Report of the Joint select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, so far as regards the execution of laws, and the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the United States and Testimony taken.

1518 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
consent, and came here to see Mr. Jones on Sunday. That thing is wrong. I cannot
submit to that; it is ruining my interest. I do not know what they came for. I suppose there were twenty or thirty. I missed mly mules next day; they were gone.
Question. They regard him as their friend?
Ansuer. Yes, sir; and they regard me as their friend. I think they would do more
for me than they would do for Mr. Jones; it shows that there is something wrong in
this matter; I do not know what it is.
1)1DEOPOLIS, ALABAMA, October 23, 1871.
CHARLES L. STICKNEY sworn and examined.
The CIAIIMSAx. This witness having been called by the minority, will be examined
by General Blair.
By Mr. BLAIRT
Question. Please state your residence and occupation.
Answer. 1ale Connty, Alabama; planter.
Qulestion. How long have you lived in Hale County?
A.nscer. Born and raised right there.
QueestioC. State, Mr. Stickney, the condition of affairs in your county with rceference
especially to the execution of the laws andl the peace and quiet of the community, and
good order.
Answer. We lhave good order there; the la-ws are executed, and we have peace andl
quiet, as far as I 1li0knw.
Q ecstion. Has thalt blee-n th ule le?
Answcr. It has for several montls past.
(Q)estio:. TWas tiher a disturbance in that county, threatening a gentleman by the
name of Blackfoird some time ago?
At swccr. Yes, sir.
Qulestion. What do you know of that matter?
) ClswCr'. I knew BIackford t the time of his coming, if you would have me state that.
(Questio)t. Yes.
Ainsuerw. Iec camse as a physician, and practiced medicine for several years-how long
I cannot now stHtt-successuA1y. Iis success, I think, sprung very nmuch fromn his'
precticilng lower than other physicians.
Questio. lii wais cheap?)
nsweCr. Cheaper' yes, sir; that was my understanding, and successful, too.
Question. Did ihe practice
Ansaer'. We k1new nothiing of him except whlat was heard by a gentleman who wrote
to Columbus, Georgia. lie stated that he did not leave there under fair circumstances;
that h er, ho edil iiot 1ave any eifect, that I know of, on his profession. He was notl
received in society that I know of-what is called " society." He was regarded as not a
truthful man. That; wtas soon aft;r hle came1; and there was sonie little thing turned up;
I do inot rememlber xwhalt it wvias; but hie did not altogether pass as a truthful man; thiat
passed, however; it was of no consequence; he was one amiong a thousand cominig and
going in our cominlmunity. A little circumstance I will relate which occurried iln ny
knowledge; I coul(l 1ot swear to it as a fact. When reconstruction was first broached,
wxhen the subject was lnew to us, he mentiolned to a gentleman in wlhom I have conlidecne, xwho told me, "Let us reconstruct, and get in a peacetble and happy way; let
us invite persons firom thel North to come alnd build up our country; have a cottage
every half mile, and honest. industrious laborers. and the doctors will f.re well, and
you merchants alid law-yeirs too, and we will be a prosperous people." This gentlemran remarked, "'What will you do with the present laborers " -He says, "r Let
them fiollow the Indian.7" That was charged oo n him in a meeting of negroes, and eli,
in his isual a itbl e way, says " 0, I was not understood.7" Well, he is a peculiar man.
I liked the man always, because of his frankness. I do not say I liked lirn, but I had.
no inimical feelings toward himt. I have a little office in town; lie was in there occasionally, and he is so quick to change front, and make the worse appear the better; lie
is a peculiar man-remnarkably so. If anything would occur that was bad, he would
make it all straight again, and promise amendment, and the times were such we were
glad to hear of people getting better, as often as they could. As to the disturbance, I
can say with truth, there was a constant irritation after Blackford took up politics.
The negroes would talk in this way: I w-ould ask, "What do you want, John 7" t' I
want to go to town to-morrovw." " What for?" " Dr. Blackford has ordered us to town."
"What fir?" " I don't know, sir." " You are as free as I am; why leave; should you leave
your work to go to town for Dr. Blackforrd?71 " Dr. Blackford has ordered us, and we'll be
punished if we don't go. " 1That is not so, John." "Well," he says, " I ani afraid to trust
it." That wias the constant thing. I do not know what Dr. Blackford's motive was in