The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-06
THE SOUTHERN SITUATION.
The Report OF Lieutenant General Grant
ON the Condition or tho south.

To his Escelency ANDREW JOHNSON, President Of the
United States
DEAR SR-Snce my arrival In this city have read |
with much interest the official report OF Lieutenant Gen.
era Grant, giving account of the oopdon OF affairs
in the Southern States far under his obserra-
ton on the route leading through Richmond, Va Ral.
eigh, N c.; Charleston, S. c., and Augusta, Ga
have recently returned from journey through |
Southern Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor
ga, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri |
made this journey for my personal information, hay
ing solcitudc 10 those countries undor their pres
ent circumstances depicted Of population, and during
the general desoation. had political consideration
to move me in the formation OF conclusions or TO "
my judgment either for or against tho people, ,
object being 10 realize the condition OF thioss ~,
pen might 10 guided in after years, should con,,no
my history of America beyond the ego .,,rv,.o1 IN
the heretofore published volumes
travelled ~ railway, coach. %agon on horse and
oo''''u'" ." 'oo anu uurn my stay at the different
"'ns 'i'o 'ou'e my gled with the people white
and coored, OF every v ade OF society and did not
spare any to GET ncr views in regard 10 the .nr,
OF .ne so'h a Weir individual aspirations State and
national Hav ing former years travelled over mos, Of
sno o'Azeo world with attentive ears and wachfu
& ever eaching for knowledge, felt prepared and
W." thcd 'Jy experience forming hasty
ncusr )ns respecting the Southern States, recently
emeis',d from the passions OF Besides my expert
2ye through foreign wars and regions invaded
10y large armies and was exceedingly anxious TO
with my own eyes the result OF a csvl in my own
country. waged 10y my own people Ineny Of whom, too
were my kin
The report of lieutenant General Grant gives very
correct account Of affairs, observed hon in The re-
gions trayersed by me- aud nothing gave salts
faction than his remarks upon The conduct Of the subor
dinates OF the Freedmens Bureau, who are, perhaps
tine most responsible for disturbances and contentious
between the white and coored people in the South.
never heard OF any complaint against the MILITARY
very
where learned that the agents OF the Freednen's Blu
reau had been more energetic 10 disturb the peace of so
cety than 10 promote the welfare OF the poor wandering
Colored people.
The coored people had been Informed by some Of
those agents thai after the list of January the lands he
longing TO The whites who had ben shareholders
be divided among the coored people, that after that date
the bottom rail was to be top and that after Christ
mas the Union railroads were carry all oolored
people free Of EXPENSE These representations
pie, and in this manner they have been
deldcd aud entced from industry TO idleness. saw
many thousands tented by the roadside many living
under shelters made With the boushs Of trees and many
had other covering than the canopy OF heaven
many hardy Rnen wandering about, with bundle and
STICK and when asked whittier they were travelling l
received in that thoy searching for rich
lands or in other words they prospecting the
day OF general division AT night they Quarcred with
some coiored persons. and it does require much
guessing to determine from whence they drew their
TONS
addressed very sgc assembly of colored people in
Georgia. and advised them 10 make up their minds
believe that freedom consisted in the right to Labor,
their bread by the sweat o. their brow and ENJOY
at will the gains OF their toll told them thai freedom
the right to BE- industrious under The protection Of
civil laws which would be accorded 10 them fairly
administered to the white people also tod them that
assuming the privileges Of foenen ,Ley became re
sponsble to society large 20 Inc useful IN the arars of
this world and that they had not the right to stand
the vineyard all the day Idle The assembly listened TO
nv remarks i'll mnrb attention. and many of the elder
persons present 70 address another and larger
meeting which they proposed to hold They told me
ina. spoks dnslen' rom , NJ ps mao ana ma.
colcred people OF the South ought TO have information
respecting Their duties. Some capaoie persons might
prepare lecture 10 be read by the whole clergy Of the
South TO the people, white aud colocd o. advice by
thori,y OF the govcrnm.nt
la districts societies have been formed each
,n~sbef contributing one dollar, and the funds thus
ns. 90 z be employed In defrayng the expenses OF
might BE- found the most valuable al the time Of the
was very much panied to learn hat there were few
wicked and white people who occasionally punIcred
The poor coloed people bu, The spite seemed 70 pc
able comprehend Why this class OF people should
been subjected malgniy Respectable white people
seemed to regret these roDbercs but they had power
10 punish The guilty II IL proper however 20 that
many robberies committed by the colorcd people
and such will continue until order is fully restored
The people with whom convcrsod were anxious to
establish by labor CODE aud South Carolina
attempt had been made 10 enact one which, in the iudg
ment OF legislators, sdercd rmBenty favorable
TO the coiorr people read the bill Which had passed
10 the third reading and disscned respecting the equity
Of the principles II re cgnieedi Tor example, coorcd
man required 10 obtain license from court to
learn artisans trade, which Formally Ia practice
would be equivalent TO prohibition. expressed this
opinion 10 several eminent otlemen aud urged them
TO establish by law equalization In all matters oi
labor and capital hu II any special law bc made upon
the subject t would he Just ~ award 10 the colcrr
premium becoming nas.Ur worknr IN OF the
mechanical branches On reflection IL conceded by
every no man present that Their should p DO suy
distinction between quest labor although
white laborers were strongly opposed 20 allowing TIE
In demand cosld hc hired. except until
New Year Mechanics wcrc fUl oi engagements, ard
unable to execute the work OF reconstruction Of hc many
fa Lx tho. and
Is unwilling 10 their special labor interi with b.
the coored The demand foe labor b. the pI'u,ars
and the opposition q the white mechanics 10 conpct-
ton gives an explanation Ia the legislative .uacucnL
OCCASIONALLY ne, persons, snc perhaps bad never
owned slave, decidedly opposed O. elevation OF the
coored people, and they shufdorcd a. the Thought "f
probability OF educating the African rare; bat
those who thus manifested 81 much horror rcsrcc.iue
the equalization OF the were generally regarded
persons Of inord'Daic seli-inportaDcc.
was much surprised 10 observe indifference Tor
the old aud inrm cooIed people manifested b, me
younger and healthy OF that Sons and daughters
seemed only for Themselves, not approaching any
responsibility Tor their parents Ths cls or poo
pie NJ President, should receive special consideration
by the Frcodmcns Bureau. and supplies should b. with
drawn those able The propriciy cstah-
shing work farms cousistng OF some two hundred
land. with suitable wurkhouss old
and nirm colored people rnistt be gfvely considered
The might bc located In diseut psrss of
each state, under lxec regulations. and n properly
Quoted world ho great bcsmg - many thons5rds who
thrown upon their for bread aud
fsiment II the freedmcn's Bureau carry out
scheme Of srcicn, magnitude TO meet De reccs'e. Of
the tho whole ,i ght DO called
upon render aid Pcrhaps may think the former
masters should support tho aged and innn freedmen
until the end OF life bul what those do with
their fnms desolaid where house, lay in ashcs fences
gone, and no sound oi the hoof hcarir
The people generally seemed 90 be infused with de
sire TO make the hest o the condition of ,hngs IN which
peace had placed them Nationality with them
matter Of prdc-the certainty that there would never
be another originating from attempt divide the
Union, and tho prospect OF peace throughout the
try, with restoration OF fraiernal relations sub
The policy you have inaagurated for the " establish