The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-01-04
Shs Tiutua gssara.
General Grants Report to
the President.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TIE U. s.. !
Washington, D. c., Dec. Is, 1865. !

MS ETceihncy n '0hH'oHJ FresldeH oJ
hs United Stats:
SR:-In reply to your note Of the 10th
inst, requesting reoprt from ne giving
such iniOr nation as may be possessed OF
coming within the scope Of inquiries made
by the Senate OF the United States in their
resolution OF The l2,b, have The honor to
submit the following, with your approval,
and also that Of the Honorable Secretary
Of War.
left Washington City on the 9th Of
last month for the purpose Of making a
tour Of inspection throughout some OF the
Southern States lately in rebellion, and to
see what changes were necessary in the
disposition OF the military forces Of the
country, how these forces could be reduced
and expenses Cunaled, &C., and to learn,
as for as possible, the feelings and nten.
tions Of the citizens Of the States towards
the General Government. The st lie oil
Virginia being so accessible TO Washing.
ton City, and information from this quarter,
therefore. being readily obtained, fastened
through the State without couyersing or
meeting with its citizens. in Raleigh, N.
c., spent one day; in Charleston, 5. c.,
two days and in Savannsh and Augusta.
Ga. each one day. Both in travelling and
whilst stopping, saw much and conversed
I freely with the citizens OF those States. as
well as with officers Of the amy who have
been stationed among them. The follow
ing are the conclusions come 10 by me.
| am satisfied that the mass Of thinking
men OF the South accept the present silut.
tion of affairs in good faith. The questions
which have hitherto divided The sentiments
OF the people of the two Sections-Sbvery
and State Rights, ol the right of State to
tecede from the Union-the regard ss
having been settled forever by the highest
tTibuma man CON resort TO.
] was pleased TO learn from the leading
men whom met, that they not only accep.
ted the decision arrived at as final, but now
that the smoke OF battle has cleared away
and time has been given for reflection. this
decision has been for the whole country,
they receiving the bensfit from il with
those who opposed them in the fed and in
council
-Four years OF war during which the law
was executed only at the point Of the bayo.
net throughout The States in rebellion have
left the people possibly in condition not
10 Yield that ready obedience to civil au-
thority the American people have been in
the habit of Yielding. This would rrhder
the presence OF smell gaTrisons throughout
those States Necessary until such time rs
labor ieIuTns to its proper channel and
civil authority is fully re established. ]
did not meet any one, either those holding
places under The Government or citizens OF
the Southern States, who thought practi
cable to withdraw the miitay from the
the South at present. The white and
black mutually require the protection Of the
General Government. There Is such uni-
versal acquirscence in the authori of The
General Government throughout the por-
tions Of the country visited by lac, that the
mere presence of military force, without
regard to numbers, is sufficient TO msintain
order. The good Of the country requires
that the force kept in the interior (whrre
there are many more freedmen than else.
where in the Southern Slatts) should all lie
white troops. The reason for this, without
mentioning many of them, are, that the
presence Of black oops /; like to demor-
alize the freedmen and labor. both by their
advice and furnishing in the camps resort
.
White troops generally excite no opposi'
tion, and therefore small number OF them
can maintain order. There must be kept
in the cities sufficient number 10 defend
them. II is not the thinking men who
would do violence towards any class OF
troops sent among them by the General
Government but the ignorant, in some
cases, might, and the late slave, too, be
induced. with the idea that the property o.
his late master should by right belong tC
him. at least should have no prot eCtior
from the colortd soldiers. There il danger
Of collision being brought on by suct
courses.
Ny observation leads me 10 tho conclu
sion that citizens Of the Southern States srt
anxious to return to self government withir
the Union as soon as possible, that willis
IeconstrucliIg their governments protection
Is required BY the Government, and it il
not humliating TO them us citizens, that i
such course was pointed out they would
pursue it in good faith.
II is to be regretted that there counot b,
greater comminging at this time between
the citizens of the two sections. and par
ticularly Of those entrusted " it'll the law
making power.
l did not civ. the operations Of TN
Freedmen's Bureau tha: attention | woult
haze done if more time had been at ml
disposal. Conversations, however. on the
subject with officers connected with tht
Bureau, led me to think tina; in some OF tn.
States its afflrs have Nut been conducted
with good judgment or economy and IN
the belief, widely spread among the FEED
men of the Southern States. that The land
OF tie former owner will at Ieust in pat bt
divided among them, has come from the
agents Of the Burean. This belief il
seriously interfering with the vii lingness o
the freedmen TO make contracts ful th,
coming year. In some form, the Freed
mems Bureau is an absolute necessity uuti
civil law is established aud enforced, Sc
curing TO The freedmen their lights am
full protection. At present, howe, er. il il
independent Of the military establishment
OF the country, and seems - be opeaed by