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.

1742 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
days before; do you think you would have had as good a republican vote that day as
you did in 1868, when the presidental election occurred?
Answer. If wve hadn't had as good a one, we would have had mighty near as good a
one; we would have had the majority by a long shot.
Question. But you lost it?
Answer. Yes, sir; that is my candid opinion of it.
Question. You feel that your own people were afraid to vote as they wanted to?
Answer. Yes sir; of course we did; there is no doubt ahout that fact.
Questiol. Last year did you have any other republican speakers here except on that
one occasion? Were there other meetings through the county?
Answer. No, sir; not another one.
Question. Were the speakers afraid to speak here?
Answer. They didn't come. I don't know whether they were'afraid or not; but they
didn't come, and none has come since.
Question. Do you think they would be safe in holding meetings through the county?
Answer. No, sir, I don't. If I must answer you honestly, I don't. Tho truth is what
you ask me for, and that is what I come to tell. I don't.
Question. You think they would be injured?
Answer. Yes, sir, I do.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. Are there any colored men in the county that are speakers?
Answver. If there is, I can't tell you. There are plenty of colored men in the county
who could speak and would speak a heap, but they are afraid.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Syd. Porter is not afraid to speak.
Answer. Syd. will get up here and blo anand gas most any way. I don't know hardly
what to think of him.
Question. Is he pretty well thought of by the colored people?
Answer. Yes, sir; Syd. stands very well among the colored people, so far as I know.
He married a relative of mine. We are a little connected outside.
Question. What makes him vote the democratic ticket and speak at the democratic
meetings?
Answer. I don't know sir; Syd. is every sgrt of fashion.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Do you think he is much of a democrat?
Answer. Well, gentlemen, I can't tell you. My notion about it is, that whatever a
man's politics is, let him be that and stay to that, unless he can't be; and if he can't
be, let him be nothing. -That is my notion. But some of them takes a different
course to that, and goes contrary.
Question. You said you could not have peace, and wanted to go where you could have
peace?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you think other people think so?
Answer. A great many talk so; I don't know how they feel. I know my own feelings. They talk so.
Question. You feel that you are insecure with your family?
Answ'er. Yes, sir; this demoralization and dissatisfaction. What comfort is it to a
man to be free, to have a whole heap, unless he can have his happiness, as a man could
and should and wants to. 1 would rather be somewhere or another on half rations,
and be in peace, than to have a whole heap and can't enjoy it.
By Mr. RICE:
Questions. Do you feel like speaking your sentiments as freely to a white man as he
does to speak his to you, where he differs from you?
Answer. No, sir; I can't, nor wouldn't.
Question. You agree, then, pretty well to what they say when they talk?
Answcer. Yes, sir; that is the best way fbr a fellow, if he wants his life long.
Question. How do the colored people like Syd. Porter's politics?
Anseer. Gentlemen, I can't give you reliable information about Syd. Porter's politics, because it's one day one way, and another day another way. I can't keep up
with him myself.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. He used to be a great man in the Loyal League?
Answer. Yes, sir; a great man-bully. Now you hear him privately argue the question yet, but he will not come up with it publicly.