Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-12-27
HEAparAnrrRs, Anxr q. s., |
" December 18, 1865. {

To His Excellency, Andrew Johnson, Presi
dent of the United States: 49, >lz.
.Sir:-In reply to your note of the lGtt
inst, requesting report from me giving suet
Information as ] may. be possessed of coming
within the scope Of the inquiries made hy
the Senate of the United States in their res
olutions of the 18th inst, 1have the honor
10 submit the following, with Jour approval
aud also that Of the Honorable the Secretary
OF War ijstr .is.:. o..b sre.i7 q, ..iI d
: ;Ealsft Washington on. the 9Th of Las,
month. for the purposesof making a. tour oil
inspection throughout some of the Southerr
States .1Btely IN rebellion, and to see what
changes were necessary In the disposition oil
the military forces Of tho country; how these
forces could be reduced, expenses curtailed
etc., and to learn as far as possible, the feel,
ings and Intentions of the citizens of these
States toward the generahgogerpment. The
State of Virginia being so accessible to
Washington City and information from this
quarter therefore being readily obtained, !
hastened through the; State. without conyers-
ing'er meeting with its citizens-st Raleigh,
North, CAROLINA, Ispent Que day, in Charles
ton, South Carolina, two days, and in Savan-
nah and Augusta, Georgia, each one .day.
But in leaving and whilst stopping Iisaw
much and conYersed freely with the citizens
of those States, as well as with officers of
The army who have been stationed among
them. 49,! s,.,......,'..-,, -, IN, =
The following are the conclusions. come to
BY me III am satisfied that the mass of think,
ing men Of the South accept The, present sit
nation Of affairs m goodfaith.4 The questions
which have. hitherto d yided the sentiments
of the people.of tbetwo sections are .eiayery
and State rights, erthe right of~s State; to
secede frpn,,ths Union. This they regard az
having been settled forever By, thes highest
tribunsi that nam can resort to- ~, y
II was pleased to learn from the leading
men whom met tsat they snot oday accept,
ed the decision arrived at as final, hut now
the smoke Of battle has cleared away, and
time has been given for reflection, that this
iecisi6nlhas lbeenA fortunate 2ofe for The
wholcicounsrYy ytheggreceiaing siikehbeneh
ffomyi it with thosh who. opposed them in the
field and in the council efour:years of. war,
duriug which law was executed only at the
;point of ths bay onet throughout the. States
Il rebsllion, have LEFT, the people possibly.
;D saScc condition not to yisId that ready obedi,
euce to civil authority the American people
hare generally been,in the habit .of,yieiding.
hh;s Would render the prsaence Of small gar
siaoas, ,thseughou. those States Necessary, uu4
iii such time IS labor retnrns to its proper
channel, and civi authority is fully establish.
ell, The whites, and the blacks, mutually fo-
qnife the protection of the general govern.
- 1Lo,a ;s ar oh t,n;,arsoJ
e. aasy ssaessl Isassssnss
throughout the portions OF the, ,eouutry visit.
ed by' me, that the merest presence Of ja,uuili-
;ary' 'iogeeryi,hopt regard 70 NUMBER is sulR.
cieiit to mantaip order. Si.il
The good Of the country requires that the
manyfreedmer; or elsewhere ihithe lsouth-
etnStases. Those at forts, upon:t :thesaacoast,
where 20. force is necessary, should allbe
l.