Year: 1866

Testimony of Governor Sharkey in full. |


Gov. William L. Sharkey, examined
by Mr. Boutwell, will state, in gen
eral terms, that when / went out to
Mississippi as Provisional Governor, a
very large majority of the people,
do not know but fifty to one-were
perfectly reconciled to the condition
of things, and very anxious to be re-
stored to their former position in the
Union; l think they were sincerely
and honestly so that was the current
sentiment, beyond all doubt, at that
time; the rebel military leaders were
perfectly satisfied, and do not know,
but as general rule, that they were
the most loyal part of the conmuni-
ty; they gave up honorably, and all
said they were disposed to accept
things as they found them but there
were few men within my own knowl-
edge, who had done but little during
the war, who were dissatisfied; but a
very large majority of the people were
as loyal, to use the term in its proper
| sense, as any people in the United
States-that is to say, they were will
ling to obey the Government and its
laws, and to support and sustain it,
and think they are so yet; / should
make this remark, however: the peo-
pie came up freely and voluntarily,
and did, as they supposed, all that was
required Of them; they met all the de-
mands of the President, and with great
cheerfulness what changes may have
occurred since l left there l cannot
tell; but do not think any material
changes have taken place; still, you
know when men do all that is required
of them and all that they think is
right, pressure does not in any degree
contribute to their loyalty, and / have
| been very much afraid that the condi-
ton of things here would shake their
confidence in the Government; / was
so well satisfied with the temper, dis
position and wishes of the people that
l did not think it necessary to submit
the amended Constitution to them at
all; l was perfectly sure that the peo-
| pie were fully and fairly represented
| the members of the Convention were
elected on the general proposition of
reforming the Constitution, and I
have no doubt they represented truly
the sentiments of large majority of
the people of the State.


@ What is the general condition of
the freedmen in Mississippi-are they
disposed to labor, and are they labor
ing and receiving fair wages? A
They have goneto work with great
deal of good will, and in most parts of
our State they are hiring freely and
cheerfully the freedmen, as l hear
from all parts of the State, are doing
remarkably well l have heard from
one of the northeastern counties of
! the State, in which it is stated there
| is not an idle freedman; however,
| there is no Disgusting the fact that the
Freedmen's Bureau and the colored
troops there have done more mischief
there than anything else; the great
amount of complaints originate from
the localities where the negro soldiers
are; do not say that the negroes do
not make good soldiers, but they en-
courage the congregation of freedmen
around them, and from the freedmen
come crime and depredations; in
some parts Of the State the freedmen
are receiving exceedingly high wages.
Mr.. Alcorn, my colleague in the Sen
ate, authorizes me to state that in the
seven counties he mentions, one coun-
ty in particular, if labor could be had,
a thousand freedmen could be en-
ployed at twenty-five dollars per
month


Q. In addition to their board?. A.
Yes, sir; board them and furnish them
with sugar and coffee, and give them
twenty-fv dollars a month over and
above their board; he told me that a
thousand freedmen could find employ
ment in that one county if they could
be had, and think that on the Missis-
sippi' generally they are getting al
most any wages they are pleased to
ask; l believe that there is now in the
State very little more than half the
number of freedmen that there were
formerly slaves; certainly not more
than two thirds; they have died off y
there is no telling the mortality that
has prevailed among them; they have
died off in immense numbers should
say that very little more than half the
amount Of laud that was under cult
vation before the war will be under
cultivation this year; we are disposed
to think that the majority of the peo-
pie of Mississippi would rather take
their chances in the Union than to
take them in the Confederacy, even if
= IL - -A.111l l,-1, = Il
always believed it would be their ruin
if it we're established, and / believe, /
think. / can say with great certainty,
that no portion of the people of Mis-
sissisippi expect one dollar of the re-
bellion debt to be paid; there is one
class of debt which is not properly q
revolutionary debt-what we call our
cotton debt. In time of great scar.
city the State undertook to relieve the
community by issuing bonds on cotton,
which were loaned to the planters |;
that was not revolutionary debt at
all; it was intended merely as an &C
commodation to the people; but even
that was void, for the reason that the
State had no right to issue bills of
credit, and our valid Constitution did
not allow the faith of the State to be
pledged at all, so that / regard every
species of our debt as nullity, and
our former history shows that we are
not very much inclined to pay our
debts. do not think the rebellion
debt need be considered any obstacle
in our way at all, for 1 do not think
any portion of it will ever be paid. 1
think the people are desirous of CIV
ing the freedmen fair chance; per-
haps a man is inclined to make up his
judgment from limited means of in
) formation, but ] believe that if the
people had an opportunity to restore
slavery and it was left to their vote, as
a general thing they would vote not to
do it; if each man could get his ne
groes back by voting to restore slave
ry, perhaps the people might vote to
restore it; but if you should submit
the general proposition to strike out
the emancipating clause from the Con-
, stitution, and allow the people to ac-
/ -1o-~oo -, Al -. cox,,