The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-22

cleared away and time has been give
for reflection, that this decision la
been fortunate one for the whole conr
try, they receiving the like benefit
from II with those who opposed them i
the field and in the cause.
-Four years of war, during which Law
was executed only at the point of tn
bayonet throughout the states i'm rebel
lion, have left the people, possibly, in
condition not to yield that ready obe,li
ence to civil authority the American
people have generally been in the habi
of yielding. This would render thepre
sence of small garrisons Throughout
those states necessary until such time a
labor returns to its proper channel ant
civil authority is fully established.
did not meet any one, either those hold
ing place under Government or citizen,
of the southern states, who think i
practicable to withdraw the militar,
from the South at present. The white
and the black mutually require tire pro
lection of the general Government.
Thercis such universal acquiescence
i'm the authority Of the General Govern
ment throughout the portions of the
country visited by me, that the mere
presence of II military force, without re-
gard IN numbers, il sufficient to main.
tain order. The good of the country
and &c jnomy. require that the force
kept in the interior where there are
many freedmen ELSEWHERE, in the
southern states, than at Forts upon the
sea coast no force is necessary should
all be white troops. The reasons for
this are obvious, without mentioning
any of them. The presence of black
troops, lately slaves, demoralizes labor,
both by their advice, and by furnishing
in their camps Il resort for the freedmen
for long distances around. White troops
generally excite no opposition, and,
therefore, q small number of them can
maintain order in given district. Col
ored troops must he kept in bodies. suf-
| ficientto defend themselves. IL is not
| the thinking men who would use vio-
lence towards any class of troops sent
among them by the General Govern
nent, but the ignorant in some places
might; and the late slave seems To be
imbued with HE idea that the property
of his late master should by right be-
long to him-at least, should have no
projections from the colOred soldiers.
| There is danger of collisions being
brought on 10y such causes.
My observations lead me to the con
clusion that the citizens Of the southern
| states are anxious to return to self-gOv-
eminent within the Union MS soon rs
I possible; that whilst rcconstrlicting,
| they want and require protection from
the Government that they are i'm
earnest in wishing TO do what they
think is required by the Government
not humiliating TO them as citizens
and that if such course was pointed
out, they would pursue il in good faith.
1t is to be regretted that there cannot be
greater cOmmingling at this time be-
| tween the citizens of the two sections,
and particularly of those entrusted
with the law-malSing power.
L did not give tho operations of the
Freedmen's Bureau that attention /
would have done if more time had been
at my disposal. Conversations on the
subject, however, with officers connec-
ted with the Bureau, lead me to think
that in some of the States lis affairs
have not been conducted with good
Judgement or economy, and that the be-
lief, widely spread among the freedmen
of the southern states, that the lands of
their former owners will ut least in part
be divided among them, has come from
the agents of this Bureau. This belief
is seriously interfering with the willing
ness of the freedmen to make contracts
for the coming year. In some form the
Freedmen's Bureau is an absolute neces-
sity until civil law is established and
enforced, securing to the freedmen their
rights and full protection. At present,
however, it is Independent of tile mill
tary establishment of the country, and
seems to be operated by the different
agents of the Bureau according to their
Individual notions. Everywhere Gen
eral Howard, the able head of the Blu
reau, made friends by the Just and fair
instructions and advice he gave; but
the complaint in South Carolina was,
that when he left things went on as be-
fore. Many, perhaps the majority of the
agents of the Freedmen's Bureau, adj
wise the freedmen that by their own in
dustry they must expect to live. TO
this end they endeavOr to secure en-
ployment for them, and to see that both
contracting parties comply with their
engagements. In some Instances, am
sorry to say, the freedman's mind does
not SEEM to he disabused of the idea that
the freedman has right to live without
care or provision for the future. The
effect of the belief in division of lands is
~,
towns, and cities. In such cases think
il will he found that vice and disease
will tend to the determination or great
reduction of the cOlOred race. IL can
not be expected that the opinions held
by men at the South for years can be
changed in q day, and therefore the
freedmen require for few years not
only laws to protect them, but the foster
inc care of thnse WIN will rive Them
good counsel and in whom they rely.
The Freedmen's Bureau, being sepa-
rated from the military establishment
Ofthe country, acquires all the expense
of n separate organization. One does
not necessarily know what the other IL
doing, or what order they are acting I'M
der. It seems to me this could be cor
rected by regarding every officer on
duty with troops in the southern states
MS agents of the Frcedmcn's Bureau.
and then have all orders from the head
of the Bureau sent through department
commanders. This would create re-
sponsibility that would SECURE unifOrmi-
ty of action throughout the South, would
insure the orders and instructions from
hehead of the Bureau being carried out,
and would relieve from duty and pay n
large number of employees of the Gov
ernmcnt.
have the honor to be, very respect
fully, yoar ohcdient servant,
u. S. GRANT.
Lieutenant General.
Mr.. Sumner. ] wish to make one re-
mark with reference to the business be-
fore the Senate wish TO know wheth-
cr the report of Major General Carl
. al,,r, l., ,p.,axad In tha n,aseaoa of ~ n