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198 A. I did apply—took the oath—answered all the questions —one of the registration officers, John J. Lawson, Sr., said that he was sufficient evidence of my disloyalty, because he had heard me make a remark in my store while I was post- master; I asked what the remark was, he said he was at my store when the mail came—that I opened the mail bag and emptied the papers on the counter, and before selecting the mailable matter out, I tore the wrapper from a newspaper, and I was asked what was the news, and that in an excited manner, I said there was news, that Fort, Sumter had fallen and by God the rebels would be in Washington in two weeks !" I told him I had no recollection of saying that, but I might have said it—I then asked him what I had said afterwards, he said, he ,did not know, but that I appeared much excited—I said, that news was sufficient to excite any one—I then asked him if he considered that remark was suf- ficient evidence of my disloyalty, to disfranchise me. He said, he did not think it was, but afterwards, he said that coming from a man holding my political sentiments, it was. There was no other charge and no other witness. After I found by the published list, I was not registered, I went be- fore them a second time to know why I was not registered. I told them I supposed there was some evidence against me, and I demanded to be informed what it was—the Registers said they had no testimony to offer against me, they further said, they would bring further testimony at the proper time. I insisted that it should be produced then, as it was their last meeting—as they would bring' no evidence, I began to make suppositions to them; I told them, I supposed it was because I was a democrat, as I had seen, in looking over their regis- tered list, that they had rejected all the democrats in the district, except one, Win. J. Handy. 1 then said, I believe I am too fast there is one more Democrat registered in this district, Robert McCready. At this time they appeared a little astonished and asked me over again, once or twice, if McCready was a democrat, then I told them, "well I sup- pose the charge against me then is democracy, if that be the .case, I shall ever be disloyal." Lawson, (a Register,) then remarked, yes, with the remarks I have heard you make be- fore sir; I then said, the remarks you have heard me make, if they had come from a man of your political senti- ments, you would have considered them loyal, but coming from a democrat, you considered them disloyal. Yes, he said, democracy and disloyalty are identified, The remarks spoken of by me throughout all my testimony, is the remarks which they said I had made in the Post Office. |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
| Volume 107, Page 1578 View pdf image (33K) |
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