Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-06

people could have endured unresistingly all
that the South has undergone.
In prosecuting this inquiry I hardly
deemed 1t fair to ask more than what had
been the actions of the people of the South
toward the general government. With til eir
private opinions, their sympathies, and their
prejudices had nothing to do. Yet for a
more thorough understanding of the ques-
ton made it a part of my mission to in
vestigate even these. I found they had
universally complied with the conditions
granted and accepted at the final surrender
of their armies and cause. [ found that
they were carrying out with good faith and
alacrity the requirements of the constitu-
tional amendment aboEshing slavery, and
that in all the States except Mississippi and
Texas. the famous Civil Rights bill has
been anticipated blythe action of the State
Legislatures previous to it's passage by Con-
gress. Further than this, [ found that in
the reputation of every dollar known as
the confederate debt, the same prompt &C
tion had been taken by the State authori-
ties, and had been universally indorsed by
the people and I neither saw nor heard
any disposition, Or anything that pointed
toward disposition, to repudiate the ma
tional debt or to revive the institution
of slavery
But whilst the Southern people are thus
loyal, and have fulfilled all the require
ments asked of them by the federal govern
ment, it is impossible to disguise the fact,
and the better class of citizens do not at
tempt to disguise it, that there is among
them deep feeling and q strong appre-
hension as to the cause of their long con-
tinued exclusion from Congress- They be-
lieve that it is part of set plan for perpet-
uating the existence of the political party
now in the ascendant, and that the cues,
ton of suffrage, re-adjustment of represen-
tation and taxation are but excuses for still
longer delay. Thus regardless of the great
interests, not only y of the suffering South,
but of the whole country, burdened with
debt and laboring under severe embarrass-
ment, found the prevailing opinion among
the most intelligent citizens, as well as
among those most anxious for an early re-
storation of the Union, to be that, if rep
resentation and en- equal and just cooper
alton in the administration of federal affairs
were much longer withheld from the
Southern States, a feeling of indifference
would spring Up towards taking any part
in filling federal Offices and more particu-
larly towards re-illing their seats in Con
gress-that the people, in fact, would stay
away from the polls, and allow the elections
W ~ cy ueldulG, W Tie Sit7aC QoGrlmonG OF
the country at large. This feeling of indif-
ference indeed is already manifesting itself,
and is rapidly increasing, so much so that
were it not for a few persons in each South
ern Stale who have found it necessary for
their existence to live upon and hold office,
and whose haunts and occupations have
hitherto been at the federal capital, I do
not believe that any clamor for representa-
Jion would be heard
What is needed to restore harmony and
prosperity to the entire country, beth North
and South, is closer aud better acquaintance
with each other. [ have been astonished
to notice how little people, even those
whose social relations are all Southern,
known Of the true state OF feeling in that
section of the country. We need greater
political. social, and commercial freedom,
more frequent intercourse, and kinder
appreciation Of each others peculiarities -
The advantages to the country in its present
financial stress of q reunion of heart and
sentiment would be beyond enumeration.
The broad lands of the fertile South are
now lying almost in waste for want of
means and capital to cultivate them when
every acre of it's benefcent soil might be q
gold mine to the possessor were the polit-
ical relations of the people better under
stood and acted upon. have the honor to
be your most obedient servant.
GORDON GRANGER,
Brevet Maj. General, u S. Army.