Year: 1866

the men whom they know, and had lived
with them before, and their wish to get
them to return to wofk. 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 to establish a
uniform rate of wages, but never heard
of any combination to keep down wages
or establish a rate which they did not
think fair The means Of paying wages
in Virginia are very limited now, and
there is difference of opinion as to how
much each person is able topay


Question-.How do they feel in regard
to the education of our blacks Is there
general willingness or unwillingness to
have them educated? Answer-Where
I have been the people have exhibited a
/ willingness that the blacks should be
| educated, and they express an opinion
that that would be better for the blacks
and better for the whites


| Question-General, you are very com
petent to Judge of the capacity OF black
men to acquire knowledge. 1 want your
| opinion on that capacity as compared
with the capacity of white men2 An
tswer-I do not know that am particu-
| larly qualified to speak on that, subject,
as you seem to intimate, but | do not
think he is as capable OF, acquiring know.
ledge as the white man is. There are
some more apt than others. / have
known some to gain knowledge and
skill in their trade or profession. Ihsve
had servants of my own who learned TO
read and write very we'll


Question-Do they show a capacity to
obtain a knowledge of, Mathematics and
the exact sciences 2 Auswer-I have no
knowledge on that subject. L am mere
ly acquainted with three who have
| learned the common rudiments of educa'
ton.


Question-General are you aware OF
any combination existing among the
blacks of Virginia, anywhere in the
State, having in view the disturbance of
the peace, or any improper or unlawful
acts2 Answer am not. l have seen
no evidence of it, and have heard of
none: Wherever have been they have
been quiet and orderly-not disposed to
work, or rather not disposed to any con-
tinuous engagement to work, but just
very short Jobs to provide them with the
immediate means of subsistence.
Question-Has the colored race gener-
all " as much love for money and proper
| ty as the white racel Answer do not
think it has. The blacks whom | know
look. more to the present than to, the
| future.


Question-Does that absence of lust
| of money arise more from the nature OF
| the negro than from his former service
or condition Answer-Well, it may be
| in some measure attributed to his tor
mer condition. They are an amiable,
I social race, They like their ease and
| comfort, and, think, look more to their
| present than their future condition
Question-In the event of war be
| tween the United States and any foreign
power, such as England and France, if
there should be held out TO the secession
portion of the people of Virginia, or the
other recently rebel States, fair pros
pect of gaining their independence and
striking off the Government of the Uni
ted States, is it or is it not your opinion
that they would avail themselves of
that opportunity Answer cannot
speak with any certainty on that point
| do not know how far they might be ac
tuated by their feelings. | have moth
ing whatever to base an opinion upon.
So far as I know, they contemplate
nothing Of the kind now. What may
happen in the future cannot say,


0uestion-Do you not frequently hear
in YOUR intercourse with secessionists in
virginia, expressions of the hope that
such a war may break out : Answer
! cannot say that l have heard it On
the contrary, have heard persons-l
do not know whether yon could call
them secessionsts or not, mean those
people in Virginia with whom | associ


ate-express a hope that the county
NAV not be led into a war.
Question-In such an event, 40 You
think the class of people whom call Sc
cessiopists would Join the common en-
emyf 1t is possible It depends upon
the feeling of the individual


Ouestion-If it is fair question, you
NAV answer it or not, as you choose, what,
in such an event, might be yonr own
choicel Answer-I have no disposition
now to oit, and never have had


Ouestion-And you cannot forssee that
suCh would be your inclination IN such
an eveutl Auswer-No | can only


iudse from the past. l do not know


what circumstances may produce.
cannot p1etenu 10 loiesee efehte- ~ iai
as know, the wish of the people OF fir-
ginia is for peace,


Question-During the war, was il not
contemplated by the Government OF the
| Confederate States to form an alliance


with some foreign nation if possible :
Answer-I believe it was their wish to
do so 1t was their wish to have the
Confederate Government recognized as


an independent government l have no
doubt if it could have made favorable


treaties it would have done so. But


knew nothing of the policy of the Gov.


eminent I had no hand or part IN it


merely express my own opinion


Question-The question / am about to


put to you, you may answer or not, as


you choose Did you take an oath of


fidelity or allegiance to the Confederate


Government Answer-I do not recol-


lect having done so, but ii is possible


when was commissioned did. | do


not recollect whether it was required; if


it was required, 1 took it, or if it had


been required l would have taken it,


but | do not recollqct whether it was or


not


By Mr. Blaine. Question-In reference


to the effect of President Johnson's poll


CIV: if it were adopted would there be
ANYTHING like return of the old feeling
| 4 fInn avn