New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-13
er,.J Orleans Daily Grestsnt,
TESTIMONY OF MAI. GEN. GEO. II. THOMAS IN FULL.


mitted to the committee to-day.
maj. Gen. George II. Thomas examined by Mr..
Boutwell,. The General said
stKentncky. Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi are included in my command. The
people of Alabama are extremely anxious to be
nder the control of the United States, and to
nave that State in its regular position nthe Union,
bnt they are not yet personally friendly to Union
men. They are DESTROYS to be under the govern
nent of the United States, and have attempted to
2ass laws as judicious as they could, at the time,
regulate the affairs of the freedmen. One Of
Heir bills was not considered constitutional by the
S0yernor and was vetoed by him.
he thinks now that the legislature will pass
ust and fair bill to regulate the affairs of the
nd fair trial in their attempt to gain their indie
endence, and have failed completely. They now
,ofess to have given up the contest, and express
amselves DESTROYS of resuming their relations
ith the government, N ~ @
bis difficult to say what portion of the people
sfeliable Union men. Before the secession Of
e State the majority of the people of Alabama
we're for the Union, and when the subject was first
ubmi tied to the people majority voted against
secession. ] am informed that the State was
yentually taken out Of the Union by the trickery
II determined seceasonists. a ~ NJ
3sThe people acquiesced in,the result, and many
,fthem seemed to give up their Union sentiments,
and some of the original Union men have remained
rebels, and are now strongly in sympathy with the
enemies of the government. Others have ex-
pressed their gladness that the rebellion has been
crushed, and profess desire to have the State
back in the Union; but their interests and sympa-
thies have such hold upon them at this time thst it
is very difficult TO obtain clear expressions of SEN
, timent OF any man there. am inclined to think
that very small proportion of them would be
willing to sacrifice their property and interest in
the South for the sake of the Union; they did not
do it before, and it is fair to presume that they
would still adhere to the advancement of their own
private interests in preference to the interests of
the national government. E
In some portions of the State there is very
bitter feeling between those who have been
Unionists during the war, and those who have
been identified with the rebellion. In other por-
tons, the people all desire to be friendly to one
another, and to adhere to the government. In
some portions Of Western Alabama the sentiment
is decidedly in favor of the government; in other
iortions of the State think the sentiment of the
.Ople may be expressed in this way: If they
honght they could establish a Southern Con-
Yderacy, they would prefer it, but seeing no hope
Sthat, they desire to live under the Constitution
1.-THE United States. There is in Alabama a.
cong, decided, disloyal sentiment, though think
e Union sentiment predominates in many por-
ms of the State. sl.
In elections that have taken place in that State
y don't know that IT has been universal thing
for candidates to put themselves before the people
Jas having participated, more or less, actually in
Tebelion, but there were two distinct parties in
Northern Alabama, and the Union candidates were
defeated, but think the Union candidates there
flor the Legislature were ALL or majority of them,
! elected. think in Central and Southern Alaba-
tina the successful candidates either officers
FOl tne TeUel army OF aGbiVP ana WQrkinS FeDela-
gReports OF frauds Ia certain districts in elections
y Swere forwarded to me, and suppose are now on
file in the Adjutaqt Generals Office The charge
twas that improper persons were permitted to vote
1t substantially understood in that State up
i to this time. l.r saa.
Union men and freedmen have not to any great
4 extent, been in danger of their lives. But few
instances Of personal violence have been reported
\ to me. Generally speaking, the presence of
limited States troops and the officers Of the freed
mems bureau, has been sufficient to put down any
demonstrations of hostility. do not think It
ould be expedient to remove the troops until
people show that they are themselves willing
idetermined to execute civil law with impartial
stice to all parties. think public sentiment is
yided on the subject Of allowing freedmen to be-
me freeholers / have heard of no legislation
.sthat subject either to empower them to become
eeholders OF to prohibit them from becoming
eh.
fere to be Withdrawn from the State at this time,
Edon't believe the Union men or the freedmen
5oud have justice done them. Injustice towards
hem would commence in suits in courts for petty
fenses, and neighborhood combinations to annoy
ZEN SO much that they could not reside among
EN-. ] am satisfied, until better state Of feel
shall arise, that if all restraint should be re-
wed, the freedmen would be thrown back into
condition Of virtual slavery; that is, they would
compelled by legislative enactments to labor
little or no wages and Legislation would as
tlessuch form that they would not dare to leave
ir Employers for fear of punishment; and unless
n who had been Union men through the war,
livery strong personal friends, they could not
in the State they would be annoyed so much
,arious ways that they could not live in any
ce or comfort
think emigrants from abroad would be kindly
lived, but think emgrants from the North, or
on men, would be coldy received and treated
indifference / don't know whether any ef
has been made or not to ascertain whether
negroes would be willing to remove to any
4 eitory assigned to them, if that was to be done,
q .fronl my knowledge of negro character, |
a. ttn chi In htpfy fhoo1 onf
q IN desire to continue to live in their old neigh
e hoods, and with their old masters-invarably,
n ere they have been treated well as slaves. l
NJ born in Southern State, and reared, to the
H If nineteen, in that country. Since | have
VI in the army my service has been mostly in
4 ,nthern States, and on the frontier bordering
-uthern States. There is no danger of trouble
81 he negroes remaining where they are, unless
IA bites treat them SO badly that they are COM
A lin selfdefense to rise up against them.
n o is one section Of Alabama where the
7 under the direction of aphilanthropic gen
/. Of that State, have gone to work them
Y establish a freedmen's court, or some,
| FlhsIuivalent to it, through which they propose
I MISTER fair and impartial justice between
! lovers and the negroes, and t. they have y,
$ ad alof negroes, and for education in thu
y sbranches Of knowledge. The disposition
groes for education is universal, especial.
he younger portion of them. Their capa
Receiving instructions has not been full,
Il ed, but from all that can learn from con
e ion with different persons, they possess
8 capacity for acquiring knowledge. thnl
8 second generation can be instructed muc
"a &c easily and thoroughly than the present one
"a cause, in measure, the mind of the negro
h atrey developed at the present time, except il
I'll EATERS of practical observation.
III II thnk, IN many instances where negroes hav
M en- assured that they would be paid fair wage:
/. ~ nave gone to work willingly, and have col
@ ned at work as long as the contract has bee
e fully performed on the part of the employee
a not think Georgia differs materially from al;
al e. There may be somewhat more of person.
-:ed toward the negro in his relation as free
II a, but as yet it has been easily controlle
4 pugh the Freedmen's Bureau, and that feelir
constantly improving in ali the States. III
pie of Mississippi appear to me to be mo-
llsve and more prone to stand up for AZ
IS. It their opinions. tits a difficult matter
rbe the difference between the peope i
etwo States, yet there is a difference. / CO
II the people of Mississippi the least promisin
\ ! people Of that State do not listen to arr
I 1T and discussion with as much calmness as &
! lie of Alabama. 5sl5{s
/ ion't know that lean give decided opinion
Indifference in the state Of feeling in those Stat
/ Grand just after Lees surrender, because Il
ot3rts received soon after Lees surrender we
thsrally from persons who travelled hurried
tbnt oantion Of he cnuntru T +h;r1.