Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-12-27


thought it practicable to Withdraw the
military from the South at present
white and black desire the protection of
the General Government. There is such
universal aequiesence in the authority or
the General Government throughout por-
tioDs Of the country visited by me that
the military forces, without regard to
numbers, is sufficient 10 maintain order.
The good of the country requires that =
force be kept in the interior where there
are many freedmen, elsewhere in the
Southern States, than st the forts upon
the sea coast, no force is necessary. They
should ali be white troops. The reasons
fol- this are obvious without Mentioning
many of them. The presence of black
troops, lately slaves, demoralizes labor BY
their advice and furnishes in their camp
c resort for the freedmen for long distsn-
ces around. White troops generally ex-
cite no opposition, and, therefore, q very
small number can maintain order in a
given district Colored troops must b-
kept in hodies sufficient to defend them
selves. 1t is not thinking men who
would do violence towards 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 mis- late master should By
right belong 10 him, at least should have
no protection from colored soldiers
There is danger of collision being brought
OF by such causes. My observations lead
me to the conclusion that the citizens OF
the South are anxious to return to self
government within the Union ~ soon
az possible, and whilst reconstrue-
ting they want and require The protec-
ton from the government that they
think Is required by the government and
not humihatiDg TO them as colonies, and
it such course was pointed out to them
they would pursue IL IN good faith
Ii Is TO be regretted that there cannot
be great commingling ct this time be-
tween the citizens of both sections, and
particularly tlose entrusted with the lsg
maksng power.
I did not give the operations Of the
Freedmen's Beureau that attention l
would have done had more time 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 had not been con-
Quoted with good judgement or economy,
and the belief widely spread among the
freedmen of the Southern States, that
the lands of their former owners will, in
part at least, be- divided among them, has
come from the agents of this Bureau.
This belief is seriously interfering with
the willingness Of the freedmen to make
contracts for the coming year, and viii
until law is established and enforced, Sc
curing to the freedmen their rights and
full protection. At present, however, il
Is independent CT the military establish
ment OF the country and seems to be op-
Grated by the different agents Of the Bu-
reau according to their individual notions.
Everywhere Gen. Howard, the able head
of the Bureau, has made friends by the
Just and fair instructions and advice he
gave, but the complaint in South CAroli-
ma was that when he lett, things went on
as before. Many, perhaps the majority
Of the agents OF the Freedmen's Bureau,
advise the freedmen that by their own in
dustry they must expect TO live, and to
this end they endeavor to secure employ
ment for them and to see both contract
ing parties comply with their engage
ments. In some cases, l am sorry the
.EEeedmen's mind does not seem to be
dlsaeSised OF the ld5a InRL the Tee0Lnan
has the right to live without care or Pre-
vision for the future. The effect of the
and accumulation in camps, towns and
cities. In such cases / think it will be
found that vice and disease will tend to
the determination or great decoration
Of the colored race. IL cannot be expect
ed that the opinions held by men at the
South for years can be changed IN 3 day,
therefore the freedmen require for few
years not only laws to protect them, but
the fostering care of those who will give
them good counsel, and on whom they
cIn rely. The Freedmen's Bureau being
separated from the military establishment
OF the country requires all the expense Oh
a separate organization. One does not
necessarily know what the other Is doing,
or what orders they are acting under.
1t seems to me this could be corrected
by regarding every officer on duty with
troops in the Southern States as agent OF
the Fredmen's Bureau, and then have all
orders from the head of the Bureau sent
through department commanders. This
would create responsibility that would
create uniformity OF action throughout the
South, would ensure orders ana lnstruc
tions from The head of the Bureau being
carried out and would relieve from duty
and pay a large number of employees Of
the Government.
have the honor to be very respectful
ly your obedient servant,
c. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
After the reading of General Grants
report, Mr.. SUMNER asked that the re-
port of General SchuFz be read.
Several Senators objected on the ground
that Schurz's report was too long.
oal- cd hat ahOnIn
begin reading it, as it was very impor
tant document. He instsnced the fact
that the full report of the affairs in Kan
sas was read in the Senate, and that the
present report was much more importans
than that. He said that the message of
President johnson was like the white
washing message of Franklin Pierce on
Kansas affairs.
Mr.. JOHNSON didn't think there was
any whitewsshiDg in this report, which
was plain statement of facts.
The Clerk commenced reading Schurs's
report, when Mr.. SHERMAN moved to
print it.
Mr.. SUMNER argued that il should be
read, declaring that Sehurz was sent on
mission by the President, and made
visit occupying time, and extending
through different States, and had given
truthful report.
Mr.. SHERMAN admitted that the re-
port might be able and interesting, but
would rather read it than hear it read.
Mr. DOOLITTLE said that Mr.. Sum-
ner ought to qualify his statement that
the message was intended to White-wAsh
affairs that are worse than those of Kan
sas, in the days of Franklin Pierce. He
thoucl Mr.. Summer could not mean that
the al. .irs T the South were worse than
those OF Kansas.
Mr.. SUMNER said he had nothing to
qualify. and reiterated his statement.
nVVnN- fbora was any