Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-31
I EVIDENCE OF GENERAL TERRY. BEFORE
[ THE COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN.
Political Condition of virginia.
special Despatch to the New York Tribune.l
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, March %.

ined by Mr.. Howard. @ What Is your rank IN the
armyf A. / am Major General oil volunteers and
Brgadier- General and Brevet MaJor-General IN the
United States army.
Q. Where are you now stationed! A. In Rich
mOnd, Virginia.
o. How long have you been in command there
A.. Since about the middle of last June.
o, What amount OF force have you in Your De-
partment A. By the last return there were present
and absent about 2,94- men; the number actually
present in the Department, including officers OF the
Veteran Reserve Corps, reporting to the Freedmen
Commissioner, is between 26OO and :, 1OO.
D. At what points are they chiefly stationed =
A. At Richmond fredericksburg Charlottesville
Lynchburg, Bristol, Danville, Petersburg, CITY
Point. Norfolk, Fort Monroe, Yorktown and Will
Iiamsburg. These are mostly one and two Company
posts.
mentl A. The State of Virginia. with the exception
of Alexandria Fairfax and LOudoun counties, and
the Northern part of the Shenandoah Valley.
o. Have YOU much to do with the Freedmen's Blu.
reau in your Department. A. have. A great deal
of business comes to me from the Bureau, and am
in constant communication Win OOlohei Dro"h' the
Assistant Commissioner
ID What are your means of knowledge of the state
of affairs in Virginia or throughout your Depart
mentl A. do not come in direct personal contact
with the people of Virginia as much as many OF my
snbordinates do; | have social intercourse with
any except those known to be Union people.
D. Why not A. They do not seek me; and II Is
neither becoming my position as the commanding
officer of the department, nor consistent with my
sefrespect to seek them first; my knowledge oil al
fairs is derived from the business that comes to me
officially from official reports oil my suborulnates and
from officers information OF occurrences which re-
ceiye from those of my own people in whom have
confidence it is derived also from what see in the
pnblic press in Virginia, and from what is brought
To nv attention officially and unoi1cialy by the
Commissioner of Freedmens affairs; frequently see
Al. 1 Int nnt0 % ntltyo o.
nv subordnates do my business is chiefly done on
paper. .,. ,
tba secession element toward the UniOnists whether
native Virgnians or persons from other States! A.
think it is as hostile as 1t ever has been as to the
feeling toward the people of the North; do not
think that il has essentially changed from what ii
was before the war and during the war; there is
still the same hatred of and the same contempt for
them.
o. How much social intercourse is there between
them A. Very little, so far as my knowledge goes
very little indeed.
d Are YOU prepared to say that the state of feel
ing between Secessionists and Unionists is one OF
bitter hostilityl A. | think it is
o. Are UniOnsts secure in the enjoyment OF their
rights in the midst of Secession community there
4. / do not think they are.
Q. Can they safely rely on the state Courts for
Justice to themselves and protection to their rights
A. No, Sir, think not.
o. How would it be, for instance if a suit be-
tween strong Union man. whether residing there,
or from loyal State, and Secessionist, would
YOU apprehend that jury called in the regular way
in Virginia, would be injurious against Union
man? A. While do not know of any such cases,
such is my impression in regard to the feelings OF
Secessionists toward Union men, that think that
the rights of the latter, under these circumstances
would not be secured; know from conversation
with Union men that such is the general impression
among them.
o. What do the Secessionists appear to desire p
What great object do they have in view? a. In
the first place. having failed to maintain the sepa-
rate nationality which they asserted they desire to
keep themselves separate people, and to prevent,
by any means in their power our becoming hom0-
uenous nation; secondly, they desire to make trea-
SON honorable and loyalty infamous, and to recover
as far as they may be able political power.
.. And, of course, the great object which they
Immediately have in view is the possession OF potl-
cal pOWerl A. Yes, Sir.
O.. How do they regard President Johnson's libe-
raj policy in reconstructing the States, and granting
pardons and amnestes? A. They seem to be very
much pleased with it; they would, of course, regard
with great favor any action tending to restore them
to their former status.
o. Do YOU hear any expressions of disloyalty
among them toward PRESIDENT JOhnsont a. 40
not.
o. Suppose they get into power again with their
full representation in Congress, and with President
who like Mr.. Buchanan should disavow the right
of the Government of the United States to cOerce
State, and should decline to use the military force
of the Government to prevent secession, would they,
or would they not, in your opinion, again sccede
from the Union, and attempt to set up an indepen-
dent government? A. If these or any other circum-
stances should occur, and it should be announced,
that notwithstanding the former failure, they then
would have certainty oil success l THINK they
would attempt to secede again.
o. State whether they are in the habit of speaking
contemptuOusly of the Government OF the United
States as political Institutions A. They are.
O. Do you know or have you any reason to be-
lieye that there are now existing in your Depart
ment, or elsewhere, in the Rebel States any combi-
nations or conspraces among the Secessionlsts with
view to the ultimate establishment of Southern in
dependence or a renewal of the Rebellion, directly
or indirectly? A. know of none.
o. Have you any reason to believe in the existence
of anyl A. ! have none.
o. In the event of war between the United States
and any foreign Government such as England or
France, and in the event OF there being prospect
of the establishment of Southern independence by
an alliance between the Secession element IN the
South and a foreign enemy, have you any reason to
suppose that that element would ally itself with the
foreign enemy, take any part in the war against
the limited States A. | think that such has been
the punishment which they have received for then
recent attempt to throw of the authority OF the
Government, unless there was very strong prospect
another attempt of the kind with or without al
lance; but should a powerful foreign enemy land
upon the Southern coast they would receive some
material aid and much sympathy under all circum-
stances; should the circumstances be such as TO
promise them their independence, very large por-
ton of the people of the South would join the
enemy.
o. And in view of the contingency of foreign
war with powerful nation and the occurrence oi
such an invasion of territory, do you regard the
A.. aln ant N
strength in the Government of the United States at
the present timel A. No. sir on the contrary, most
decidedly an element of weakness.
o. This conclusion, take it, you have drawn from
a careful observation of the sentiments and feelings
of the Southern people, so far as you have had an
opportunity A. Yes, sir.
D. What is their treatment generally toward the
freedmen A. 1t is very various; many persons are
treating the freedmen kindly and justly, endeavor-
ing To accommodate themselves to the changed cir
custances of the times, and to enter into the proper
relations with them, as between the employees ana
the employed; many Others on the contrary, treat
them with great harshness and injustice and seek to
obtain their services without just compensation, and
TO reduce them to condition which will give TO the
former masters all the benefits of slavery and throw
upon them none of its responsibilities.
Q. So far as you Judge, which class is the most
numerous, those who treat the freedmen kindly OF
those who treat them with injustice and severity !
A. The latter.
Q. Do you think they greatly predominant in num-
beers! A. can hardly estimate the relative proper
ton; / should think they predominant.
o. Do you suppose, from what you have seen and
heard and from what you know, that it would be
safe to ntrust the great body of freedmen in Vir-
pna or elsewhere in the South, to the care of the
local authorities or the local Legislatures a. do
not.
o. Suppose this were DONE what consequences, in
your Judgment would be likely to follow = Would
they not maltreat the black race, deprive them OF
their rights, embarrass them in the enjoyment OF
their property, if they should have any, provoke
them goad them, if necessary, to acts of violence,
which the blacks might suppose they were perform
ing in their own defence and in their own interests,
and in this way within some short time, bring about
an open bloody resistance on the part of the black
population 4. l should say there would be danger
that the blacks would commit those acts which an
oppressed people sooner or later commit against
their oppressorS.
o. Have YOU reason to believe that the blacks
possess arms to any extent at the present timel A.
have been told that they do | have received that
information from citizens of Virginia, including
State officials, who have entreated me to take the
arms of the blacks away from them.
.. Who were those officials a. Some were men,
bers of the present Legislature; | have also been
asked to do so by public meetings held in one oil the
counties.
.. Have you in any case issued orders for disarm-
ing the blacksl A. | have not.
.. The blacks suppose, are almost UNANIMOUSLY
lOyal? A. | think there is no question about that.
.. How do the Virginians feel in regard to the
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