Year: 1866

Testimony Of Hon. Alexander III. stephens, Cows.


Sharkey and johnson.


Further testimony taken before the reconstruc-
tion committee of Congress was presented to the
House yesterday. 1t is voluminous, and we alb
tract as follows


HON ALIEN ANDER II. STEPHENS TESTIMONY.


Nh Stephens stated that at the time of Gen. Lees
rcnder, and until the 11th May (when he arrested
and brought north) he at his home III CrawfordYe
ia A1tCr"5fS on ms return nome MS intercourse o
visiting by letters, and through interviews with promi
masses it was his decided opinion that an overwhelming
majority of the Inhabitants Of Georgia exceedingly
state to take her former position IN the Unon to have her
and Representatives admitted into Congress- and
enjoy all her rights State under the constitution of
The United States it stands amended Concerning their
of the rebellion, he said that the exercise by them
the right secession resOr"d to from desire to
endertho liberties and institutions secure, and
belief that tins was necessary thereto Whatever opinion
cherish the right of secession he gave
his settled conviction that there is any idea
secession Of exercising this right by force but rah
to appeal to the forums Of reason and justice, and to
the halls Of legislation and the courts for the preservation
IF the principles of constitutional liberty


He could not to the existence of opinion
ID among people though he cid say that would
difficult well unusual, for whole people to change
their convictions upon abstract truths and principles The
war by its practical operation among themselves, in its
result from their authorities therindvidua rights
q" person and property and the breaking down const1-
utonal BARRIERS had influenced change of opinion as to
the policy OF secGSsIo notwithstanding the almost unan-
lous support Wlch the outefn cause nadfeceIved up
the proclamation of Mr.. Lincoln, 1861, calling for





ted within reasonable tne or immediately after Its
adoption majority Of the people would have adopted it.
South Carolina and the other States had not acted
perhaps very decided majority would have been against
il Georgia. The majority of members of the convention
20 20 iyo o "a boG 0 n the M Districts the Undn
untinent prevalent at first though the cities and
anything like 4 sectional division in the State. The be-
lei of the people that their constitutional liberties
apprehension from the general consolidating tendencies
IT the doctrines and principles OF that POLITICAL party
i'm
lie thought that the apprehension Of subverson OF the
ronSutnon and ITS essential guarantees OF puoc nDerty
IN the minds Of the people of Georgia. which led them to
they did.


At present Mr. Stephens thought that the emancipation
# the slaves generally acquesced in and accepted in
under the order of things the relations subsst-
ing between the white and black people being quite
GOOD as that existing any where else world between
Ike classes of employer and employed Since Christmas
the freedmen having gotten rid of their ideas of obtain
ing land from the government were rapidly settling them
ciyez down work. and readily entering into contracts,
though previous to having their minds disabused of this
cIror they were not disposed to make engagements
for labor. There still some lers, but the number is
comparatively few, and the behavior Of all he said
much better than the most hopeful had looked for They
appear principally desire protection person and pro-
pey and to be dealt by fairly and justly and the State
Though nothing had been done by the State authorities
for educating the negroes schools were being established
under other auspices and all seem deslrous to educate
heir children The laws recognize those negroes living
together ana wife legally such, and there is


Inference between whites and blacks as regards the issue
# licenses to





Mr. Stephens to have been 100000 and at present he
lrOXnlatcd it 10000. The amended State constitution
had been Submitted to the people, though Mr. Ste
phcns supposed it would have been ratified by etenths
The general opinion of the State is very much tC
extension of the right of suffrage. He did not think
he people would raty proposition of representation
precedent condition to the restoration of the State tC
political power in the government They feel that
they entitled under the constitution of the United
States to TeprcsentatOn without further conditions
Ihey would not object to exchange and discuss views IL
the common councils Of the country with the other States
upon any proposition to amend the constitution change
1ahi hN SDrh q
made the constitution provides. They willing he
thought TO leave the basis of representation where tho
constitution leaves it and while they disposed to dea
fairly and generously with the freedmen would be viii
ling make any change in the constitution that would
give Congress jurisdiction the question of suffrage
and especially would they be to the such
jurisdiction unrepresented in Congress- and with voice
IN the councils. He did not believe the people would
cept as condition precedent either to extend suffrage
the negro or to exclude him from the basis of representa-
ton, because they hold that Congress has right under
the constitution, prescribe anything of the sort
Georgia Is State III the Union, she is entitled to
sentaon she is not equal then she could not be ad
mted as an equal and at the time be trammelet
with conditions not applied to all the rest of the States
the Union alike. General universal suffrage among th