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.

1856 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Answer. Well, sir, I knew he lived in that part of what is Hale County now, formerly
forming part of Greene County, immediately south of Tuscaloosa. I did not know a
great deal of Dr. Blackford before he was a member of that convention; I merely knew
there was such a man, who lived in Greensborough, in what is called Hale County now.
He was a member of that convention with me; he is an intelligent man, and said to
be a good physician.
Question. What was his standing in that convention?
Answer. Very fair; he was an active, intelligent member of it. I know from reputation that he was judge of the probate court in that county. There was what they
called a raid in that county in which there was considerable mischief done. I suppose
the main object of it was to get hold of Judge Blackford. However, I understood that
he received intimations a few moments before his escape, from some colored man. He
escaped; went from his house and secreted himself, and avoided being captured or
taken.
Question. What was his standing as a judge?
Answer. So far as I know, he was an intelligent, upright judge. I know nothing to
the contrary; he was an intelligent man, certainly.
Question. What do you know of the disposition on the part of the old rebel element
in the community to blacken and defame the characters of Union men who have taken
office under the new constitution of the State of Alabama?
Answer. Well, sir, in my opinion, such men have been greatly slandered and greatly
abused and evil entreated in that respect. Some of them have suffered violence.
Judge Blackford is one of these cases. He resigned shortly after that raid, as they
called it, upon Greensborough; he was probate judge; I do not think he resides there
now. I understand he has some employment under the Government, some agency or
something of that sort; I do not know exactly what it is.
Question. Do you know of an instance where an office-holder under the Federal or
State government, of known Union sentiments, who is bold to proclaim them, and who
advocates the tenets of the republican party, who has escaped defamation and persecution at the hands of the rebel element ~?
Answer. I know of no considerable man of that party that has. No doubt there are
such persons who have not; but it has been so general that I am not prepared to say
that I know any one of any considerable reputation that has escaped.
Question. I wish to call your attention now to the purposes of this organization that
you have described, so far as you have been able to form any opinion, either from your
own personal knowledge or from information derived from others, whether one of
these purposes is to drive from the country objectionable persons.
Ansoer. Whether that is the purpose of the organization or not, I know it has had
the effect to do so, either to drive from the country or to drive from their neighborhoods a great many men. It seems mostly to have been directed against the colored
population. They have suffered much more than the whites who are of republican
sentiments.
Question. I will ask your opinion, whether one of the purposes of this order is to
influence negroes in voting-induce them to or deter them from voting?
Answer. I believe it is, sir. I am told that it has had that effect.
Question. I will ask your opinion whether it is one of the purposes of this order to
promote the success of the conservative or democratic party; whether it is also one of
the purposes to obtain for the democratic party the political control of the State and
the possession of the offices?
Answer. I am perfectly persuaded that the main object is to accomplish that end.
Question. What effect has this terrorism exerted over the negroes had in causing
them either to abstain from going to the polls at all, or to induce them to vote the
democratic ticket that would not voluntarily have done so?
Anlswer. I am perfectly persuaded that it has kept hundreds and thousands from the
polls, and that it has induced, under fear and terror, many of them to vote the democratic ticket.
Question. What is your information and belief as to the employers seeking to control
the political action of the colored people by threats of turning them off of the land or
other coercive means?
Answer. I have no doubt that means have been very extensively employed for the
purpose of preventing them from going to the polls and controlling their votes, if they
did so.
Question. From your knowledge of the negro and his sentiments toward the party
which freed him, what proportion, if any, of the colored voters would, as a matter of
choice, vote the democratic ticket, if no coercive methods were employed to induce
him to vote that way?
Answer. I do not believe one in a hundred, if one in five hundred, would vote the
democratic ticket if he were left entirely free to exercise his choice, without fear
of molestation or injury.
Question. Well, judge, having described the disorders which prevail in some parts of