Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-15
RUTLAND HEALRD.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1896.


admission OF the Tennessee Congress
men, sent TO the House from the Recon
ssruetion Committee on Monday, was
accompanied by o report which gives
some very important testimony concern
ing the condition Of that State. Among
oAhers, Gems. Thomas, Fisk and Hatcher
were examined by the committee. Gen.
Hatcher says that leaving out the east
Mn portion of the state, he should think
. largely opposed to the general govern
nent; that there is no good feeling tow
ard the government, and very little
loyalty, excepting in East Tennessee.
Public sentiment In that section is in the
main loyal. He considers West Ten
nessee as disloyal as Mississippi, and
hast Tennessee is the only portion OF
the state from which troops can be with
drawn with safety.
Gen. Fisk testihe. that he has half q
million freedmen under his charge. The
gfeat mass Of them are In good condi-
Non and improve, but they need the pro-
lection of the government. Those who
evinse hostility TO these persons, say
that they should be driven entirely from
the state, and oppose the education of
g Me negro and justice to him before the
law, All the freedmen In Tennessee
who are able bodied procure employ
ment. The military should not be with
drawn nor martial law removed, or the
writ Of habeas corpus be at present re-
stored As to loyalty, majority of the
people in Tennessee are opposed to the
government. II every man should vote
IS he pleased, this fact would be mani
tested
Mai. Gen. George l.. Thomas testifles
that he has studied the condition of
Tennessee carefully, and it is his opinion
that If protected and encouraged by a
small Union force the loyal sentiment
would gain complete ascendency in a
year or two. He does not think 1t would
be safe at this time to remove the troops
or withdraw martial law or restore the
privilege of the writ Of habeaS corpus.
The full extent of East Tennessee is per-
ectly safe, because the Union element
preponderates. Middle Tennessee is
disturbed by personal enmities and ha-
tired much more than by the disloyalty
of persons against the United States.
The Union men in West Tennessee are
in the minority, but the Union senti-
ment is gradually approaching good
loyal standard, and he thinks this feel
ing will go on improving.
In answer to questions by the COM
mittee, Gen. Thomas further testified as
follows:
aa4 Q.-What is the condition Of the freed
men in Tennessee A.-The condition
of the freedmen in Tennessee is very IA
forable at this time, very great i'm
g provemeut has taken place in their con-
dition, and If the affairs of the Freed
4 mans Bureau can be administered for
another year in the way they have been
administered for the last six months,
mutual confidence would be restored be-
tween whites and blacks, and am very
much In hopes that the freedmen could
then be left to the protection of their la
bor by the good sense of the state.
agk O.-Then the administration of the
Rreedman's Bureau has met with your
approval2 Ayes, Sir. ..-..s
Q.-Under Gen. Fisk? Ayes, sir.
Q.-Do the Freedmen generally find
employment in Tennessee Al dc
not know of any difficulty in their find
ing employment.
Q.--And at fair wages Ayes, sir
and there is a general understanding
among the negroes and among the
whites that each is to comply with his
part of the contract, so that there Is nc
difficulty and no dissatisfaction.
Own you give your opinion az
10 whether the admission into Congress
Of the representatives from TENNESSEE
would tend to encourage the loyal PEG
pie of Tennessee and strengthen the
feeling of loyalty in that State3 Al
think 1t would, very much; it woulc
not only encourage the loyal people t.
exert themselves, but 1t would encour
age the rebels to return to their loyalty
because they would see that Their
Cl1dUCt5 duu uOpcS ioi ubc1nci cubDicuh
were passing away from them; if yor
win permit me to give additional rea
Sons why / think the delegation from
Tennessee should be admitted, wish te
do so. .a... #.......
Q--Certainly; state any reasons yot
may desire to state. Al think TIL
delegation from the State Of Tennesse
, should be admitted into Congress for tn
reason that that state, Of her own &C
cord, has complied with every instrdc
non OF the President, and has done al
that was believed would be necessary 70
Der TO do in order to gain admissio
into Congress. All that they have don
Of their own accord in Tennessee. The
have repudiated the rebel debt the
have abolished slavery, and also adopte
the Constitutional Amendment upo
that subject; they have passed fran
chise law prohibiting from voting ever
man who has been engaged In the rebe
lion believe they have now passed
bill giving the negro the right TO testii
IN the courts; the members elected
Congress can take the test cath, bot
Senators and Representatives. If the
pppve.aentatives shaiI no admitted int