The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-01
GEN, R. E. LEE AND THE
 SUFFRAGE PROBLEM.
His Answers to Questions by the Racnn frucfin1a Com miffeA in ,66.

Jas. CallaWdy III The Atidtftd Soui hoi' The Constitutional Convention as- seinbled in Richmond. struggling alike with the Alabama Convention over the suffrage problem. recalls to mind Gen. R. E. Lee before the Reconstruction Committee in 1866.
 Before the committee Questioner Howard asked:
 From what you have observed among what we call secessionists, .s it your opinion that they are friendly toward the government of the United States. and that they will cooperate
 to sustain and uphold the government
 for the future?"
 Answer-"I believe that they entirely
 acquiesce in the government of the United States. and they are for co-ope- rating with President Johnson In his | policy"
 Q.-In his policy, in regard to what! A.-His policy in regard to the resto- ration of the whole country. l nave
 heard persons with whom I've con | versed express great confidence in the wisdom of his policy for restoration. | any they seem to look forward to it as
 hope of restoration"
 Here the reader should notice the | word restoration. Lincoln never used the word reconstruction It was res | II. UGH. Lcc udo AAA HIS AAAAAAS restoration as Johnson did. He did not suspect what was in store to prevent restoration and to put the South under reconstruction, which mean military rule. carpet bag Governors and negro Legislatures-a long series of years of destruction and humiliation. a long set- back to restoration. Thad Stevens was the father of the plan of recon struction adopted.
 Q.-How do the people of Virginia.
 secessionist men particularly, feel toward the freedmen?
 A.-Every one with whom I associate express the kindliest feeling toward the freedmen. They wish to see them get on in the world, and particularly to take up some occupation for living | and turn their hands to some work. know that farmers make efforts to in duce them to engage for year at | regular wages.
 O.-Are you aware of the existence of any combination among whites to keep down the wages of the blacks! Al am not.
 Q.-How do they feel in regard to the
 education of the blacks? l A.-The people have exhibited a Will ingness that blacks should be educat- ed. and express the opinion that 1t would be better for both races. so.-Has the colored race, generally. I as great love of money and property
 as the white race? | Al do not think it has. The blacks look more to the present time than to | the future.
 | O.-Do you not frequently hear in
 your intercourse in Virginia express sions of hope that a foreign war may occur so that Southerners could avail
 themselves of the opportunity to reoe1 | against the government?
 | Al have not. On the contrary. they express the hope that the country
 may not be led into a war. l Q.-In such an event do you think that class of people whom I call seces- sionists would join the common enemy ' Alt depends on the feelings of the | individual.
 O.-What in such event. might bs your choice?
 Al have no disposition now to do
 1t. and I never have had.
 O. by MT. Blow-General, you do not
 feel down there that while you accept | the result, we are as generous as we ought to be under the circumstances! | A.-They think that the North can afford to be generous. | Q.-That is the feeling down there 1: A.-Yes, and they think it the best | policy-those who reflect upon the subject, and are able to judge. Here is Gen. Lee advocating before | that committee a generous pohcy--a restoration policy. That same commit | tee recommended violent. humllatlns reconstruction policy-rather the black heels upon white necks." as the domln- ant idea. 0. by Howard-Suppose this restora- | oH Iracidnnf TnhnS0n should be all that you anticipate, and that vou should also realize all that you ex- pect in the improvement of the mater | ial interests, do you think that the re- suit would be the gradual return or
 kindly feeling?
 A--That will be the natural result, and I can see no other way in Whlcn that result can be brought about. The | friends of the policy Johnson s) adopt 1t because they see in 1t the means Of repairing the political position wnich they lost in the recent contest. This last remark was an unfortunate one. The North opposed anything that would repair the political position. A robationary condition of years or losses. humiliation, robbery, insults. expressions had to be experienced. Such was the plan. Yet Gen. Lee was so very right when he said. "l can see
 no other way but generosity, that Will
 bring a good result o. by Howard-They do not generally suppose 1t was treason against the United States to secede, do they! Al do not think they so consider It.
 O.-In what light do they view 1t! A-So far as I know they look upon
 the action of the State in withdrawing (referring to the paSO itself from the
 government as carrying the individuals
 of the State along with it; that the
 State was responsible for the act, not
 the individuals as the ordinance or Se-
 cession so-called, or those acts 0t the
 State which recognized condition or
 war between the State and the general
 government. stood as their Justlnca-
 lion for bearing arms against the Unit
 ed states. Yes, sir l think they would
 consider they were merely using the
 reserved rights. Q.-What are your own persoiiai
 views on that question?
 A-That was my view that the act
 of Virginia. in withdrawing herself
 from tSe Union. carried me along as a
 citizen of Virginia, and that her la"s
 and her acts were binding upon me.
 Q.-And that you felt your Justihca-
 tion in taking the course you dlo!
 A.-Yes, sir.
 Q.-Suppose an amendment snouio pe
 adopted conferring upon 'olacks the
 riyht of suffrage; would that Tn your
 oninion. lead to scenes of violence. or
 breaches of the peace between the
 races? -...,o,,d
 Al think it would excite unfriend-