Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-06-07
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Reported Conversation with Lieut.. Gen.
Grant-His Opinion OF the Temper and
Needs of the Southern People.

Reported Conversation with Lieut.. Gen.
Needs orthe Southern People.
New YoRx, May 25.-The Lewiston. Maine,
Journal gives report oil an hours conversation
between its editor ard General Grant, in which, If
the report is correctly given, the Lieutenant Gen
eral appears TO have spoken out more freely than
he commonly does. III . is reported to have said
there were some parts OF the country where our
armies had never trod particularly Texas, which
needed to feel the bghtng effects of war TO bring
their people 10 realizing sense Of the enormity oil
their crime and the necessity Of thorough repent
ance. al find" 81 id he, that those parts Of the
South which have not ielt the power of the war and
particularly those which have been within our lines
and have therefore escaped the rebel CONSUMPTION
and taxes, are much less disposed 10 accept the
situation in good faith than those portions which
have been literally overrun with fire and sword"
Referring to the temper of the people, he thus
Remarked: "They are much less now dis
posed now TO bring themselves TO the proper frame
of mind than they were one year since "A year
ago." said he, "they were willing to do anything
Now they regard themselves as masters OF the SIT
uation. Some of the Rebel Generals are behav-
ing noby, and doing ali they can TO induce the
people to throw aside their old prejudices. and TO
conform their course to the condition of things
Johnson and Dick Taylor. particularly, are exer-
cising good influence, but Lee is behaving bad
ly. He is conducting himself very differently from
what had reason, from what he said At the time
OF the surrender, TO suppose he would NO man
at the South 10 capable of exercising tenth part
of the influence for good, that he is but instead OF
using il he is setting example OF forced acqui-
escence, so grudging ard pernicous in its effects
as 20 be hardly realized" The men who. were
ia the rebel armies" said Grant, "acquiesce in the
result much better th,n those who sraid at home.
The women particularly bitter against the I'm
ion and Union men. OF course, there is some bit
,erness Of feeling among all classes, but am sat
siied il would s9on die out il their leading men
had not somehow got the idea that treason after
all was not very bad and that the Southern cause,
as they phrase it, will yet triu rph not in but
, in politics. In my judgment, the tone OF certain
men and certain papers in the North is such as Il
do incalcuab!e mischief in making the late rebel:
believe that they are just much entitled 10 rule
as ever, and that if they will only stand by wha
they are pleased to call ,.ler rights, they will have
help from she North" This" Significantly al
dcd Grant, lis only playing again the incipi
, ert stages OF the rebellion" He was confident
tina, the large majority Of the Southern peopl,
would smother their entment5 and become good
citizens, il those mischief mixers at the North
the Coppcrhe ala, would only let them alone
For himself II he had the pow or, the first thing h
, would do he would seize the New York Sens and
kindred sheets. which are giving the South so dan
gerous an IDEA oftheir position and rights.
Troops" said Gen. Grant, "must be kept il
all the principal points Of the South for some tim
to come. This will be necessary to repress tn
, turbulence OF class OF the South very danserou
to all well disposed persons, and also 20 protec
the rights of the Freedmen. who looked upOl
with deep hatred by very large proportion OF the
people,"