Year: 1866

CONSTRUCTION.


On the application of the Hon. Reverdy John
son, of Maryland, Colonel Forshey, of Texas, was
summoned to appear before the Committee to tes-


fy to the condition and disposition of the estates
lately in rebellion"


SWORN BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.
| Q. Of what State are you resident, and how
long ? 4. have resided twelve years in Texas


Q; From what State did you emigrate to Texas?
A. I claim to be Virginian, though chiefly reared
in Ohio, whittier my father removed from Virginia
in my childhood I received my collegiate educa-
ton at Kenyon College, Ohio my military and
scientific elements at West Point; my life of man
hood has been passed in Louisiana and Texas.
| Q. Have you been in the rebel service, and in
what way? A. have served during the war-was
Lieutenant Colonel of Eng gineers, chiefly engaged
in the defences west of the Mississippi.


Q. What knowledge have you of the condition
and disposition of the people of the States lately
in rebellion against the United States? A. think
1 have pretty good knowledge as to the three
Southwestern States, in which my acquaintance is
very extensive, and, perhaps may assume to have
a fair degree of knowledge as to the other Con-
federate States; at least have made the matter a
continual subject of inquiry and observation, and
without knowing the kind of information desired,
will answer when can.


| @. What is the state of public order and obedi-
ence to the United States authorities in Texas and
the other States of which you have knowledge !?
A. Good order and obedience universal III
Texas and elsewhere, believe. It has never
been otherwise in Texas, except, possibly, the
Rio Grande frontier, theremay be occasional excep
tions among the turbulent characters that have no
special habitaton either side of the border


O. Please state whether that good order YOU
describe is due to the presence and authority of
the United State troops and whether upon their
removal there would not be disorder and disloy-
atty? A. 1t is certainly in no degree due to the
presence of troops. In fact any exceptions to the
remark may be imputed to the irritating fact that
soldiers are about. Their removal would be every
where a public blessing, unless needed on the





bers.


@. Why do you say '' irritating are they not
well behaved? A Generally they are, but their
presence is understood emblem of sub
mission. Every bayOnet is symbol sub
ljugation, and is viewed as an evidence that our
surrender is not received in good faith. We need
no watching, and naturally dislike the guards that
that watch


out Federal protection? A All men were safe be-
fore there was any Federal authority amongst us.
After the surrender months without Off
GERS law. military order vacated annulled
all official functions, and deprived us of every
species of legal restraint, and for months furnish
ed substitute for the authority it suppressed.
Troops have not at any time reached our interior
generally, and yet throughout the vast area of
Texas, just replenished by the return of fifty
thousand disbanded soldiers, there was as much
good order, and as much respect for rights and
morals, as in any Northern State or elsewhere. I
regard it great test of civilization wish





same was true, believe, in most of the Southern
States. Not single resistance so Federal author
ity has taken place to the present day; and when
it is considered that nearly half million Of men
have just returned from conflict of four years,
in which they fought for national life and honor,
we think they should claim a respect that should
remove sentinels, and disband the armies, white
and black that watch us.


/ O. Is it generally believed that the troops
kept to humiliate the people? A. Perhaps that
would be too strongly to express it. They feel
that it is calculated to humiate, and that those
who order it are reckless of this fact. We be-


eve it to be obvious to ALL both North and South,
that negro troops placed to guard their late mas
ters, is viewed with repugnance and proper lndlg
nation by every man, woman and child OF true
spirit in the South and some of the military
treatment of LIE South is accepted by them
intended to degrade them.


O. Have negro troops been generally sent as
garrisons in Texas A. Fortunately they have
not On the frontier they have been sent in great
numbers, but we have very little population there
and do not feel it. At Galveston they have had
them, but only passing to and from other service.
I fear the results would have been serious had
they been generally sent through Texas. There
are some things returned soldiers would not
bear, and believe that is one. The question as
to the safety of loyal men I have not fully
swered. From the time of surrender there were
agents and drummers and cotton-b buyers from the
Northern States all over Texas and at this time
they and other emigrants and travellers from the
loyal States so-called, probably number thou
sands in Texas. In no case have they been inter-
rupted, so far as know. If there have been
ceptions, they were doubtless the result of impru-
dent meddling censoriOus language. This will
provoke individual retort and chastisement any
where in Texas Those who mind their own
business will be unmolested. It is one of our
habits to mind our own business, and to expect
and require it of others. We are glad to receive
men who bring capital to help us revive shat
tered fortunes, and do not care whence they come.
[ believe these remarks hold good for all the late
Confederate States


@. Do your people view the Freedmen S Bureau
as valuable and needful institution and profita-
BILE in the re-establishment of negro labor A.
They do not. According to my own observation
and the testimony of acquaintances, with whom
have just compared views, from five distant por-
tons of great State, the influence of the Freed
mems Bureau is universally pernicious, and the
institution is viewed by the people, almost unani-
mously. a nuisance This remark applies, too,
according to my information, to the other States.
O. Why so q? A. For various causes the Bu-
reau is administered, far as can learn, by per-
SONS having no knowledge of our people or of the
negroes they are nearly all imported from dis
tance and are antagonistic in feeling to the peo-
pie, and self-sufcient as to their duties and the
despotic power seems to have turned their heads
Ieven when well disposed and conscientious, they
, are so profoundly ignorant of the subject they
have to deal with, as to blunder continually and
excite ridicule in Texas we have been sunfortu-
nate in the chief of the Bureau, who fanati-
! CAL and exceedingly self-suficient man he be-
gan by preaching to the negroes, and offending
lsociety by his social treatment of them don't
need missionaries to teach social relations
, labor system and he offended by his arrogance
| and turned the heads of the poor ignorant ne
groes.


, yourselves Would your people deal fairly and
bumanaly nv the negroes A. The institution is