Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-01-05

htttttii VIZ VI titt til1 Vi liitS
BY the Senate Of tic United States in their
resolution of the 18th inst, have the honor
TO sui.Ait 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 we're necessary in the disposition Of
the military forces Of the country, how these
forces could be reduced, and expenses cur
tailed, &c and to learn, as far as possible,
the feelings and intentions of the citizens of
these States towards the General Govern
ment The State Of Virginia being so ac-
cossibie to Washington City and information
fion this quarter therefore, being readily
obtained, / fastened through the State with
out conversing or meeting with any Of its
citizens In Raleigh, n c., [ spent one
day III Charleston, S. G., two days; and in
Savannah and Augusta, ga, each one day
Both in tray ling and whilst stopping saw
much and conyersed freely with the citizens
OF those States. as we'll as with officers Of the
army who have been stationed among them
The following are the conclusions come to
by me: ana satisfied that the mass Of the
thinking men Of the South accept the present
situation Of affairs in good faith. The CUES
tons which have hitherto divided the sonti-
mellts Of the people of the two sections
Slavery and State rights, or the rights of a
State to sccede from the Cnion-they regard
as having been settled forever by the highest
tribunal rms-that man can resort to-
| was pleased to learn from the leading men
whom | met, that they not only accepted the
decision arrived at as final, but, now the
smoke of battle has cleared away, and time
has been given for reflection, that this decis-
ion has been fortunate one for the whole
country, they receiving the like benefits from
from it with those who opposed them in the
field aud in the council. Four.y years of war,
during which law was executed only at the
point of the bayonet throughout the States in
rebellion, have left the people possibly in a
condition not to yield that ready obedience
to civil authority that the American people
have generally been in the habit of yielding.
This would render the presence Of small gar
risons throughout those States necessary IN
til such time as labor returns to it's proper
channel, and civil authority is fully estub-
-lished. | did not meet any one, either those
holding places under the Government or cit
liens Of the Southern States, who thought it
practicable to withdraw the military from the
South at present. The white and the black
mutually require the protection of the Gen
eral Government. There is such universal
acquiescence in the authority of the General
Government throughout the portions Of the
country visited by ME, that the mere pres
ence Of a military force, without regard to
numbers, is sufficient to maintain order
The good Of the country requires that the
force kept in the interior, where there are
many freedmen elsewhere in the Southern
States than 1T forts upon the sea coast no
force is necessary should all be white troops.
The reasons fer this are obvious, without
mentioning many Of them. The presence Of
black troops, lately slaves, demoralizos labor,
both by their advice and furnishing in their
camps resort for The freedmen for long dis
tances around. White troops generally ex-
cite no opposition, and therefore a small num-
Der of them can maintain order in a given
district. Colored troops must be kept in
bodies sufficient to defend themselves. Il is
not the thinking men who would do violence
toward any class Of troops sent among them
by the General Government; but the igno-
rant IN some places might; and the late slave,
too, who might be imbued with the idea that
the property Of his late master should by
right belong to him, at least should have no
protection from the colore'I soldiers. There
is danger OF collision being brought Gu by