The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-22
GEN. GRANTS REPORT.
Signed
ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1865.
His Exellenoy Andrew johnson, President
of the United States:
SIR reply TO your note of the 18th inst,
requesting report from me giving such in
formation as | may be possessed of coming
within the reach of the inquiries made by
the senate of the United States, in their resO-
luton of tue 18th inst | have the honor to
submit the following, with your approval.
and also that of the honorable secretary of
war:
| left Washington city on the 27th of last
month, for the purpose of making tour of
inspection throughout some of the southern
states 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 cur
tailed, DC, and to learn, as far possible
the teelin. and intentions OF the citizens of
those states towards the general government.
The state of Virginia being SO accessible to
Washington city. and information from this
quarter therefore being readily obtained, |
FASTENED through the state without convers-
ing or meeting with It's citizens. la Raleigh,
n. c., | spent one day in Charleston, 5. c
two days, and in Savannah and Augusta,
Ca, each one day. Both in travelling and
while stopping, | saw much and cOnversed
freely with the citizens OF those states, az
well as with officers of the army who have
been stationed there. Among the following
are the conclusions come 10 by me: / am
satisfied that the mass of thinking men of
the south accept the present situation Of af-
fairs in good faith. The questions which
have hitherto divided the sentiments Of the
people OF the two sections-slavery and state
rights or the right of a state TO secede from
the Union-they regard having been set
tied forever by the highest tribunal (arms)
that resort to. | was pleased TO
learn from the leading men whom | met that
they not only accepted tie decision arrived
at as final, but now that the smoke Of battle
has cleared away. aud time has been given
for reflection, that this decision has been
fortunate for the whole country, they
receiving the like benefits frum it with those
who opposed them in the field and in the
council. Four years of war, during which
law was executed only at the point of the
bayonet throughout the states In rebellion
have lett the people possibly III a condition
not t. yield that ready obedience to civil
authority which the American people have
generally been in the habit of yielding. This
would render the presence of small gArrisous
throughout the states necessary until such
time labor returns to It's proper channel
and civil authority is fully established
did no. meet any Onc-either those holding
places under the government, or citizens OF
the southern states-who thought il practica-
bic to withdraw the military from the south
at present. The white and the black mutu-
ally require the protection Of the general
government. There Is such universal ac
quiesceHce in the authority of the general
government throughout the portions Of the
country visited by me that the mere presence
of a military force. without regard 70 mum
bers, ls sufficient to maintain order. The
government of the country requires that the
force be kept in the interior, where there are
many freedmen Elsewhere in the southern
states than IN forts upon the sea cOass, no
force Is necessary. These should all be
white troops. The reasons for these are OBJ |
vIOus.
Without mentioning many of them, the
presence OF black troops, lately slaves. de
mOraliHs iabor-D1sn IN their advice and by
furnishing, in their camps, a resort for the
freedmen tor long distances around White
troops generally excite no opposition, and, |
therefore, small number OF them can main
tain order IN given district. CulUred troops |
must be kept in bodies sufficient to defend
themselves. 1t Is not the thinking men who
would do violence towards any class of troops
sent among them by the general governments,
but the ignorant III some places might; and
the late slaves, too. who might be Imbued
with the idea that the property of his late
master should. by right, belong to him, ut
least should have no protection for the color.
cd soldier. There lis danger of collision be-
ing brought onby such causes. My obser-
vations lead me TO the conclusion that the cit
izens OF the southern states are anxious 10 re-
turn to self government within the Union as
soon as possible: that. whilst recunstructing
they require protection from the government,
that they think Is required by the govern
mont, and Is not Illuminating TO them as cit- !
Zens and that if such course was oiated |
out, they would pursue it in good faith 1t
Is to be regretted that there can not DC n /
greater commingliug at this time between |
the citizens of the two sections, and, particu- /
iarly OF those entrusted with the law-making /,
power. | did not give the operations of the /
treedmsn'a bureau that attention | would !
have done if more time had been at my dis |
posa.. Conversation, however, on the subject |
with officers connected with the bureau led /
me TO think that, in some of the states it's /
affairs have not been conducted with good /
judgement or economy, and that the belief so |
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, come from the agents OF this bureau
This belief is seriously interfering with the
willingness of the freedmen to make contracts
for the coming year. In some form the freed
mons bureau Is an absolute necessity until
civil law Is established and enforced securing
to the freedmen their rights and full protec
ton. At present, however, 1t is independent
OF the military establishment of the country
and seems TO be operated by the different
agents OF the bureau according to their indi-
vidual notions everywhere. Gen. Howard.
the able head of the bureau. made friends by
the just aud fair instructions and advice he
gave; but the complaint in South Carolina
was that when he left thugs went on "a he