Part 27 (2/2)
THE FEELING IN VIRGINIA.
Q. Are you acquainted with the state of feeling among what we call secessionists in Virginia, at present, toward the Government of the United States?
A. I do not know that I am; I have been living very retired, and have had but little communication with politicians; I know nothing more than from my own observation, and from such facts as have come to my knowledge.
Q. From your observation, what is your opinion as to the loyalty toward the Government of the United States among the secession portion of the people of that State at this time?
A. So far as has come to my knowledge, I do not know of a single person who either feels or contemplates any resistance to the Government of the United States, or indeed any opposition to it; no word has reached me to either purpose.
Q. From what you have observed among them, is it your opinion that they are friendly toward the Government of the United States, and that they will cooperate to sustain and uphold the Government for the future?
A. I believe that they entirely acquiesce in the Government of the United States, and, so far as I have heard any one express an opinion, they are for cooperating with President Johnson in his policy.
Q. In his policy in regard to what?
A. His policy in regard to the restoration of the whole country; I have heard persons with whom I have conversed express great confidence in the wisdom of his policy of restoration, and they seem to look forward to it as a hope of restoration.
Q. How do they feel in regard to that portion of the people of the United States who have been forward and zealous in the prosecution of the war against the rebellion?
A. Well, I don't know as I have heard anybody express any opinion in regard to it; as I said before, I have not had much communication with politicians in the country, if there are any; every one seems to be engaged in his own affairs, and endeavoring to restore the civil government of the State; I have heard no expression of a sentiment toward any particular portion of the country.
Q. How do the secessionists feel in regard to the payment of the debt of the United States contracted in the prosecution of the war?
A. I have never heard anyone speak on the subject; I suppose they must expect to pay the taxes levied by the Government; I have heard them speak in reference to the payment of taxes, and of their efforts to raise money to pay taxes, which, I suppose, are for their share of the debt; I have never heard any one speak in opposition to the payment of taxes, or of resistance to their payment; their whole effort has been to try and raise the money for the payment of the taxes.
THE DEBT.
Q. From your knowledge of the state of public feeling in Virginia, is it your opinion that the people would, if the question were left to them, repudiate and reject that debt?
A. I never heard any one speak on that subject; but, from my knowledge of the people, I believe that they would be in favor of the payment of all just debts.
Q. Do they, in your opinion, regard that as a just debt?
A. I do not know what their opinion is on the subject of that particular debt; I have never heard any opinion expressed contrary to it; indeed, as I said in the beginning, I have had very little discussion or intercourse with the people; I believe the people will pay the debts they are called upon to pay; I say that from my knowledge of the people generally.
Q. Would they pay that debt, or their portion of it, with as much alacrity as people ordinarily pay their taxes to their Government?
A. I do not know that they would make any distinction between the two. The taxes laid by the Government, so far as I know, they are prepared to pay to the best of their ability. I never heard them make any distinction.
Q. What is the feeling of that portion of the people of Virginia in regard to the payment of the so-called Confederate debt?
A. I believe, so far as my opinion goes-I have no facts to go upon, but merely base my opinion on the knowledge I have of the people-that they would be willing to pay the Confederate debt, too.
Q. You think they would?
A. I think they would, if they had the power and ability to do so. I have never heard any one in the State, with whom I have conversed, speak of repudiating any debt.
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