The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-12-28

(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec. ls, 65. .us.i
LIEUTENANT GEN. GRANTS REPORT.
Hd'q.s Army of the u. s., 4
Dec. 18th, 1865.
To his Excolency Andrew johnson, President Of
the United States; 'i ~
Sir-In reply to your note of the
10th, requesting report from me Civ
ing such information as l may be pos.
sessed of, coming within the scope of
the inquiries made by the Senate of
the United States, in their resolution
of the 18th inst l have the honor to
submit the following with your appro.
val and also that of the Honorable
Secretary of War "t+
D Ileft Washington on the 18th Of last
month, for the purpose of making o
tour of inspection throughout some of
the Southern States lately in rebellion,
and to see what changeswere necessary
in the disposition of the military forces
ofthe country, how these forces could
be reduced and expenses curtailed, &C.,
and TO learn, as far as possible, the
feelings and intentions of the citizens
of those States toward tho General
Government. ..,r Iu.5
The State of Virginia being so ac-
cessible to Washington City, and in
formation from this quarter, therefore,
being readily obtained, l FASTENED
through the State without conversing
or meeting with its citizens. .a
In Raleigh, North Carolina, 1 spent
one day; in Charleston, South Carolina.
two days; andin Savannah and Au.
gusta, Georgia, each one day. Both
in lrayeling and while stopping, | saw
much aud conyersed freely with the
citizens of those States, as well as with
officers of the army who have been sta.
toned among them. The following
are the conclusions come to by me-,
am satisfied that the mass, of think
ing men of the South accept the pres
ent situation of affairs in good faith.-
The questions which have hitherto d.
vided the sentiments of the people of
the two sections-slavery and State
rights, or the right Of State to se-
cede from the Union-they regard as
having been settled forever by the
highest tribunal-.-arms that men can
resort to, Twas pleased to learn from
heleadihg men whom l met that they
not only accepted the decision arrived
at, as final, but, now tho smoke of bat
tie has cleared away, and time has
been given for reflection, that this de.
cision has been a fortunate one for the
whole country, they receiving the like
benefits from it with those who op-
posed them on the field and in the
council. '' "'N .''" '-''. -'tf'
Four years of war, during which the
law was executed only at the point Of
the bayonet throughout the States in
rebelion, have left the people possibly
in condition not to yield that ready
obedience to civil authority which the
American people have generally been
in tho habit of yielding. This would
render tho presence of small garrisons
throughout those States necessary, un
til such time as labor returns to its
proper channel, and the civil author
tiles are fully established. 1 did not
meet any one, cithor those holding pla.
ces under the Government, or citizens
of the Southern States, who thought it
practicable to withdraw the military
from the South at present.
The white and the black mutually
require the protection Of the General
Government. There is such univer.
sal acquescence in the authority of the
General Government, throughout the
portions of the country visited by me,
that the mere presence of military
force, without regard to numbers. is
sufficient 10 maintain order. The
good Of the country requires that the
military force kept in tho interior,
where there are many freedmen, and
elsewhere in tho Southern States,
than at forts upon tho sea coast, where
no force is necessary, should all be
white troops. The reasons for this are
obvious. Without mentioning many
of them, the presence Of black troops,
lately slaves, demoralizcs labor, both
by their advice and by furnishing in
their camps resort for the freedmen,
for long distances around. White
troops generally excite no opposition,
and therefore a small number of them
can maintain orderin a given district.
Colored troops must be kept in bodies
sufficient 20 defend themselves. 1t is
not the thinking men who would do
violence toward any class of troops
sent amongthom by the General Gov
ernment, but the ignorant, in some
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 no protection fiom ths
colored soldiers. There is danger of
collision being brought on by such
causes. ,er, ..p -.r. .,~.l .,.,sy
| My observations lead me to the con :
clusion that the citizens of the South
ern States are anxious to return to
self'government, within the Union, as
soon as possible; that, while recon-
structing, thy want and require pro-
lection from the Government that they
Thinks required by the Government,
and isnot humiliating TO them as citi-
zana and that ifsnnhi n nnnrsn IL mint