,tired. and have had but little com
munication with politicians. / know nothins
more than f'om my own observation and from
such facts a. have come TO my knowledge. Y
What is your opinion. from observations among
tho secession people Of that State of the feeling
toward the G1yenment at this timer A. So fal
a has come to my knowledge, l do not know O
n single persop who either feels or contemplate,
any resistancs 20 the Government Of the United
States. or inc eed, any opposition. Nc word has
reached me to either purpose. Y. From what
you have obs,TEed, IS Il your opinion that they
are friendly toward the Government, and that they
will co-operae to sustain and uphold it in the fu-
tureg A. believe they entirely acquiesce in the
Government, and so far as have heard any one
express an opinion. they are for cooperating with
President oh ns0n in his policy Y. In his policy
in regard TO tie restoration Of the whole country?
A, Have heLrd persons with whom i have
oonyersed express great confidence IN the
wisdom Of his policy Of restoration, and they seem
TO look forward TO il 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
liOn2" A. well, don't know; | have heard
nobody express an opinion in regard TO II. As
said before. | have not had much conversation
with politicians in the country. if there are any.
Every one appears to be engaged in his own af-
fairs and in eideaYoring to restore the civil Gov
ernment Of the State have heard no express
of the country. O. How do the secessionists feel
in regard 20 the payment of the Federal debt
A. have new sr heard any one speak on the sub
ject. | suppose they must expect to pay the taxes
levied by the Government. | have heard them
speak in reference TO the payment OF taxes, and
their efforts 10 raise money therefor, which L sup
pose is for thei. share Of the debt. / have never
heard any one speak in opposition to the payment
Of taxes or of resistance TO their payment. The
whole effort has been to try to raise money 10 pay
the taxes. q. From your opinion and knowledge
of the people of Virginia, would they, II the ques-
tion was left 10 them, repudiate that debt. A. L
never heard any one say or speak on That subject,
but from my kIowledge of the people. believe
that they would be in favor Of payment of all
just debts. a. Do they, in your opinion, regard
that as a just debtY A. | don't know what their
opinion is on that subject. have never heard
any opinion expressed contrary to IT. In
deed, as | said in the beginning, l have had
very little discussion or intercourse with the
people. l believe the people would pay the
debts they are called on 10 pay. 1 say that
from my knowledge of the people generally. z.
Would they pay that debt. or their portion of it,
with ne much flaerity as people ordinarily pay
their taxes to the GovernmentY A. DO not know
that they would make any distinction between the
two taxes laid by the Government. SO far as L
know they prepared TO pay to the best Of their
ability. | never heard them make any distine-
tion. 2. What IS the feeling Of the people Of yir-
ginia towards the payment Of the so-called Con-
federate debt9 A. l believe, so far as my opinion
goes. and have no facts TO go upon, they would
be willing 70 pay the Confederate debt, too. Y:
You think they would? A. / think they would if
they had the power and ability TO do 50. have
never heard an, one in the state with whom l
have eonyersed, speak of repudiating any debt.
q. / suppose the Confederate debt is ValueleSs
even in the market of Virginia3 A. Entirely, so
far as i know. ] believe the people look upon il
as lost entirely. L never heard any question on
the subject. Y. Do you recollect when the Con
federhte bonds were made payable? A; haye,a
general kreeolecton that they were made payable
six months after a declaration of peace. Y. Six
months after the ratiheation OF peace between the
United States and the Confederate G0vernnen3
A. / think they ran that way. Y. so that the
bonds are not due yet by their terms? A. sup
pose unless tits considered that there is peacenow
they are not due. O. How do the people Of Nir-
ginia the seoessionis particularly, feel toward
the freedmen2 a. Every one with whom have
associated express kind feelings toward the freed
men. They wish TO see them get on In the world,
aud particularly TO take up some occupation for
living and 20 turn their hands TO some work.
know that efforts have been made among
the farmers near where / live, to induce them
10 engage for the year, at regular wages
z. DO you think that there is willing
ness on the part of their former masters 20 give
them fair wages for their labor2 a. believe 1t
is So The farmers generally prefer those ser
wants who have been living with them before.
have heard them express their preference Tor the
men whom they knew, who had lived with them
before, and their wish TO get them TO return TO
work. l am not aware of any combination among
the whites TO keep down the wages of the blacks.
| have heard that in several counties land owners
have met in order 10 establish a uniform rate OF
wages, but l never heard of any combination to
keep down wagts or establish a rate which they
did not think fair. The means of paying wages
in Virginia are very limited now, and there is n
difference of opinion rs TO how much each person
is able TO pay. g. How do they feel in regard 70
the education of the blacks? is there general
willingness or unwillingness to have them educa-
tedP A. Where have been the people have ex-
hibited willingness that the blacks should be
and they express an opinion that IT
would be better for the blacks and better Tor tho
whites Y. General, you are very competent TO
Judge Of the capacity of black men TO acquire
knowledge. / want your opinion on that capAcl-
ty as compared with the capacity of white men.
A. do not know that am particularly qualified
to speak on this subject as you seem TO intimate,
but do not think he is as capable of acquiring
knowledge as the white man. There are some
more apt than others. | have known some to
gain knowledge and skill in their trade or pro-
fcssion. | have had servants of my own who
learned TO read and write very WELL Y. DO they
show a caDacily to obtain a knowledge Of mathe-
natics and tho exact sciences? A. l have
no knowledge on that subject | am merely ac-
luainted with three who have learned the common
rndiments Of education; Y. Genefal, are you
blacks Of Virginia, any where in the State, hav-
ing in view the disturbance of the peace or any
improper q unla wtni acts A. | am not, have
Wherever l have been they have been quiet and
orderly. not disposed to work. OF rather not dis
posed TO any continuous engagement to work but
mediate means of subsistence. 2. Has the cOlOred
race generally much love for money and pro-
gsrty as the white race? don't think il has:
than TO the future. q, Does that absence Of lust
Of money arise mJre from the nature Of the ne
gro than from HIS former servils condition. A.
Well, il may be in some measure attributed TO
his former condition. They are an amiable race.
They like their Ease and comfort, and | think
look more TO titeir present than their future
condition. o. Ia the event Of a war between
hp al
rs England or FuInce if there should be held out
10 the secession portion Of the people Of Virginia,
or TO the other recently rebel States, a prospect
Of gaining their Independence. and striking at the
Government Of the United States Is it oris il not
your opinion that they would avail themselves Of
that opportunity A. cannot speak with any
on that point. l do not know how far
they might be actaated by their feelings; | have
nothing whatever 20 base an opinion upon. SO
far rs | know they contemplate nothing Of the
kind now; what may happen in the future can
not say. 2. Do you not frequently hear. in your
intercourse with secessonsts in Virginia, exc,
pressions Of n hope that such a war may break
outG A. can net say thatI have heard il. On
the contrary / have heard persons, do not know
whether you could call them sccesSionists or not,
! mean those peoIle in Virginia with whom as
sooate, express hope that the country may not
be led into war. q. In such an event, do you
not think that that class of people whom call
secessionists would favor the common eneny2 A.
IL is possible, Il depends upon the feeling Of the
individual. Q. If Il is fair question you may
answer Il or not aiyou choose, What, m such an
event, might be your own choieeg A. have no
disposition now TO do IT, and never have had.
inclination in such an cvent2 A. No; can only
Judge from the past. | do not know what circum-
stances may produce. | can not pretend TO fore
see events. So far as | know, the wish Of the
people Of Virginia is for peace. Q. During the
war was Il not cor tcmplated by the government
Of the Confederate States 70 form an alliance with
some foreign nation. II possibleI A. believe It
was their wish 20 have the Confederate Govern
ment recognized a. an independent government
have no doubt, II IL could have made favorable
treaties. Il would have done so; but know moth
ing Of that policy. had no hand or part in IT.
merely express NY own opinion. Q. The Ques-
ton am about 10 put 10 you. you may snswer or
not. as you choose Did you take an oath OF hdel-
ity or allegiance 70 the Confederate Government
A. do moi recollect having done So but il is pos
sihle. When | was commissioned. do not re-
collect whether il was REQUIRED, II 1t was re,
quired, / took il; or II il had been required,
would have taken il; but / do not recollect
whether Il was or not a.s,
BY Mr.. Blow-Q In reference 20 the effect Of
President Johnsol's policy, il It we're adopted,
would there be any thing like return Of old
feelingS ask thi.t because you used the express
sion "aoQuiescing in result" A. L believe II
would be the time for the feelings of the people
ee q that sOEda 1stufs e the SnE asoi
their preference for that policy arises from de-
sire to have good feelings and peace in the coan-
try or from the pr,eaoiiity Of their sequirlng po
litical powerG A, 80 far Is i know the desire Of
the people Of the South Il is fer the restoration Of
the civil governu ent and they look upon the
policy Of President johnson as the one which
would most clearly and most surely re-establish
IT, O. Do you see any change in reference to the
people Of Nirginii, a. regards industry-Rre they
ms much or mere interested in developing the
material interests than they wereE a: | have not
tend 20 his own business for his support. Y. The
poorer classes are generally hard at work. are
they A; 50 far as ! know they are l know
change IN their relation 20 the cOlored people,