Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-12-27
tateg toward the General Government.

! day; in Charleston, South Carolina, Two
days; and in Savannah and Augusta, Georgia,
each ore day. Both.in travelling and while
stopping, saw much and conversed freely
with the citizens of those States, as well as
with officers, of the army who have been
stationed among them. The following are
the conclusions came to by me:
am satisfied that the mass of thinking
men of the South accept the present situation
Of affairs 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 State to secede
from the Union-they regard as having been
settled forever by the highest tribunal-arms
that man can resort to. I was pleased to
learn from the leading men whom 1 met that
they not only accepted the decision arrived
at, as final, but, now the smoke Of battle
has cleared away, and time has been given
for reflection, that this decision has been
fortunate one for the whole country, they re-
ceiving the like benefits from it with those
who opposed them on the field and in the
council.
-Four years of war, during which the law
was executed only at the point Of the bayo-
net throughout the States in rebellion, have
left the people possibly in condition not to
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 garrisons
throughout those States necessary, until such
time as labor returns TO its proper channel,
and the civil authorities are fully established.
I did not meet any one, either those holding
places under the Government, or citizens Of
the Southern States, who thought it practic-
BE to withdrew the military from the South
at present The white and the black mutually
require the protection of the General Govern
ment. There is such universal aequiescence
in the authority of the General Government,
throughout the portions of the country visit
ed by me, that the mere presence Of mill
tary force, without regard to numbers, is
sufficient to maintain order The good of the
country requires that the military force kept
in the interior, where there are many freed
men, and else where in the Southern States,
than at forts upon the 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, demoralizes labor,
both by their advice and by furnishing in
their camps a resort for the freedmen, for
long distances around. White troops gener-
ally excite no opposition, and therefore a
small number Of them can maintain order in
a given district Colored troops must be kept
in bodies sufficient to defend themselves It
is not the thinking men who would do viO-
lence toward any class Of troops sent among
them by the General Government, 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 from the colored
soldiers. There is danger of collision being
brought on by such causes.
Ny observations lead me to the conclusion
that the citizens of the Southern States are
anxious to return to self government, within
the Union, as soon as possible; that, while
reeonstructng, they want and require pro-
lection from the Government that they think
is required by the Government, and is not
humiliating to them as citizens, and that if
such a course is pointed out they would pur-
sue it in good truth.
It's to be regretted that there can not be
greater comnlingling at this time between
the citizens of the two sections, and particas-
Iqr7, those interested aoith the ela,0-aking poa0er.
I did not give the operations Of the Freed
mems Bureau that attention I would have
done if more time had been at my disposal,
Conversations, however, on the subject, with
officers connected with the Bureau, led me
to think that in some Of the States its affairs
have not been conducted with good judge
ment or economy, and that the belief, wide
ly spread among the Freedmen Of the South
ern States, that the lands OF the former own
er will at least in part be divided among them,
has come from the agents Of the Bureau
This belief is seriously interfering with the
willingness of the freedmen to make con-
tracts for the coming year. In some forms
the Freedmen's Bureau is an absolute neces-
sity until civil law is established and enforc-
ed, securing to the freedmen their rights and
full protection. At present, however, it is
independent of the military establishment Of
the country, and seems to be operated by
the different agents of the Bureau according
to their individual notions everywhere.
General Howard, the able head Of the Bu-
reau, made friends by the just and fair IN
structions and advice he gave, but the com
pIaint in South Carolina was that when he
left things went on as before. Many, perhaps
the majority, Of the agents of the Freed
mans Bureau, advise the freedmen that by
their own industry they must expect to live.
To this end they endeavOr to secure employ
ment for them, and to see that both contract
ing parties comply with their engagements
| In some cases, lam sorry to say, the freed
mans mind does not seem to be disabused
OF the idea that the freedmen have the righl
to 1--we without care or provision for the fu.