heard one of the leading attorneys in Greenville say he
would almost have anybody on the opposite side of a case
rather than he would that negro. The sheriff of my county is
from Ohio, and a negro, he is a man whom we all support in
his office. We are anxious that the negroes should have a
fair representation. For instance, you ask for the feeling
existing between the proprietor and the negroes. The probate
judge of my county is a negro and one of my tenants, and I
am here now in New York attending to important business for
my county as an appointee of that man. He has upon him the
responsibilities of all estates in the county; he is probate
judge.

Q. Is he a capable man?
--A. A very capable man, and an excellent, good man, and a
very just one.

Q. Do you see any reason why, with fair opportunities
assured to himself and to his children, he may not become a
useful and competent, American citizen?
--A. We already consider him so.

Q. The question is settled?
--A. I thought you were speaking personally of the man I
referred to.

Q. No; I was speaking of the negro generally--the negro
race.
--A. Let me understand your question exactly.

Q. Do you see any reason why the negroes, as a component
part of the American population, may not, with a fair
chance, come to be useful, industrious, and competent to the
discharge of the duties of citizenship?
--A. I think they may as a class, but it will take probably
generations for them to arrive at that standard.

Q. It has taken us generations to arrive at the standard,
has it not?
--A. Yes, sir.

Q. There is some talk about our ancestors having been
pirates, I believe. Now, will you state to us what the
existing facilities for education are among the negroes?
--A. I can only speak as regards Arkansas. Of course I do
not know much of the other States. In Arkansas we have in
each county a school board. These boards examine and employ
teachers. We are taxed for a school fund, from which these
teachers are paid.

Q. What proportion of the colored children attend school,
do you think?
--A. On my own property there are five schools, and I think
the larger portion, I might say nearly all that are capable
of going to school, do go to school