The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-12-21
General Grant. Report.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
DE THE UNITED STATES,
December Is, 1865.

HEADQUARTERS OF TIE ARMY
OE THE UNITED STATES,
December IS, 1865
To His Ercellency. Andrew Johnson, Presi-
dent OF the United States:
SIRE In reply to your note of the l6thinst.,
requesting a report from me giving such in
formation rs i may be possessor Of, coming
within the scope Of the inquiries made by the
senate Of the United States in their resolution
Of the 18th inst, | have the honor 70 submit
the following. with your approval, and also
that Of the Hon. Secretary of War:
left Washington city on the 9th Of last
month for the purpose Of making n tour Of i'm
spection throughout some OF the Southern
states lately in rebellion. and 10 see what
changes were necessary in the disposition of
the military forces of the country, how these
forces could be reduced and expenses curtai-
ed, etc. and TO learn, rs far as possible. the
feelings and intentions Of the citizens Of those
states toward the General Government.
The State Of Virginia being so accessible TO
Washington City, aud Information from that
quarter, therefore, being readily obtained, i
fastened through the State without cOnversing
or meeting with its citizen.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, spent one day;
in Charleston, South Carolina, two days; and
in Savannah and Augusta. Georgia, each one
day. Both in travelling and while stopping I
saw much and conyersed freely with the citi-
Zens Of those states, rs well n with officers Of
the army who have been stationed among
them The following are the conclusions come
to by me:
am satisfied that the mass Of thinking men
of the South accept the present situation Of az
fairs in good faith. The questions which have
hitherto divided the sentiments Of the people
OF the two sections-slavery and State rights,
or the right of a State 10 secede from the Unon--
they regard As having been settled forever
by the highest tribuual-arms-that man can
resort 10. am pleased TO learn from the lead
ing men whom | met that they not only ac-
cepted the decision arriN ed at. a. final, but
now the smoke Of battle has cleared away
and time has been given for reflection, that
this decision has been a fortunate one for the
whole country, they receiving the like benefits
from il with those who opposed them ON the
held and In the council.
-Four years of war, during which the law
was executed only at the point of the bayonct
throughout the states In rebellion, have left
the people possibly in a condition not TO Weld
that ready obedience 10 civil authority which
the American people hayo generally been in
the habit Of yielding. This would render the
presence Of small garrisons throughout those
States necessary, until such time As labor re-
turns 10 lis proper channel, and the civil au-
thorities are fully established. / did not meet
any one, either those holding places under the
Government, or citizens OF the southern States,
who thought IL practicable 10 withdraw the
military from the South Mt present. The white
and the back mutually require the protection
Of the General Government. There i such
universal acquiescence In the authority OF the
General Government. throughout the portions
Of the country visited by me, that the mere
presence Of military force, without regard 10
numbers. is sufficient TO maintain order.
The good OF the country requires that the
military force kept in the interior, where there
are many freedmen, and elsewhere in the
southern States than AZ forts anon the sea
coast, where no force il necessary, should all
be white troops The reasons for this are OBJ
yious. Without mentioning many Of them.
the presence Of black troops, lately slaves de-
moralizes labor. both by their advice and by
furnishing in their lamps resort for the
freedmen, for long distances around. White
troops generally excite no opposition, and
therefore a small number Of them can main
tain order in given district COlored troops
must be kept In bodies sufficient 10 defend
themselves. II i not the thinking m 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 master
should. by right, belong TO him. 1t least should
have no protection from the colored soldiers
There Is danger Of collision being brought Oh
by such causes.
Ny observations lead me TO the conclusion
that the citizens Of the southern states are
anxious TO return 10 selfsoyernment, within
the Union, A. soon As possible; that, while re-
constructing, they want and require protec-
ton from the Government. and is not humilia-
ting TO them as citizens, aud that il such a
course IL pointed out &c them they would pur- ,
sue IL in good faith.
IL i 70 De regretted that there can not bs L
AZ this time between the citizens
u the two sections, and part cularly Of those
intrusted with law -making.
did not give the operations Of the Freed
mems Bureau that attention / would have
done II more time had been AT my disposal. I
Conversations, however. on the subject, with ,
officers connected with the bureau. led me 70 1
think that in some cf the States its Affairs have
not been conducted With good iud gm mt or
and that the belief widely spread 4
among The freedmcn Il the Southern states.
that the lands ef the former owner Will n least
in part be divided Blong them. has come from I
the agent q the bureau. lhis beliefs serious .
y interfering WITH The willingness u the freed 4
men o make contracts for the coming year. In 4
some forms the Freedmcn's Bureau i an ahso-
ute necessity uatil civil law i established and 4
enforced. securing 20 the freedmen their right, 4
md full protection. Al present. however. IL i 4
Of the military establishment II .
he country, and seems % be operated by the .
iiherent agents Of the bureau accordsng 70
heir indy ~ al no:iOn' everywhere.
General Howard, the able head Of the Bu-
eau, made friends by tie just and fair instruc-
ions and advice he gave, but The complaint in
south CarOllna was that when be len, things
vent on a before Many. perhaps the major
", Of the agents q the Fre.dmen's Bureau
Idyi the freedmen that hy their own indus
~ they must expect 20 live. 10 this end they
Hdeavor % secure employ ment fer them. and
o see that both contracting parties comply
\ ith their cngagenlents.
In some cases. am sorry 70 say. the freed
mans usind does not seem u be disabu>ed Of
he idea that lie freedmen have the right 20
I've without care OF provision for the future.
The effect Of the belief ia the division Of land
) idleness and accumulation In camps, town
nj critics. In such eases / think q VIII be
ound that vice ind disease win tend 20 the ex-
erminati0u or destruction oethe colored race.
II can not be expected that The opinion held
" men ~ the south fsr years can Dc changed
D a day, aud, therefore, the freedmen require
II FEW ysArs not only laws u prOteci them.