Year: 1866

take a number of years.


Q. On the whole, condition of things
in Virginia is hopeful, both in regard to
it's material interests and the future
peace of the country? A. have heard
great hope expressed, and great cheer
tulness and Willingness to labor.


@. Suppose that this policy of Presi-
dent johnson should be all you antici-
pate, and that you should also realize
all that you expect in the improvement
of your material interests, do you think
that the result of that will be the gradu-
al restoration of the old feeling? A.
That would be the natural result, /
think, and I see no other way in which
that result can be brought about.


O.. There is fear in the public mind
that the friends Of the policy in the
South adopt it, because they see in it
the means of regaining the political po-
sition which they lost in the recent con-
test---do you think that this is the main
idea with them, or that they merely
look to it, as you say, as the best means
of restoring the civil government and
the peace and prosperity of their re-
spective States? A. As to the first point
heard any person speak upon it. / never



heard them speak generally as to the
effect of the policy Of President John
son. The feeling, so far as l know now,
is that there is not that equality exten-
ded to the Southern States as is enioyed
by the North.


Q. You do not feel down there that
while you accept the result, that we are
as generous as we ought to be under
the circumstances? A. They think that
the n North can afford to be generous.


Q. That is the feeling down there?
A. Yes, and they think it is the best
policy--those who reflect upon the sub
ject and are able to judge.


Q. [ understand it to be your opin-
ion that generosity and Gberality to-
wards the entire South would be the
surest means of regailling their good
opinion? a. Yes, and the speediest


Q. l understood you to say generally
that you had no apprehension of any
combination among secessionists to re-
new the war, or anything OF the kind ?
\. / have no reason in the world to
think so.


Q. Have you heard that subject talk
ed over among the politicians A. No,
sir; / have not. [ have not heard that
matter suggested.


Q. Let me put another hypothetical
case-suppose the Executive of the
United States should be filled by
President, who, like Buchanan, rejected
the right of coercion, so called, and sup
pose a Congress should exist here, en-
tertaining the same political opinions,
thus presenting to the once rebel States
the opportunity to again secede from
the Union, would they or not, in your
opinion, avail themselves of that oppor-
tunity, or some of them? A. [ suppose
it would depend upon the circumstances
existing at the time. If their feelings
should remain embittered, and their af-
fections alienated from the rest of the
States, I think it very probable they
might do so; provided they thought it
was to their interest. l do not know
there is a deep-seated feeling of dislike
towards the Government. l think it
probable some animosity may exist
among some of the people. l think al
the time that they were disappointed as
to the result of the war. I know of no
condition of discomfort against the Gov
/ lieve that the people will perform to-
wards the Government all Of the duties
they are required to perform. / think



Q. Do you think it would be practi-
cable to convict a man in Virginia o.
treason for having taken part in this re-
bellion against the Government by
Virginia jury, without packing it with
direct reference to verdict of guilty?
A. On that point l have no knowledge,
and do not know what they would
consider treason against the Govern
| ,oont-.if Won p,oau Coct


Mr. Howard Yes, sir


General Lee---I have no knowledge as
to what their views on that subject in
the past are.


@. You understand my question:.
Suppose jury was empanelled in your
own neighborhood, taken by lot, would
it be practicable to convict, for instance,
Jefferson Davis, for having levied wal .
on the United States, and thus having
committed the crime of treason? A. /
think it would be very probable they
would not consider he had committed
treason. l do not know whether a jury
would heed the instructions ofthe court
to convict the offender


Q. They do not generally suppose
that it was treason against the Govern
ment, do they? A. do not think that
they do so consider it. So far as [ know,
they look upon the action of a State in
Withdrawing from the Government as
carrying the individuals in it along with
it, that the State was responsible fol
the act, and not the individual. 1 am
now referring to the past.


Q. State, if you please (and if you arc
disinclined you need not answer the
question,) what your own personal
views on that question were? A. That
was my view---that the act of Virginia
in withdrawing herself from the Union
carried me along as citizen Of Virginia,
and that her laws and her acts were
binding on me-


Q. And that you feel to be your jus
tifcation in taking the course you did,
A. Yes, sir.


Q. I have been told, General, that
you have remarked to some of your