The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-05-30
Gen. Grants Views.

The Lewiston (Me) Journal gives the
report Of an hours conversation between
tho editor and General Grant, in which,
if tho report is correctly given, the
Lieutenant General appears to have
spoken out more freely than he common.
| ly does. Ho is reported to have said ::
There were some parts Of the country
where our armies had mover trod--par.
ticularly Texas-rhich needed to feel
the bligh,ing effects Of war, to bring
their people to o realizing sense Of the
euormity oftheir crime, and the necessity
Of thorough repentance. Hc said that
those parts of tho South which have not
felt the war, and particularly those which
have been within our lines, and have,
therefore, escaped the rebel CONSUMPTION,
are much less disposed to accept tho sit.
uution 10 good faith than those portions
which havo been literally overrun with
fire and sword"
Referring TO the temper Of the
Southern people, no remarked: They
ore much less disposed now, to bring
themselves to tho proper frame Of mind
than they werc ono year since. A year
ago." said he, they were willing to do
any thing. Now they regard themselves
Us masters Of the situation. Some ofthe
rebel g. erals" he added, "arc behaving
nobly, aud doing all they cnn to induce
the people to throw aside their old prcju.
diccs and conform their course to the
changed condition Of things. Johnston
and Dick Taylor, particularly, are cxer
cising n good influence. But" he add.
cd, lice is behaving bndly. lie is con-
Quoting himself very differently from
what had reason, from what he said at
tho ,imc Of surrender, TO suppose he
would. No man at the South is capable
Of exercising the tonth part Of tho inau.
! cucc for good that no is; but instead Of
such, he is setting 90 example of forced
acquicsceuce us grudgingly and PERM
cious in its effects as TO be hardly real
lied.
Tine men who were in the rebel ar
mics, said Grant, "ucquicscc in the result
much better than those who staid at
home. Tho women, particularly. we're
bitter against the Union and Union
men," "Of course" he added, there
is some bitterness Of feeling among all
classes, but am satisfied it would soon
die out if their leading men had not some
how 20. the idea that treason, after al,
was not 80 very bad, and that the South
crn cause, rs they phrase it. will yet trl'
umph, not in wur but in politics"
I'm my judgment" said Grant, "'ho
tone Of certain men and certain papers
in the North is such rs to do incalcula'
bic mischief in making the lato rebels
believe that they are just as much cnti-
tied to rule as ever that if they will only
stand BY what they arc pleasd to coll
their rights, they will have help from
! the North. This is only playing over
again the incipient stages Of the rebel
lion" -.
He was confident that the large ma.
|iorisy Of the Southern people would
smother their rescntments and become
good citizens, if these mischief makers
at the North, the Coppcrheads, voulc
only let them alono. For himself, II nc
had tho power, the 6rst thing he would
10 would DO to seize the New York Naws
and Kindred sheets which arc giving the
South so dangerous an idea ofthclr own
position and rights. ...
Troops" said Grant, must be KEEP
10 all tho principal points in the South
ro- .ome limo to come. This will b
necessary to rcpress the turbulence OF
class Of tho South very dangerous TO oil
we'll. disposed persons, ard also to pro,
tect the rights Of the freedmen who are
looked upon with deep hatred by q yer!
large proportion of the people" ...