Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-05-11
Condition of the South.
TESTIMONY OF GEN. SHERIDAN.

The testimony of Gen. Phil Sheridan,
forwarded by mail from New Orleans, in
response 10 interrogatories sent to him by
Senator Williams as chairman of the sub
committee, is interesting and we give
large portion Of it as follows:
Q-What are the feelings of those who
took part in the rebellion and sympathize d
with it toward the General Government /?
Al believe they accept the situation,
and have an earnest desire for the resto-
ration Of perfect Union, but exhibit an
unmistakeable desire to glorify the rebel
lion.
Q-What has been the effect of the
unstinted exercise of the pardoning power
upon such persons? Has it made them
friendly or otherwise toward the General
Government, .....
Al have noticed no particular change
III sentiment on account of the clemency
of the Executive.
Q.-What would be the effect in your
opinion, upon the State organization if
the people were left without control to act
for themselves?
/ Al believe they would quarrel among
themselves, and that the sensible and sub
stantial people would regret the absence
Of the military force.
Q.-What would be the condition of
loyal men if they were left without any
protection by the Federal Government
Any impression is that for the pres
ent they would feel unsafe, and that many
of them would leave the country.
Q.-State your opinion as to the neces-
sity for the continuance of a military
force in your department, and your reas-
ons for this opinion2
Al consider it necessary to maintain
a military force in my department for the
following reasons: To give security to
Northern capital and Union people, and
to give an actual and cordial support TO
the freedmen until he las time to work
out his social status. | also believe its
presence necessary to prevent quarrelling
among the Southern people themselves
CAPABILITIES OF coLoRED PEOPLE.
Q.-State fully your opinion as TO the
capability Of the colored people, what do
they know, and to what extent can they
exercise the rights of freemen? Are they
willing or unwilling to work without ply
steal compulsion, with kind treatment and
fair wages; and state what, in your judg-
ment, is the best course for Congress to
pursue in reference TO these people?
A.-The colored race, Ike all other
races, have different degrees otintelIigence
and capacity. In New Orleans where
colored people are better treated than in
and other city in the United States, there
is an excellent colored society, and very
high degree of refinement exists in it.
Starting from this, you can go into the
State Of Louisiana and find the colored |
man about as ignorant as it is possible for
any human being to be. The freedmen,
as far as | am informed, have great de-
sire to learn. | cannot say whether they
learn rapidly or not. / believe they are j
willing to work, because their necessities
compel them TO do so. In this they are
like all other races. | never have known
a white or black man who was perform
ing manual labor for the love of it. | be-
lieve the best thing that Congress or the
Stafss can do is to legislaie as little as
possible in reference TO the colored man
beyond giving him security in his person
and property. His social status will be
worked out by the logic of the necessity
for his labor. 1t is the only labor that
can be obtained in the South for some
time 10 come.
LOUISIANA AND TEXAS.
Q.-Please make such suggestions as
occur TO your mind as TO the most judi
cious and efficient remedies for the evils
that exist in your department growing out
of the late rebellion. ....
A-Thc feeling and sentiment of those