Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-06-09
From the 0nl,eston Hew..
Mr.. TRUMAY's REPoRr.-ThS


publication of this report IN which
Texas is included-by authority OF
tho President, gives it Importance
1t is also meritorious in itself, both
tor its ability and candor. We have
before referred to it, and now give
few extracts:
The scene that ensued upon tho
cessation of hostilities is thus des-
cribed: "The negroes in their ig.
norance and darkness Of under.
standing were penetrated with a
singularly strong conviction that
they were not free so long as they
stayed at the old place. All last
summer and fall they pretty thor
oughly demonstrated that freedom
by changing their places of resi-.
dence. Such a thorough chaos and
commingling of population has sell
dom been seen since the great bar
barian invasion of tho Roman En-.
pirc."
Mr. Truman testifes that the
blacks have since found out that
there is no desire for their re-en-
slavement. Hence he says, ca large
majority of them have finally re-
turned and settled down in the
old cabins of their former quarters. "
He adds:
eft was only temporary impulse
of their new found freedom to wan
der away from them, and at last
they returned, generally wearied,
and hungry and forlorn."
Mr.. Truman states his belief, rs a
result of observation, that the
Southern planters are generally bet
ter friends Of the negro than the
majority of Northern men who are
renting plantations.
The Freedmen's Bureau he thinks
should be speedily suspended. AS
an evidence of the action taken by
the Southern States themselves to
secure the colored race in their
rights of person and property, the
subject of testimony is adduced.
He says
eight months ago, when 1 first
went South, tire subject was ono
that scarcely engaged the serious
attention of public men, much less
their favorable consideration; but
when the Texas Convention, the
last in the South and only very re-
Gently assembled, came together,
so much had popular sentiment nd
vanced on the subject that only
eight members of that body offered
any opposition to measure pro-
posing to allow the negro to testify
in cases of his own concern, and
nearly one-half the delegates favor
ed giving him the most unrestrict-
ed right" And he well and truth
fully adds: ~ know of no State
among all that ] visited in which
either the Constitution or statutes
do not authorize the negro to testi-
fy in all cases where he or any OF
his race may be interested"
The presence of colored soldiers
he regards as disastrous, and thinks
these should be removed as speedi-
ly as possible; that to a great ex.
tent they incite the freedmen to
violence and encourage them to in
dolence.
For the people of these Common
wealths, Mr.. Truman foreshadows o
great history. He remarks:
'In conclusion, l must say that l
bespeak for the South glorious flu
ture. l predict that peace, prosper
ity, wealth and happiness will be
her lot Her rich lands will come
rapidly under cultivation, and will
increase tenfold in value; her no.
BILE waters will be thronged with
the appliances of commerce.; popu-
lation, such as she desires, will flow
steadily into her borders cities and
villages will dot her landscapes (;
schools and churches and public in
situations will be her boast, and o
refined society will grace the land" y