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.

1548 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THIE SOUTIhERN STATES.
Answer. Well, yesterday I overheard a remark in passing along the streets of Linden;
going into a drug-store there, a man remarked, I think for my hearing-for my benefit-that, "the damned Yankees ought to be driven out of the country;" that " they had
no business here," which was concurred in by two or three others. One day last week
the deputy sheriff of the county, a democrat, conservative, approached me and asked
me why I did not go back North where I belonged, and not stay down here interfering
with business that did not concern me; that I had no business and did not belong
here. These are two instances of recent occurrence that will indicate the feeling.
Question. Have you heard of such expressions frequently in times past?
Ansver. Yes, sir.
Question. How are you treated socially by the members of the conservative -p:lrty?
Answer. Ignored entirely.
Question. Are you a man of family?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How is your family treated?
Answer. In the same way, sir.
Question. Do you often hear expressions made in your hearing and apparently for
your ear, tending to disparage northern men who have come to settle in this community?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What is the feeling of the conservative party in relation to the establishment and maintenance of colored schools, so far as you have observed?
Answer. It has not been friendly so far as I have observed. They generally say that
they do not believe they are susceptible of being educated; they believe it is money
and time wasted.
Question. Have you known or heard of any instances where the teachers of colored
schools have been molested or interfered with in the discharge of their duties?
Answer. I have no personal lknowledge except by what I have heard, of course.
Question. If you have any information you rely upon as true, you may state it.
Answer. The most recent occurrence that I remember now is the whipping of a
colored-school teacher by the name of Neibling, in this county and the burning of
school-houses in Choctav v County, and churches belonging to colored people.
By Mr. BUCKL]EY:
Question. How many school-houses were burned in Choctaw, according to your information?
Answer. I think two, and one church. That is my recollection.
Question. The schools kept in those school-houses were broken up, were they?
Answer. I do not know whether the schools were being held at the time. I know
one of the school-houses that was burned; I passed there two or three times, and a
school was in session each time I was there.
By the CIAIIrrAxT:
Question. Repeated instances of riot, whipping, and murder have been brought to
the knovledge )f the committee, where the victims were negroes, and no one was
punished. The committee desire your opinion whether, as a general thing, the men
concerned in those outrages could be found out and punisihed if there were an earnest
a<nd determined effort on the part of the whites.,Answter. Yes, sir.
Question. We wish to inquire into the condition of this part of the Staite of Alabama,
so far as regards the execution of the laws and the safety of the lives anid property of
citizens. Please give the committee any information you have on this subject derived
from your personal knowledge, or sources you deem reliable.
Ansiver. This county, until within the past year, has been relmarkably exempt from
any cases of violence or persecution of a political nature or otherwise, but within the
past year such occurrences have been quite frequent. I hear of them as violence perpetrated on colored people; but as for the safety of white people, I have not deemed it
particularly unsafe except for a few. I have deemed it unsafe for some prominent republicans that have taken an active part il politics for the past year.
Question. Do you think such persons are liable at any time to be maltreated
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How have the laws been executed in cases where colored men hav e been
punished by combinations of men in disguise?
Answer. I never have known of any one being punished or arrested.
Question. In regard to disturbances of the peace, and crimes which have occurred in
the last year in this county, you may state to tlhe committee any instances which now
occur to you.
Answer. There was a riot at Shiloh at the time Dr. Jones attempted to speak
there. It lmay have been more t1'an a year since, but I think not. There was the killing of this colored man, Robin Westbrook; there was this affair at Linden; there was