Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1866-01-06
The Situation at the South.
REPORT OF LIEUT.. GEN, GRANT.

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNI.
TED STATES, Wash,ngton, Dec. Is, '65,-
His Excel.cncy, Andrew johnson, Pres
ident of the United States-Sir In re-
ply to your note of the 10th instant, re-
qucs'lns report from me, giving such in
formation as I may be possessed of coming
within the scope Of the inquiries made by
the Senate of the United States in their
resolution Of the l2lh instant, have the
honor to submit the following, with your
approval, and also that Of the Hon. Sec.
retary Of war:
| left Washington City on the 9th of
last month for the purpo'e of making
tour of inspection through some oil the
Southern States, or States lately in rebel
lion, and to sec what changes were ne
cesSary TO be made in the disposition Of
the military forces Of the country; how
these forces could be reduced and expen.
scs curtailcd, &c, aud to learn as far as
possible the feeling and intentions of The
ci!z9n5 of those States towards the Cen
ecaI Government.
The State of Virginia b.iug SO accessi-
bic to Washington City, aud information
from this quarter, threfore, being readily
obtained, [ fastened through the State;
without conversing or meeting with any Of
its citizens. lu Raleigh. NC, one day,
in Charleston, SC, twJ days, Savannah
and Augusta, Georgia, each one day.
Both in travelling and stopping | saw
much, and conversed freely with citizens
Of those States a. well as with officers of
the army who have been stationed among
them.
The following are the conclusions conc
to by me am satisfied that the mass OF
thinking men OF the South accept the pres.
cut situation Of affairs in good faith The
questions which haze heretofore divided
the sentiments of the people Of the Two
sections, slavery and State rights, o.
the right OF State to seccdc from the
Union, they regard as having been settled
forever Ly the highest tribunal, arms, tha
man can resort to [ was pleased tc
learn from the leading men whom | met
that they not only accepted the decision
arrived at as linal, but now that the smoke
Of battle has cleared away and time ha
/ cen given for reflection, this decision ha
been fortunate ono fer the whole country
they receiving the like bonedts from
with those who opposed them 10 tue hcl'
and 10 tho council,
-Four years Of war, during which tn
law was executed only at the point of Til
bayonet throughout the States in rebel
lion, have left tue people possibly in con
dition not 10 yield that ready obedience t
civil authority the American people hav
generally bean in the habit OF yielding
This would render the presence of sma
garrisons throughout these States neccs
sary until such time as labor returns to il
proper channel, and civil authority i, u!i
established. | did not meet any on
either those holding p tSes under the Go,
rfnmeut, or citizcus OF the Southern State
who think it practicable to Withdraw II
military from the South at present. I'll
white and the black mutually require tt
protection of the General Guverumel
There is such universal acquiescence
the authority OF the General Goyernmc
throughout the portion Of the country vi
tied by me, mat the mele presence OF
military force, without regard to numb>
is sufficient to maintain order.
The good Of the country and econon
require lhtToscc keptia the in'crior,wht
there are many freedmen. Elsewhere
the Southern States than at forts upon
sea coast no force is necessary. Tb
should all be white troops. The reaSc
for this are obvious, without meaiioni
many of them. The presence OF blo
troops, lately slaves, demoralizes lab
both by their advice and by furnishing
, their camps resort for the free dmen
pts long distances around White troops g
orally excite no opposition, and therefor
an small number of them can maintain or
in given district, Colored troops must
kept 10 bodies sufficient 10 defend the
49," selves. 1t is not the thinking portion y
~ would use violence towards any elias
troops sent among them by the Gen,
ues Government, but the ignorant, in 81
op. places, might, and the late slave seem
be mbued with the idea that the prop,
of his late master should By right bel
est to him; ct least should have no protec
lot lrom the colored soldier. There is d
ger of collision being brought on by s
who causes.
mar. My observations lead me to the con