The Portland daily press., 1865-12-25
General Grants Report.

his opinions on political subjects generally, or
In relation to the solution of the questions grow
ing out of the cessation of actual strife, are
ions of other intelligent gentlemen, who have
given their careful thought to the natter
While we do not dispute the ability of Gen.
Grant to comprehend fairly and fully the "sit-
uation" of affairs, provided he has suitable op-
portunity for careful observation, we do in
sist that something besides military success
and prestige are necessary to inspire tie
American people with implicit confidel CO in
his ability to grasp and comprehend and ana
lie, in hurried trip from Washington to
Savannah, all the elements necessary to be
considered In solving the greatest problem OF
Gen. Grant went South, and on his return
made report to the President in relation to
the fitness of the Southern people for immedl-
ate restoration, which President johnson con-
sidered of sufficient importance to lay 1t be-
fore Congress, showing the very great weight
which he attaches to the mere glances of the
Lieutenant General 14lsas s.zsi ia. 81
The honesty of Gen. Grant no one viii
question. That be reported truly what was
said to him, and the general impressions made
upon his mind, there can be no question. But
for reasons easily comprehended, of all the
tourists who have gone through the insurgent
states, with Official sanction, to ascertain the
sentiments Of their citizens towards the gen.
eral government, his sources of Information
were among the last to inspire full confidence
in the verdict they were calculated to secure
To use the words of the Worcester Spy, p" He
twas absent from his headquarters scarcely ten
"days altogether, five OF which were spent in
@the cities of Raleigh, Charleston, Augusta
"anl Savannah, the rest in rapid travelling
HE conversed freely with such people as came
ito see him. Of course they were the me-
"who had most to gain by the speediest posi-.
"ble restoration to the Union. They were
''white men of political or business prominence
"under the new order of things. la..is
"They assured him that the mass of think
3ng men were ready to give up slavery and
estate rights, and the right of state to secede
"from the Union; and that they were ready
ito accept the situation in good faith. These
ageneralities he heard, and nothing more
Eyes: there was something more. He heard
complaints against colored soldiers, and he
"advlses that they should be withdrawn. He
"heard complaints against the agents of the
'freedmen's bureau, and he advises that they
SHOULD be removed. He heard complaints OF
"the expectations of some of the freedmen in
@regard to lands which they cultivated during
@the war, and he advised that they should be
"made to understand that their expectations
"are groundless." t91s ee y -.
What the Spy here says does not do the
Lieut.. General full justice, and we have not
copied the extract because we endorse all
that 1t contains. True, Gen. Grant says: 81
lam satisfied the mass Of the thinking men OF
"the South accepted the present situation of
Gaffairs in good faith" This shows that he
has little confidence in minority even of the
shrinking men, while OF the unthinking major
ty OF the entire population he expresses no
opinion; certainly makes no endorsement
He says:
# .ur years Of war. during which the law was exc
the States in rebellion. have left the people, possibly
In that condition not to yield that ready obedience to
been in the habit Of Welding his oud renaer the
presence OF small garrisons throughout those States
necessary until such time as labor returns to its prop
or channel and civil authority is fully established.
He touches deep truth and unfolds dark
page in Southern society, as at present consti-
tuted, when he says: "The white and the
BLACK require the protection OF the general
government" "The good of the country re-
"quires that force be kept in the interior
",uhere there are naany freedmen" His rea-
son for Withdrawing black troops, except from
the forts on the sea coast, is given as follows
"White troops generally excite no opposition,
sand, therefore, a smaller number of them can
maintain order in given distance. Coiored
"troops must be kept in bodies sufficient to de-
fend themselves" $50 ID s1.f1l bs.T .-r.i
IfGen. Grant does recommend some changes
in the organization and administration of the
Ffeedmen's Bureau, he does not believe il
should be set aside. He says: I'm some form
"the Freedmen's Bureaus an absolute necessi-
"ty until the civil law is established and en-
"forced, securing to freedmen their rights and
"full protection" ~ ~ et t+
The following sentence is significant, and lets
the light in upon the present status of much
Of the Southern mind: lialY al eilnf. sHu
It cannot be expected that the opinions held by men
at the South f'r years can be changed in day. and
therefore, the freedmen require for Anew years not
dDs to protect hen but he fostering care of those
can rely. i
We admit that Gen. Grant heard but one
side. No voice from the masses reached hi.
ear. No representation was made to him il
relation to those loyal men of the South VIII.
never betrayed Union soldier escaping from
rebel prisons, who ever stood ready to impair
valuable information to Union Commanders
and who volunteered in large numbers to figh
under and in defence of the stars and stripes
except by those who wish to deprive them o
of all rights of citizenship. Gen. Grant was il
Charleston, and no doubt saw and converset
with men who were involved in the attack up
on Sumter, but he did not converse with tn,
gallant Robert Smalls, whose names will b.
Industrious in the future even though they
may be kept in the shade to-day.
Itisworthy of remark that there is but little
in Gen. Grants report, as there is in the
message which accompanied it, to show that
beyond the technical abolition of slavery, he re-
garded the interests of the colored population
In the southern states as an element to be con
sidered in the important discussion of thu
great question of Reconstruction, yet it is to b
remembered that the Lieut.. Generals mission
was of military and not political character
and while on purely political questions he has
maintained his usual reticence, he certainly
has said no word that the friends of Freedom
can justly take exceptions to. 1t is quite GER
tain that Congress will not forget that all
men who are faithful to the laws have an
equal claim upon Its care, and that, when
States are endeaYoring to perpetnate the on.