The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-27
Gen. Grants Report to the Prcsi-

1 :
lis Ececllency A. johnson, President Of
the United States
SlR-In reply to your note of the 10th
inst, requesting report from me giving
such information as | may be possessed
of, coming within the scope of inquiries
made by the Senate of the United States
in their resolution of the 18th, have
the honor to submit the following, with
your approval, and also that of the Hon.
orable Secretary of War:
L left Washington City on the 9th of
last month for the purpose of making a
tour of inspection throughout some of
the Southern States lately in rebellion,
and to see what changes were necessary
In the disposition of the military forces
of the country, how these forces could be
reduced and expenses curtailed, &C., and
to learn, as far as possible, the feelings
and intentions of, the citizens of the
Staes towards the General Government
The State of Virginia being so accessible
to Washington City, and information
from this quarter, therefore, being readi-
ly obtained, | fastened through the State
without conversing or meeting with its
citizens. In Raleigh, N. c., I spent one
day; In Charleston, S. c., two days; and
IN Savannah and Augusta, Ga, each one
day. Both in travelling and whilst stop
ping saw much and conversed freely
with the citizens of those States, as well
as with officers of the army who have
been stationed among them. The follow
ing are the conclusions come to by
me:
[ am satisfied that the mass of the
thinking men of the South accept the
present situation of affairs in good faith.
The questions that have hitherto divided
the sentiments of the people of the two
sections-slavery and State rights, or the
right ola State to secede from the Union
they regard as having been settled for
ever by the highest misunderstanding
man can resort to. | was pleased to learn
from the leading men whom I met, that
they not only accepted the decision ar
rived at as final. but now that the smoke
of battle has cleared away and time has
been given for reflection, this decision
has been for the whole country, they re-
ceiving the like benefit from it with those
who opposed them in the field and in
council as
Four years of war, during which law
was executed only at the point of the
bayonet througout the State in rebellion,
have left the people possibly in condi-
tion not to yield that ready obedience to
civil authority the American people have
been in the habit of yielding. This
would render the presence Of small gar
risons throughout those States necessary
until such time as labor returns to its
proper channel and civil authority is fully
re-established. 1 did not meet any one,
either those holding places under the
Government or citizens of the Southern
States, who thought it practicable to
Withdraw the military from the South at
present. The white and the black mutu-
ally require the protection of the Gene
raj Government. There is such univer-
sal acquiescence in the authority of the
General Government through the por-
tions of the country visited by me, that
the mere presence of military force,
without regard to numbers, is sufficient
to maintain order. The good of the
country requires that the force kept in
the interior, where there are many more
freedmen than elsewhere in the Southern
States should all be white troops. The
reasons for this, without mentioning
many of them, is, that the presence of
black troops is likely to demoralize the
freedmen and labor, both by their advice
and furnishing in their camps resort
for the freedmen of long distances around.
White troops generally excite no oppo-
sltlon, and therefore a small number of
them can maintain order. There must be
kept in the cities sufficient number to
defend them. it is not the thinking men
who would do violence towards any class
of troops sent among them by the Gov
ernment, but the ignorant might, and the
late slave too, who might be induced,
with the idea that the property of his
late master should by right belong to
him, at least should have no protection
from colored soldiers. There is danger
Of collision being brought on by such
courses.
: My observation leads me to the conclu-
sion that citizens of the Southern States
ire anxious to return to self-government
within the Union as soon as possible, |
hat whilst reconstructing their govern |
nents, and it is not humiliating to them
IS citizens; that ifsuch course was point |
ID out they would pursue it In good |
iaith. ~ r
1t is to be regretted that there cannot
oe greater commingling at this time
the citizens of the two sections, |
Ind particularly of those entrusted with |
.he making power.
l did not give the operation of the
Freedmen's Bureau that attention would |
nave done if more time had been at my |
disposal. Conversations, however, on |
he subject with officers connected with
he Bureau, led me to think that in some
IF the States its affairs have not been
with good Judgment or econo-
my, and that the belief will be spread |
among the freedmen of the South that
The lands of their former owners will
be divided amongst them has come from
the agents of this Bureau. This belief
IS erroneously interfering with the viii
lingness of freedmen to make contracts
for the coming year. In some cases the
Freedmen's Bureau is an absolute neccs-
sity until civil law is established and en-
forced, securing to the Freedmen their
u n u