Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-12-28

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Washington City, and information from this quar-
Ter therefore being readily obtained, FASTENED
through The State, without conyersinS or meeting
p, with its citizens.
In Raleigh, n. c., l spent one day, in ChArles-
ton, s C., two days, in Savannah and Augusta,
Ga. each one day Both III travelling, and Whilst
stopping. saw much and converse1 freely with
the citizens OF those States, as well with on;cers
the army who had been Stationed there.
L. The following are the conclusions come to by
mo: ! am satisfied that the mass Of thinking men
of the South accept the present situation OF affairs
in good faith. The questions Wl>ich have hitherto
divided the sentiments of the people of tie two
sections, slavery and State rights, the right OF
State 70 secede from the Union, they regard "a
having been settled forever by the highest tribunal
that man can resort to. | was pleas ID to learn
from the leldiIg men whom | uIcL that they had
not at first 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 receiving the ike bcneSs
from it With those who opposed them in the fied
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, in condition not yield
that ready obedience 10 civil authority that the
American people have generally been in the habit
OF yielding. This would render the presence OF
small ganisOnS throughout those States necessary
until such time labor returns to its proper chan,
mel, and civil authority is fully establish ed.
did not meet any one, either those holding
I places under the Government. or citizens of the
Southern States. who thought it practicable to
withdraw the militIry from the South a. present.
) The white and the black mutually require the
protection Of the General Government There is
such universal acquicscence in the authority of the
General Government throughout the partions Of
the country visited by me, that the mere presence
of military force, wi,hou, regard TO numbers, is
sufficient to maintain order. The good Of the
country requires that the force kept in the nteri-
or, where there are many freedmen, should be
retained. These should all be white troops
The reasons are obvious without mentioning
many of them. The presence of black troops,
lately slaves, drmoralizes, labor in furnishing in
their camps a resort for the freedmen for long
distances around. White troops generally excite
no opposition, and therefore a small ruInber Of
them can maintain order in Il given district Col
ored troops must be kept in bodies sufficient TO
defend themselves. 1t is not the thinking men
who would do violence 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 mtster should, by
/ right, belong to him, at least should have no
protection from the colored soldiers. There is
danger OF Il collision being brought on by such
causes.
! My observations lead me to the conclusion that
the citizens of the Southern States arc anxious to
return to self-GOvernment within the Union as
soon possible; that whilst reconstructing they
want ami require protection from the Government
/ They think il due from the Government, and it is
not humilating TO them rs citizens, and that if
such a course was pointed out they would pursue
it in good faith. 1t is to be regretted that there
cannot he greater commingng at this time he
tween the citizens of the two sections and partc-
ularly OF those entrusted with the law making
power.
did not give the operations OF the Frcedmen's
Bureau that attention would have done il moro
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
oodjudgment or economy, and that the belief
widely spread among the freedmen OF the South
ern Suites that the lands of their former owners
twill in part at least, be divided among the has
come from the agents OF this Bureau. This belief
is seriously interfering with the willingness of the
freedmen 10 make contracts for the ensuing wear.
In some form the Freedmen's Bureau is 2n abSo
lutte necessity until civil law is established and
enforced, securing to the freedmen their rights
and full protection. At present, however, il ia
independent OF the military establishment Of kle
country, and seems to be operated by the different
agents CT the Bureau according to their individual
nOtons. Everywhere Gen. Howard, the able
head Of the Bureau, makes friends by the Just and
fair instructions and advice lie gives. But the
complaint il South Carolina was that when he left
things went on before. Many, perhaps the
tmajority of the agents of the FreedmenS Bureeu,
advise the freedmen that by their own industry
they must expect to live. To this end they en-
deayor 10 secnre employment for them, and then
both contracting parties comply with engage
| monts. In some cases. / am sorry to say, the
freedmcn's mind does not seem to be disabused Of
the idea that the freedman has the right to live
without provision for the future. The effect of
the belief in the division of land, is idlenes5 and
accumulation in camps, towns and cities. In such
cases, thinkit will be found that vice and dis
case will tend to the determination or great
destruction of .he colored race. Ii cannot be
expected that the opinions held By men at the
South for years. can be changed in day, an3
therefore. the freedmen require for few years not
only laws TO protect them, but the fostering care
of those who will give them good council, and on
whom they can rely. The freedmen's bureau,
separated from the military, is establishment Of
the country, and requires all the expense of a
separate organization. One does not necessarily
know what the other is doing, or what orders they
are acting under. II seems TO me that this could
be corrected, By regarding every officer on duty
with troops in the Southern States as agent Of the
Freedmen's Bureau, and then have all orders from
the head OF the bureau sent through the depart
4 ment commanders. This would create response
bili;y that would locate uniformity of action
throughout the South, and would insure the orders
and instructions from the head Of the bureau being
carried out, and would relieve from duty and pay
a large number Of the employees Of the Govern
iment.
have the honor to be, very respectfully.
y our obedient servant,
L. S. GRANT.
After the reading of Gen. Grants report, Mr.