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. 1647
defend themselves. It was reported that they were advancing on this place, armed,
at that time, and some of them marched out to meet them. I don't know how far
they went; I was not with them.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Did you ever hear that on that occasion the white men who went out shot
or injured any of the negroes in any way?
Answer. No, sir. I heard it rumored, perhaps, that some of them were shot; but I
never heard who. Certainly none were killed. No reports were made of it. There
were different rumors of it on the streets.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. If the white men were so apprehensive of violence on the part of the negroes, when during all the years since the war they had committed no violence, is it
not very natural that the negroes should be apprehensive of violence on the part of
the whites, when there have been so many whippings and murders committed in the
county?
The WITNESS. Will you repeat your question?
Question. If the white men were so apprehensive of violence on the part of the negroes, when there had been so little violence committed by the negroes since the close
of the war to the present time, is it at all strange that the negroes should be very apprehensive of violence on the part of the white men, when so many of the negroes have
been whipped and killed since the war by white men?
Answer. It may be so; but the white men have never made any demonstration
armed-gone off and assailed the negroes; they have only acted it in defense.
Question. Have there not been armed bodies of men going to the houses of negroes
and killing them, which you have yourself proven. here?
Answer. Yes, if you allude to that; but you are speaking of one thing, and I of
another.
Question. But I am speaking of what would tend to cause apprehensiou.
Answer. It is natural for them to be afraid where armed men have come to kill them;
natural that they should be afraid that they were in danger; but it is natural also for
them to believe that the white people will sustain them whenever they know it, and
protect them as far as they can. They have been assured from the stump and elsewhere that that would be the case. Of course, it is natural that they should be
alarmed at times, particularly if they have been guilty of any wanton, bad misconduct.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. You have spoken of the white leaders of the negroes who are republicans.
I beg you to state to the committee what is the number of these white leaders that
have exercised such a pernicious influence over the negroes.
Answer. I think I have stated all that I know in this county.
Question. How many white republicans are there in this county at this time?
Answer. I don't know the number, sir.
Question. Are there half a dozen?
Answer. I think there ard, but I don't know the number.
Questidn. Is it quite safe and profitable for a white man to. openly and boldly advocate republican doctrine in this county at this time?
Answ1er. I think it is. Judge Abrams has been doing it here all the time. He has
been known to be a republican; and I have lately had a visitor, a republican, that staid
at my house.
Question. Judge Abrams is a citizen of the South, is he not?
Answeer. Yes, sir.
Question. He has lived here many years?
Alnswver. Yes, sir.
Question. Lived here during all the war?
Answler. Yes, sir; and during the war was a Union man, advocating his Union doctrines.
Question. Was he not very much denounced for it?
Answer. By some, sir, he was, but never injured by anybody.
Question. Was he not threatened?
Answer. I don't know that he was, sir. I never have heard of his being threatened.
Question. Did you never hear of his receiving Ku-Klux letters?
Answer. I may have done so; but if I have, it has escaped my recollection.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Speaking of Ku-Klux visits, do you know of a recent affair that the judge
imagined to be a Ku-Klux visit, when you were called out to assist him in case of KuKluxing?