New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-23

YoL.. Eleol,seg, hspsrw JcuSsoS, Pr'sidtet Gf ne
UlfGf SAFES.
SIR: When you did ne the honor OF selecting
me Tor a mission 70 the States lately III Rebellion
kr The purpose Of inqurinc into the existing condi
,o, Of things, OF laying before you whatever in-
formation Of importance / might gather and Of
suggesting TO you such measures az my observations
would lead nc 70 believe advisable, accepted the
trust with a profound sense Of the responsibility
connected with the performance Of the task. Inc
views entertained at the time had communicated
80 Won in frcorent letters aud conversations.
would not have accepted the mission, had not felt
that whatever preconceivcd opinions might carry
with me 70 the South, should be ready TO abandon
or modify as my percoption Of facts and ciTcun-
stances might command their abandonment or mod
idcation. You informed me that yon. "polcy Of
reconstruction was merely experimental, and thai.
You would change il if the experiment did not lc.d
to satisfactory results. To aidyOu in forming ycur
conclusions upon this point understood to be ~,
o,ee. Of nv mission, and this. understanding was
in perfect accordance with the written Instructions
received through the Secretary OF War.
These instructions confined my mission 20 the
rssippi and the Department Of tho Gulf. IN
formed you before leaving the North that ,orld
not wei devote more than three months to The
duties supposed upon ne, and that space OF tine
proved sufficient Tor lie 20 visit all the States above
enumerated except Texas. 1 landed a. Hilton
Head, 5. c.. on July Is, visited Beaufort, Cha'.es-
ton, OraneebuTg and Columbia; returned to Charles
ton and Hilton Head; thence | went 10 Savannah,
travcrsed the state of Georgia visiting Aucuaia
Atlanta, Macon, MllegeyiOc and Columbus: went
through Alabama by way OF Opcika. Montgomery
Selma and DcmOpOiis and through Mississippi hv
way OF Meridian, jackson and Vicksbarg; then de-
scended toe Mississippi TO New-Orcdns, touching
st Natchez; fcom New-OTlears I visited Mobile.
Ala and the Tcehe country in Louisiana, and thcu
speat again some days ~ Natcbcz and Nichshgrg "a
ny way 70 The North These are the outlines ~ Iiy
!suTney,
Before laying TIE results % ny o.scrvs,ions before
yos /, is proper thit shonld stlIe The mos oYerar
BY which obtained Information aud formed my cDncll
SONS. Wherever went sought interviews with pcr.
who might be presumed 20 represent the opinions
oT TO have influence upon tho conduct Of their neigh
bors had Tins frequent meetings will. individuals
belonging 20 the lia3Tcn. classes OF society from the
highest 10 the lowest IN tho cities a5 well g on tie
roads and steambOlts hsN many orIsrtuncs 20 con-
net only with inhabitants ri the adjacent country
but with persons coming from districts which was TO;
able 10 VISIT ond finally compared the impressions
thus received with the experience of the military and
civil officers Of the Government stationed iu that corr
try, vel OF other reliable onion men. 10 WHOM
longer residence the spot md moro varied inter
conrse with the people he'd given better facilities oi local
observation than NY circumstances permitted 10
enjoy. when practicable, | procured statements oi
Their views AMI experience in writing. we 10 copie,
Of Official or private reports they Lad received from
their suhordnotes or other persons. Y was not o.
Peeted Of me thlt should take formal testimony and
time than was able To devote TO IL.
My facilities for obtaining information wcro not
eqnal extensive in tie different States visited. As
they naturally depended SOMEWHAT upon the time the
military had had 10 occupy aud explore The country. AS
well as upon the progressive Development Of things gen
orally they improved from day 10 cy AZ went and
were best in tie States visited last. II j. owing 70
this cEeumst9nce HAT cannot give as dctaie. IN &c,
eOuns Of the condition of things in South Carolina and
GeOgga rs am able 10 give with regard 20 Louisiana
and Mississippi.
Instead of describing the experiences Of ry journey
Chronological order which would lead 70 endless cp
efOn and c0nlsod mixing of the diieTeet subjects
under consideration, propose to arrange ohssrFa-
tons ndeT different heads eccordiDg 70 the subject
natter.
Ii is true not al that can be said Of the people Of
STATE viii apply with equal force to the people OF an
other: but il sill be easy u make toe necessary dis
tnctons when iu the c0ase Of this report hey become
otany Importance. ] beg 70 be understood when nsne
for lse sake Of Srs'y ls SooifeT herr. DI9R
CONDITION OF THlSGs IMMEDIATELY AFTEt TBE
CL0sN or TIE war.
IN The development of the popular spirit in the South
lie close of the two wen marked periods can
be distinguished. Tie first with The sudden
collapse OF the CO.ederaey and the dis rsion of its
dcatng the = reconsiruetion policy" Of the Govern
rlsnt Of The Is. period can state the characteristic
features only from the accounts received partly Hom
!aiOlsis VINO were then living IN the South. parity
from persons that had participated in me Rebellion.
When he HewsOi Lees and JOhusion urrenders bust
upon TIE SOuleri country the general Coustornatiou
s@ @sxIeme. People held their breath, indul9ing N
tae widest apprehensons as 10 what now aas 70 come
Men who had occupied positions under tho tOnttd' are
Goyernment. or were Otherwise compounded IN the
Rebellion run before the Federal columns a. they ad-
Fsnted and spread ont 70 occupy The country from ~
laye 20 village nom plantation TO plantation. b9rdy
knowing whether they wanted 10 iIe net. ctbeIH
remained 81 their homes yielding heufc,yes rp 10 ler
iafe. prominent tu0nlsts t'ld mc fnnt persons wio
Tor four years had 5cOacd 10 recognize them on ne
street, approached tsafa with smiling feccs md both
tands extended. II ofsaud1g u tie political world
expressed scroas dous 10 whether tho Rebel Setos
would gain occupy their position States IL tie
Union or be governed conquered province. lie
pooie mind was GespondeEt that If fcadmGsion AZ
some iufue time under whatever condition, had been
promised 10 would tLcn have been looked upon 40 IA.
lor. Tho most gncOr promising kohcls prepared icr
LEAVING he country The masses remained ia % state
u learfi expectancy.
This applies especially TO those part. of tbe country
Nleh we're within the immediate reach Of our armies
OF hai previously been touched by ile var Were
unicn soldiers bad rovcr been and none were near
people were 20 ma hardly Of tLe DacnituGe II
We Catastrophe and sEo.e 20 continue 10 tler o.d ways
oflNlg
such was, accoriingS - The accounts received. the
elarscter o hst inst period Tie worst gDprchenslos
were gradually relieved day after day went hY with
eat bringing the disasters aud infctions which had
eeen vaguely anticipated Until at iast rc appearance
OF the North Carolina Proclamation substituted
toes ior item. Tie development Of this Second period
lvss called upon 10 observe the spo. and il forms
The main subject Of i'is report.
% RETURNING LOYAITY"
IT well known fact that in the States South Of
Tennessee and North Carolina. The number OF white
unouists WHO dnrins the war actively aided the Gov
.nmort or q least openy pTc,esld Their attachment
70 tho Of tie Onion, was very small. In mono Of
Iaose States were they strong enough 10 receive any