Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-01-05
WHAT GENERAL GRANT SAYS.

Gen. Grant reports to the President that
he has visited North and South Carolina
and Georgia, and that, as the result of free
conversations with leading Southern men
and careful personal observation, he has
arrived at the following conclusions:
81 am satisfied that the mass of the
thinking men of the South accept the
present situation of affairs in good faith
The questions which have hitherto divided
the sentiments of the people of the two
sections-slavery and state rights, or the
rights of state to secede from the Union
they regard as having been settled for
ever by the highest ribunal-arms--that
man can resort to. Twas pleased to learn,
from the leading men whom l met, that
they not only accepted the decision arriv-
ed at as final; but, now the smoke of bat
tie has cleared away and time has been
given forfefiection, that this decision has
been fortunate one for the whole country
they receiving the like benefits from If
with those who opposed them in the field
and in the council Four years of war,
during which laws were executed only at
the point of the bayonet throughout the
states in rebellion, have left the people
possibly in a condition not to yield that
ready obedience to civil authority that the
American people have generally been in
the habit of yielding. This would render
the presence of small garrisons throughout
these states necessary until such time as
labor returns to its proper channel, and
civil authority is fully established.
81 did not meet any one, either those
holding places under the government or
citizens ofthe Southern States, who thought
it practicable to withdraw the military from
the South at present The white and the
black mutually require the protection of
the general government. There is such
universal acquiescenee in the authority of
the general government throughout the
portions of the country visited by me that
the mere presence of military force, with
out 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 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 many of
them. The presence of black troops late
ly slaves demoraGzes labor, both by their
advice and furnishing in their camps re-
sort for the freedmen for long distances
around. White troops generally excite no
opposition, and therefore small number
ofthem can maintain order in given dis
trict Colored troops must be kept in
bodies sufficient to defend themselves
1t is not the thinking men who would do
violence toward any class of troops sent
among them by the general government; !;
but the ignorant in some places might;
and the late slave, too, who might be i'm
bued with the idea that the property of his
late master should by right belong to him,
at least should have no protection from
the colored soldiers. There is danger of
collision being brought on by such causes"
Gen. Grant recommends the continu-
ance of the Freedmen's Beaureau, and its
immediate connection with the military
authorities.