The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-12-22
GEN. GRANTS REPORT.

The 1t. Gen. has been on tour OF observation
through the Southern Atlantic States, stopping
one day in North Carolina, two days in South
Carolina anil two days In Georgia, and the follow
ing is the report Of his observations made to the
President;
am satisfied the mass Of thinking men Of the
South aecep, the present situation Of affairs in
good faith The questions which have hitherto
divided the sentiments Of the people Of the two
sectons-slsvery ind State rights, or the right OF
State To secede from the Union--they regard rs
hayog been settled forever by the highest tribu.
nal Of arms that man Gao resort to. was pleased
to learn frum the leading men whom l met that
they not only accepted the decision arrived ut rs
final hut now that the smoke OF battle has clear
cd away, and time has been given for reflection,
that this dec scn has been fortunate one for the
whole country, they receiving the like benefits
from Il with those who opposed them in the field
and IN the cuuncil. Four years Of war, during
which the law was executed only at the point OF
the b,yoact througoht the States in rebellion have
left the prop.e, possibly, In that condition not to
yield that w My obedience to civil authority the
America. people have generally been IN the Ia
bit If yi.lliug. This wouhl render the presense
OF small g,rrlsons throughout those States neces.
s,ry until sush time labor returns to its proper
ch ,nnel anil civil authority is fully established.
| dill not mest any ono. either those holding pls-
c.s under ID. government or citizens of Southern
States whn thought il practicable to withdraw
the military from the South NJ present The
white anil bl,ck mutually. require the protection
Of the general government There IL such uni
yrrs,l aequi scenee In the authority OF the gene
raj gosernn, mt throughput the portions of the
country visited by me that the mere presence OF
Auxiliary E,rce without, regard to numbers Is
sufficient Z" maintain order.
The g,ol ofthe country requires that n force
be kept in tie interior where there are many free
men. Elsew here In the Southern States than at
Al - t.r. Ia Tha
sokiiersl should all be white troops. The reasons
for this are obvious. Without mentioning many
oftheni. the presence Of black troops, lately
slaves dem"ralizes labor both by their advice anu
I rnish NJ In their camps resort for the freed
men for bns distances around. White troops
generally excite opposition. and therefore
smaller number Of them can maintain order in n
given district. Colored troops must be kept In n
body sufficient to defend themselves II Is not
the thinking man who would do violence toward
ANY class ot troops sent among them by the Gen
eral Government. but the ignorant In some places
might; and the late slave, too, who might be I'm
baed with Me idea that the property of his late
master should BY right belong to him, nj least
should have no protection from the colored sol
der There Is no danger OF couision being
brought on by such causes.
NV obsrr yatious lead me To the conclusion that
the citiiens of the Southern States are anxious to
return to sei-goycrnment within the Union as
som ~ poe sible; that whilst rcconstrueting they
ment that they think is required Of the Govern
rent aud Is not unmilitary 10 them rs citizens.
and that ifsuch n course was pointed out they
would pursue IL 10 good filth. II Is Ia be re-
grrttei th,t there cannot be greater comingling
NJ this time between the two sections, and partieu
lsrly Of those entrusted with the law-makins
power:
bureau tht attention would have done IL more
time had been at my disposal. Conversation, how.
ever, on tie subject with officers connected win
tae f,ure "a lead me 20 think that in some OF the
State, its affairs have not been conducted with
god judgement or economy, and that the belief
widely spread among the freedmen Of the South
sru States that the lands Of their former owners
viii, At least in part. be divided among them has
come frum agents of the Bureau. This belief Is
seriously interfering with the willingness OF the
freeimen TO make contracts for the coming year.
In some form the freedmen's Bureau Is an ahso-
lutte neee~ity until the civil Law Is established
and endorsed. securing to freedmen their rights
and full protection. Aprssent, however, IL is
Independent Of the military estsbl,shment of the
country aud seems I, be operated 10y the differ
emit agents ofthe Bureau. according 10 their indi-
vidual notions. Everywhere Gen. Howard, the
able heal OF the Buresu, has made friends by the
just anil t~ir instructions and advice he gave, but
the COMPLIANT In South Carolina Was, that when
he Left things went on as before. Many, per
haps majority Of the agents ofthe freedmen's
Bureau. advised the freedmen that by their own
tniu1try tncy mu>t expcct to i've 10 TINS end
they eWleavoured On secure employ ment Tor them
and to see that both OF the contracting parties
com ii a with their engagements. In some Cases
an scrry to say, the frccdmen's mind does not
seem a. be dissbusei Of the idea that the freed.
man his right to live without carr OF provision
fsr the future The eject OF this belief in the
distrt ution ofthe lands Is idleness AMI the ancu
mutation In camps. towns and cities. In such ca.
ses think Il sill be found thai vice and discase
viii tend TO the determination or great dessrao
ton 20 the oo,orcdrscc. Il cannot be expected
tssa the opinions held by mcu at the South for
yeArs, can be changed in . day. and therefore the
ireednen require Tor . fcu years not only laws
20 protect them, but the fostering care Of those
Who VII give theu good counsel and on whom
ne Irsdnsn's Ba,csa being separated rom
the nitsAsy establishment of the country requires
all the expense ola separate organization. One
does not necessarily know what the other Ii do
Ing. or what orders they are acting under. II
ses0s 70 ND this could be corrected by regarding
svsfy ofkcsr On duty With the troopsiathe South
err Sesee. - agents VI the frss1nsn's Bureau
aplthsn have allordsrs frou the head Of Che b.