, 1866-02-16
CONDITION on rae sourn.

by the President for the purpose Of obsefv-
ing the condition Of affairs at the South, and
reporting on the same From his report, as
submitted to Congress, we extract the follows
ing:
CONDITION OF THINGS IMMEDIATELY AFTER
TIE CLOSE OF THE wAR. o
In the development of the popular spirit
in the South since the close OF the war two
well>marked periods can be distinguished.
nbe'6rst commences with the sudden col
lapse ofthe confederaey md the dispersion
OF its armies, and the second with the FIST
proclamation indicating the " reconstruction
! policy" Of the Government. OF the first
period can State the characteristic features
only from the accounts l received, partly
from Unionists who we're then living in the
South, partly from persons who had partiei,
pated IN the rebellion. When the news of
Lees and Johnston's surrenders burst upon
the southern country the general consternaN
tion was extreme People held their breath
iudulgihg in the widest apprehensions as to
what was now to come Men who had occu-
pied positions under the confederate governs
meut. or were otherwise compromised in the
rebellion, ran before the Federal columns as
they advanced and spread out to occupy the
country, from village to village, from planta:
tion to plantation, hardly knowing whether
they wanted to escape or not. Others res
mained at home, yielding themselves up to
their fate. Prominent Unionists told me
that persons who for four years had scorned
to recognize them on the street approached
them with smiling faces and both hands e1S
tended Men of standing in the political
world expressed serious doubts as to whether
the rebel States would ever again occupy
their position as States in the Union, or be
governed as conquered provinces. The pub
lie mind was so despondent that if readmis-
sion at some future time under whatever con-
ditions had been promised, it would then have
been looked upon as favor The most uncom-
promising rebels prepared for leaving the
country The masses remained in state Of
fearful expectancy.
This applies especially to those parts of
the country which were within immediate
reach Of our armies or had previously been
touched during the war Where Union sol1
diers had never been seen and none were
near, people we're, at first, hardly aware of
the magnitude of the catastrophe, aud stroYB
to continue in their old ways of living.
Such was, according to the accounts res
ceiyed the character of that first period
The worst appreheusions were gradually re-
lieved day after day went by without
bringing the disasters and infections which
had been vaguely anticipated, until at last tho
appearance of the North Carolina procamas
tion substituted new hopes for them. The
/ toft O. 4
on to observe on the spot, and it forms the
main subject of this report
RETURNING LOYALTY.
It's a weIl-known fact that in the States
south of Tennessee and North Carolina the
number of white Unionists who, during the
war, actively aided the Government, or at least
openly professed their attachment to the cause
of the Union, was very small In none of
those States were they strong enough to ex-
ercise any decisive influence upon the action
of the people, not even in Louisiana, unless
vigorously supported by the power of the
General Government. But the white peoS
pie at large being, under certain conditions,
charged with taking the preliminares of re
construction into their hands, the success ofthe
ex experiment. dependsupon the spiritand attitude
Of those who either attached themselves to the
secession cause from the beginning, or, en-
tertaining originally opposite views, at least
followed its fortunes from the time that their
States had declared their separation from the
Union.
The first southern men of this class with
whom came into contact Immediately after
my arrival in South Carolina expressed their
| all H., h. f,l
language We acknowledge ourselves beat
en-, aud we are ready to submit to the results
of the war. The war has practically decided
that no State shall seeede and that the slaves
are emancipated. We cannot be expected at
once to give up our principles aud convictions
Of right, but we accept facts as they are. and
desire to be reinstated as soon as possible in
the enjoyment exercise Of our political
rights This declaration was repeated to me
hundrsds-of times in every State 1 visited
with some variations OF language, according
to the different ways of thinking or the frank
ness or reserve of the different speakers.
Some said nothing of adhering to their old
principles and convictions of right; others
still argued against the coDstitutionality of
coercion and of the emancipation proelamas
ton others expressed their determination
to become good eltlzensj In strong language,
and urged with equal emphasis the necessity
of their home institutions being at once left
10 their own control others would 20 90 far
as to say they were glad that the war was
ended, and they had never had any confidence
in the confederacy; others protest that they
had been opposed to secession until their
States went out, and then yielded to the cnrs
rant of events; some would give me to un.
derstand that they had always been GOOD
Gaiou men at heart, rejoiced that the war
had terminated in favor of the national cause.
hut @ in most cases such sentiment was ex,
Dressed ouIy in whisper; others again
nf %0u t6eir 9 right" as if they had done No
submit submit only to what they could not resist
and as long as they could not resist il.
/ e ~ e !. afra o.