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.

1802 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Question. But if they are to be slaves again, you do not think that educating them
would benefit them?
Answier. I do. I think it would make them better slaves if they were educated.
Question. Do you think the whites generally would like to have them returned to
slavery again?
Answcr. No, sir; not from common report, I do not.
Question. Do you think the whites generally ate satisfied that they have become
voters now?
Anstier. I don't know; I have never heard many people express themselves about it;
but while I say of a negro that I don't think he ought to be entitled to vote, I think a
good many white people ought not to be entitled to vote at the same time.
Question. Why not?
Answer. I do not think they are qualified. I do not think they understand what they
are doing.
Question. Your idea is that no man ought to be allowed to vote unless he is intelligent?
Answer. Exactly.
Question. Would you couple with that property also?
Answer. No, sir; I would say if he had intelligence he would be entitled to vote.
Question. What amount of intelligence would you have to qualify a man to vote?
Answier. I think he ought to read and write, and understand what he reads and
writes.
Question. Understand the Constitution and laws of his country?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Your idea is that no man ought to be allowed to vote unless he has that
grade of intelligence?
Answer. Yes, sir; you are right just about there.
Question. That would exclude a great portion of the negroes?
lAnser. Yes, sir; and a good portion of the whites.
Question. Are there many whites in this part of the county that this rule would exclude?
Answer. Not a great portion; but some it would. If a man can't read or write, or
understand what is written, I do not think he ought to be entitled to vote, and I don't
suppose you do either; do you?
Question. Are the white race here generally satisfied with the negroes being allowed
to vote now?
Answer. I don't know whether they are satisfied or not; they electioneer here with
them a good deal.
Question. They do electioneer with them?
Answer. Yes, sir; both parties do.
Question. There are not many white radicals left to electioneer with them?
Ansiver. Yes; some.
Question. They have been rather outgeneraled by the democrats; have they not?
Answer. I don't know; the last election went democratic in our State.
Question. Very largely?
Answer. I don't think it did; not more than two or three thousand for governor;
maybe four thousand.
Question. I speak of this and Greene County; was there not a great change here and
in Greene County?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. You think the negroes voted freely, without any apprehension?
Answier. To all appearance they did.
Question. What is your own private opinion about it?
Answer. I think they voted the democratic ticket, because it was for their pecuniary
interest to do so.
Question. They feared they would lose unless they voted that ticket?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. You think the employers would have thrown them off, or deprived them of
employment, if they had not voted the democratic ticket?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. But you think the negroes feared that?
Ansiwer. No, sir; I think they thought it was for their interest to vote the democratic
ticket.
Question. Why?
Answer. It was told them that they would have the taxes less, and the schools more
months in the year than they had heretofore, if they voted the democratic ticket.
Question. Have you ever heard of a negro being whipped or otherwise outraged for
being a radical, or voting with the radical party?
Answer. No, sir; I never heard of such a case; not in my neighborhood. I don't