The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-03

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANTS REPORT.
HEADQ'T'Rs ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 38, 1865.
HIS Ercezleney 4. johnson, President Of the
United States:
SIR: In reply to your note of the 18th in
slant, requesting report from me giving
such information as may be possessed of
coming within the scope of the inquiries
made by the Senate of the United States in
their resolution of the 18th instant, l have
the honor to sumbit the following:
With your approval and also of the
honorable Secretary of War, / left Washing
ton city on the 9th of last month for the
purpose Of making tour of inspection
through some or the Southern States, or
States lately in rebellion, and to see what
changes were necessary to be madeiin the
disposition of the military forces of the
country, how these forces could be reduced,
and expenses curtailed, &C., and to learn. as
far as possible, the feelings and intentions of
the citizens of those States toward the Gen
eral Government. The State of Virginia be-
ing so accessible to Washington city, and in
formation from this quarter therefore being
readily obtained, l fastened through the
State without conversing or meeting with
any of its citizens. In Raleigh, North Caro-
lima, spent one day; in Charleston, South
Carolina, two days; Savannah and Augusta,
Georgia, each, one day. Both in travelling
and while stopping. saw much and CEN
versed freely with the citizens of those
States, as well as with officers of the army
who have been stationed among them. The
following are the conclusions come to BY me:
am satisfied that the mass of thinking
men of the South accept the present situa-
ton of affairs in good faith. The questions
which have heretofore divided the sentiments
of the people of the two sections-slavery
and State rights, or the right of a State to
secede from the Union-they regard as hay
ing been settled forever by the highest tri-
bunal-arms 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 that 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
it with those who opposed them in the field
and in the council.
-Four 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 condition not to
yield that ready obedience to civil authority
the American people have generally been in
the habit Of yielding. This would render
the presence Of small garrisons throughout
those States necessary until such time as labor
returns to its proper channel, and civil au-
thority is fully established I did not meet
any one, either those holding places under
the Government or citizens of the Southern
States, who think it practicable to withdraw
the military from the South at present The
white and the black mutually require the
protection of the General Government.
There is such universal acquisence in the
authority of the General Government
throughout the portions of the country visit
ed by me, that the mere presence of mill
tary force, without regard to numbers, is suf-
feient to maintain order. The good of the
country and economy, require that the force
kept in the interior where there are many