New-York tribune., 1866-05-03
RECONsTRUCTI0N.
Evidence Before the Committee Of Pifseen- res.
sipsony Of Gen. Phil. sherfdaa.

Evidence Before the Committee Of Fineen-Tess
tin,sny Of Gen. Phil. sheridas.
WARRINGTON Wednesday Nav 2 1860
The testimony to-day reported by Mr. WasLblIDe II
Illinois, from the Committee on Reconstruction, relative
to the States Of Florida Texas and Louisiana presents
new facts OF importance and cumulative of the various
views heretofore expressed by other witnesses. II
braces the examination Of Major-Gen. {. C. Andrews
dng portion Of 1864 in command Of the Dsi7s %
command Of the Eastern District OF Florida H. e. Ira-
man, correspondent of The Ner York T'mes Stephen
Powers, correspondent Of The Cincinnati CommercaGi
DeBow, of DeBom's Ree,e~; Dr. J. W. Turner formerly
editor Of The Noshre GAZETTE and correspondent OF Ihs
IVa,4,ngtoa Un,oni Caleb Forshey sgPenntendea@1 os
federate eneine Adutant-Gen. Thomas and MaloIGen.
Phil. Sheridan. 80.
localities Of Nsichez and NewOleans in which placer 10
has spent large portion of the time since the war ia eoa-
nection with cotton plantation owned by hlf son. ie
represents the people, far he came Ia contact Win
them anxious for the restoration of the Union and favor
ably disposed toward the Federal Government and toward
Northern men.
mail from NewOreans in response 20 inerogaoIos cent
TO him by Senator Williams as Chairman Of the ssb-CoD-
HEApsuAnrnns MILITARY Dny,nOs The m Grn.l
To "a. o. oroaer H. WlI.zs chsi;~%s & Sisse q & ess~ @
brsigaoa Of A6airI in Ioa'ana, Telaa aAd Fio'tas
DEAR SIR; Your communication Of the 23d uuo request
ing certain information to affairs in louisiana Texas and
Florida duly to hand but. owing 10 my absence IN
Florida have been prevented from responding at az earlier
opa.' S your
O. What are now the feelings Of those who took part tie
Rebellion and sympathzed with H. toward the General Gov
A. believe they accept the situation and bsve an
desire for the restoration Of perfect unob bgt e.
hibit at the time unmstakabc desire to eloify
rebellion.
O What has been the effect of the unntei exercise Of tho
psdonng power upon such persons has made them more
reudy otherwise toward the Federal Government A.
have noticed no particular change 10 sentiment on aeeooh
O What would be the effect in your opinion upon tie State
orsan the people left without eSniro to ae, for
bemseves A. believe they would quarrel among Them
selves and that the sensible and substantial people wcu re-
Are the Offices of the State tie hands oloyal Or
A. Iss qTe q as ss,s 81 ls
other active participants in the Rebellion am unable say
Eos e actual @ @ r osnep are n sas%e ID TO
extent what sther best pcy in order 10 hold once
have those high in authority in transtor state Tor the
O. What are regarded the chief recommendations for
outside uauenees s A. fSe Inclination to sory reoa
gives those active participants in II the preference
10 wsai soad Be the y
left without any protection by the Federal Goysressn
safe and many Of them leave the country.
@ State opinion as to the necessity r The
this opinion A consider necessary to maintain Gli-
secarity to Northern capital Union people and
actual and moral support the qn he ss m. 70
prevent qusrreng among the Southern people tbe'
selves
@ What your opinion to the necessity and expedisney
OF the Freedmens Bureau A. Tie Freedmens Burean gives
that security to the freedmen which arises from having some
one 10 look advocate his interests; change mRb1
be made by appointing Inspector General Of Freedmen
With the nS%se 9 Aass Rs
more esSnSTSa o but wSud % dass s os ss %
little as possible TO do with civil affairs
O. What would be the condition and fate Of the Freedmen il
white people there A. fear there would great d
troubles large number Of The people would act 70 good n
Of to extent would probably be the eoose
,r ,,,, orir;or "a n tho canac;tx of tho eolo.
people What do they know and to what extent can hey
exercise the rights Of reemen Are they willing or unwilling
to without physical compuson with kind treatment and
fair wages and state what in your Judgment the best
for 70 s other to si s
g5ees Of intelligence and and hass sspasy y,s,,sa ~ ssS
USsr city IN The PGRsd an excellent
society. and avery high degree Of refinement eIss in IL,
ing from tS this Sso sn 60 f 1s ss ss "a a
E possible 70, any human being 70 be- The & eednsS ,s
say whetser they leave rapidly or not believe they viii
ing because their necessities compel them to do In
or black man performing manual labor for the love
Of believe the best thing that Congress or States
man. beyond giving him security 10 his property and person
His social status viii be worked out BY logic Of the necessity
South for some time to come
PLEASE %sfs %ecuss snS ss to sSss
the evils that exist in your department growing QUE
within the limit Of my command as good perhaps as could
be expected m not satisfactory the people Of Louisiana arc
upon perhaps the majority Of tho plantations the State r
bs ted before the instances the pan-
ts.ions will a into the hands OF Northern people who nom
present appearances viii at no very distant period eesol
iouhsna in sentiment having this prospect tefsIs
tem surprising thai spirit OF bitterness and dissent
should exist believe that majority OF the people not
opposed the General Government and in ci earnestly
desire to be restored to perfect union With
the other States; still sufficient time has not Jet eapeed 70
eace recollection Of their having been reduced rom au
ence to limited the chagrn OF being conquered snd
submerge the idea Of usng Rebellion and s Representa-
ves this latter idea and its consequences prevai 70 %
great that consider the retention Of the military
in Louisiana time necessary for the secu'Is o1
euigranta freedmen and captal Florida not poor ho
old debts and havoc Of like louisiana and the tone ssd
sentiment Of the people very fair and great desire 10
manested to be restored to perfect Union Texas han 10
creased In wealth by the Rebellion. Among the bese
people there very good feeling toward the Government
There swlsss people there. however which tsse
sentiment does control and which cannot be controlled
bu by the military The sentiment In this State viii nos
from the Southern emigration and Nortbern
capital State Of louisiana 10 essential that tbs
military in considerable force be maintained In the Depart
ment Of Texas. ,.....
have the be Sir very respectfully your obessss
servant 4. II. SHERIDAN Major General Commanding.