The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-22
Lieut.. Gen. Grants Report.

The following report of Gen. Grant, COM
municated to Congress by President johnson,
in connection with his special message of the
18th inst, was received by telegraph in regu-
lar course, but we were compelled, BY press of
matter, to lay it over till this morning:
HEApoUARTERs ARMY OF UNITED STATES,
December 18th, 1866.
TO HIS Ercekency a. johnson, President Of the Unit-
sir:-ln reply to your note of the 1sth inst, re-
questlng rep 1T from me- giving such information
Of inquiries made by the Senate the United States
in their RESOLUTION Of the 18th inst, have the honor
that of the Hon. Secretary of War:
left Washington on the 9th of last month for the
some Of the soutaefn Staes lately in rebellion. and
to see what changes were necessary in the disposition
Of the military forces Of the country. how these
forces could be reduced and expenses curtaed, &C.,
and to learn, as far possible the feelings and in
tentions Of the citizens of these States towards the
general government The State Of Virginia being SO
accessible to Washington CITY, and information from
this quarter therefore, being readily obtained hast
ened through the State without conversing or meet
ing with any of its citizens. In Raleigh NJ srent
one day, in Charleston, s. c., two and in Savannah
and While stonnlng 40 ~ mucb d 1Oon = N =sassning
with citizens oi those States well as with officers
Of the army who have been stationed among them.-
The following are the conclusions come to by me:
1 am satisfied the mass Of the think ng men OF the
south accept the present situation affairs in good
sentiments OF the people of the two secons-sayery
and State rights, or the right OF State to seceie
rom the Union.they regard as having been settled
foreyer by the highest tribunal-that of arms that
l.ading men whom met that they not only accepted
smoke Of battle mas cleared away I'd time has been
given for reflection that this decision has been tor
tanae one tor the whole country, they receiving the
like benefits from It with those who Opposed them in
the Held and In the council. Four years OF war; dur
ing which the law was executed only at the point Of
the bayonet throughout the States in rebellion have
LETT the people possibly In that condition not to yield
that ready obedience to civil authority the Amer can
psope have generally been in the habit Of yelang.
Lhis Would render the presence of small garrisons
throughout those States necessary until such time
labor returns to LIS proper channel and civil author
er those holding places under the government cit
liens Of Southern Stat who thought It practicable
to withdraw the military from the South at present.
The white and black mutually require the protec-
tion Of the general government. There Is such uni-
yersal acquescence in the authority Of the general
government throughout the portions of the country
visited by me, that the mere presence OF military
foree, without regard to numbers. is sufficient to
"The good Of the country requires that force be
kept in the interior where there many freedmen.
Elsewhere In the Southern States than at forts on
the sea-coast, where force is necessary 1t should all
be white troops. The reasons Tor this are obvious:
black troops, lately slaves demoraises labor, both
by their advice, and furnishing in tler camps re-
White troops generally excite no opposition, and,
therefore, o smaller number Of them can maintain
distance. COlOre0
kept in bodies sufficient to defend themselves. 1t Is
not the thinking me-, who would do violence towards
any class OF troops sent among them by the general
government, but the ignorant In me places might;
and the late slave, too, who might be imbued with
the idea that the property Of his late master should
by right belong to him, at least should have pro-
lection from the colored soldier. There Is no danger
OF q collision being brought on by such causes.
,b ny % len lead me to the conclusion st
turn to government within the Union, as soon
as possible; that, whilst reconstIucting they want
and require the protection from the government mat
they think is required by the government and which
Is not humilatng to them rs citizens; and that, n
IN s was Pointed Oh s oa there
greater comminging at this tune between me citi-
tsns ~ tSs 5TS .bs seStos eSstS,%sEne power
Ibid NOT give the operatlo rs OF the Freedmens Bu-
that attention wnee wGni9 oye aone more
ever on the subject, with officers connected with the
Bureau, lead me to think that IN some Of the states
ment or economy and that the belief widely spread
among the freedmen Of the Southern States that the
lands Of their former owners will at least in part be
divided among them has come from the agents ofthe
Bureau This belief seriously intereres with the will
ingness the freedmen to make contracts for the
ing year. In some form the Freedmens Bureau is an
absolute necess until the civil law is established
ana n 70 boWsyer .nsi = and
nnt OF the rtary establishment Of the country, and
seems to be operated by the different agents Of the
Bureau according to their individual notions Every-
where General Howard, the able head of the Bureau
has made friends by the just and fair insructioas and
auflce StNes Dut conpnhiuL III OOutn Carolina
that when he left things went before Many,
perhaps amajority Of the agents of the Freedmen's
Bureau, advised the freedmen that b. their own tn
dustry they must expect to live. To this end they
endeavered 10 secure employment for them an; to
see that both OF the contracting parties compLef
with their ngagement. In some cases am sorry to
say the feedman's mind does not to be disabus
ed Of the idea that the freed have rignt 70 lye
without care or provision for the future. The effect
Of this heef in the distribution Of lands Is idleness
and accumulation in camps towns anu cities, In
such cases. think 1t will found that wee and dis
will tend to the determination or great destruc-
on Of the c3lored race a. SoU r
ehangedn day. and therefore the freedmen TSsaus req
for few Ony I ys Sem n
sal and On whom they can rely.
The Freednenas Barean u, peing PEI separated nom me
the expense of q separate organization. One does
not nee, ssartly know what the other Is doing or
what orders they acting under II seems to me
this could be corrected by regarding the officers on
~. o