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.

ALABAMA-SUB-COMMITTEE. 1611
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Then why should not the prejudice of the Ku-Klux be exerted toward the
judge; and why should it be exerted toward the unoffending negroes?' What logic is
there in the prejudice against a northern judge?
Ansver. There is no logic in it, but the imlpression has been here that there ws a
Ku-Klula influence against the judge too. I don't know that that is so.
Question. If that is so, we should be glad to have any information you have on thas
subject,
Answeer, I can't tell; it is reported that there is a very strong prejudice against the
judge, arnd it was in consequence of that, perhaps, that he did not hold.our courts in
this district I don't know whether there is any- foundation for it; mny impression is
that there is not; that he could have held the court as -well as Judge J. Q. Smith did,
Question. Did you understand he received any Ku-Klux notice?
SAsower. No, sri: I don't think he ever did-;-any firom this cou'nty.
Question. Wvhat is the character of the demonstration that deterred him from coming?
AnsverI. It is reported here that some of his'property had been destroyed.
Queastion. His gin-house burned?
AS9ero Yes, sir: his mill burned, and rfeces and bridges- I don'l know by whoml
whelher boy Ku-Klux or by private enemy.
By Mr. BuCIKLEY:
Question. Was there a meeting called in this place or county,, requesting him to
resign?
Ansr'wer. There was a meeting in this counlty and.resolutions passed, whiich had.
escaped me -that is my recollection-reqiuesting him to resign, I thinlk,
Questioni Yet yrou say he is a good judge?.
Aswee. I thinkl so, and the la- yers say he is a good judge.
Qeestiono Do you concur in this opinion of Judge beavis?
Atswero I do; I think he is a good judge,; le is a. very- -nice gentleman and bel.aves
himuself very finely; no man could behave -better, both on and off the bench.
Questiono I ilnvite your attention to page 332 of Judge teavis's testimony: -1It hi-nk
that Judge Smith is as imnpartial and. judicious in the administration of his duty a.
judge as any man I ever knew..
Answer. I think he iss I tlnk.he is very careful, exceedingly careful.
Question. You are well acquainted with Judge Reavis?
Anseer. Very well; as well as any man.in the State.
Questioii. His opinion is the same as your own?
Ansuer. Yes, si'r; that is the opinion of the bar generally,: I he'ard Mr. Bliss., an old
lawyer, express his regret very much at thle adoption of these resolutions with regard
to Judge Smith. I don't think it met the approbation of the bar generally) as far as
my observation went, or I could learn. I am satisfied it didn't with the bar at Gainesville.
By the CHAIRSMAN:
Question. i-ow could this prejudice against Judge Smith, if it existed, have any influence in causing the whipping and killing of negroes?
Aiszitcr. I don't know that that has. There are some things we can't well acco-unt
for. They grow- out of t.hings in such a way that we can't tell exactly:, how -or why it
is. Men have not that regard for law and order that -they ought to have, when. attempted to be administered by men they have no confidence in, or that they don't liike.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. When yonuspeak of the prejudice against Judge Smith, you mean the priejudice cherished by the white people?
AnswCer. Yes, sir.
Question. Is it not a fact that a large majority of the people of this circuit are very
much in favor Of Judge Smith?
Answer. I have not heard any attorneys except the attorneys in this county.
Q2estion,. am speaking of the people.
Answer. I don1 kliow anything about the district; I haven- t he:nci o.-tside of this
county for four years, except to go to Mobile by Meridian. I don't know outside of
the county. I think so far as his capacity-that is, so far as his administration of law,
his impartiality, and-everything connected with his conduct on the bench are concerned, that it is approved generally. I don't think there is anything against him.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. And, notwithstanding that, obtaining office under the circumstances that
he did obtain it among those people, is a fact which prevents him from having the
confidence of the people generally?
Answer. He could not enforce te law, in my opinion; as one of our own citizens