The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-16
people of the south that ! know of some


become good citizens of the United States.
They have been paroled by military author
lily, have applied 10 the President for ,,ar-
don, and are awaiting his decision. They
have set themselves TO work quietly to earn
an honest livelihood in some practical and
peaceful manner, thereby setting a good
example TO the other people of the South
TESTIMONY OF GIN. Il. III. GRIERsoN.
Examined by Mr. Boutwell,. Have
been employed in Missouri. Kentucky.
tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Al
ALBANIA. About the time OF Lees surren-
der | started with five thousand cavalry
Oh an expedition across the state of Ala
hama. From Mobile | marched INTO
Georgia. Via Greensyille and Emfaula.
ALBANIA, where l was stopped 10y news OF
the armiStice between Gen. Sherman and
Gen Johnston. Upon receipt of official
information of Gen. -Iohnsion's surrender,
marched from there 10 Columbus, Miss,
a distance altogether of about seven hun
dred miles think | had a good oppor-
tunlty 10 judge the people OF the South
correctly al that time and since. 4 short
time after my arrival at Columbus. Mi,Sis-
sippl, was ordere,i 10 NV Orleans 10 or
glnize a force for Texas. About the time
| was ready the rebels surrendered.
then solicited an order 10 90 home. a. the
war WAS over, and | was atlerwarl order
ed 10 return 10 AlalEima- | reported 10
Gen Wood, commanding the i ler1mem
OF AIabama, ON the 10th OF September,
and was placed in command OF The dis
trict of Huntsville. | remained in COM
m;rnd until the 17th of January, 1866,
and did not leave Alabama until the l>t
der OF Lee and Johnston my impression
OF the people there wa> that they were
willing 10 accept almost amy Terms which
might be granted them 10y government.
There appeared 10 be great fear manifest
ell 10y them that all their property would
be conli>cated, iand that possibly they
would not be allowed 10 remain in the
country That appeared 10 be the feeling
among the wealthy and influential CLASSES
| think al that time they would have been
willing 10 accept any Terms granted them.
but they have grown' from time 10 time
more exartinc in their demands Man,
of them had the appearance III first OF :lc-
; cepling the situation and OF being willing
10 abide the result Thi- MAS particular
, ly The case with private soldiers and the
poorer CLASSES OF the South. There were.
ui course. a few of the ,reallhier classes
, who felt very bitter. and talked Il good
dead about leaving the South entirely. and
about not being willing to remain there.
offering 10 s-ll their property al reduced
prices. | tlink That. instead oi growing
mUrc willing 10 accept the situation. they
are showing a more intense feelil. of bii-
!erness toward the government >l,cak
OF leading men more particularly They
DO not appear 10 think thai they have
dome anything wrong, Their only re-let
seems 10 be that they had NOT meall> to
: carry out their designs. and this feeling OF
Il hostility governs the majority. Al the
time OF the appointment oi civil Officers
: greai many OF those who had served dur
ins the rebellion Were reappointed There
L WAS hardly a loyal man appointed 10 amy
: civil office | DO NOT know one who was.
: That ot course indicates the feeling OF The
people Then, previous 10 an eleciion.
officers were stationed al different ;oinis
: 10 administer the amnesty oalil. bui a
great many would not take it. and voted
al The election without regard io H. In
4 many of The counties ;l3,.ir VOTES were ta-
ken without question. All who were
elected We're, H. far IL know. men who
: had symlaihizcl with The rcbellion.-
Many of them had bc,-n in the rebel army
and were bitter in their feelings against
the United States govern .lenl.
q. To what do Won attribute the
: chance of sentiment between the time ot
1 Lees surrender ami later un
\ That would lc omly a matter of
4 opinion. link ii the ,lI>ioy.il had bs,n
dealt with more severely there would haze
: been les Dissatisfaction anl more loraliy
IN the South to-day Their demands haze
steadily increased Al the time | l,-ii
they complained thai ,llcir CONGRESSMAN
: Were nnl admitted, ami iIey seemed 10
think thai un thai IL, ,sml They were an
injured people. think that every con
: gr-->lnan eiecied in the stale oi' Alabama
: WAS elected by hi> devotion 10 the cause
: of The rebellion->ome OF them served al
e Richmond a. congrt>>ineIl. and other, a.
Il officers IN the reb-l army. Bui in mc
: case that | know of WAS loral man
Il elected The irlly lu,ai people OF Ala
irama do not wish the present elected con-
: gre--men and senators from that stale :ai-
: mitie,l into Consr,.>>.
q DO you know ANYTHING OF a secret
ii organization among ile rtbel,
A have carefully studied and con
: Sidere'l that matter, and from MANY thing
that | have noticed there Is a general muir
: muring IN thc South and great anxiety
T 10 organize the militia and gel ril of the
army and the freeilnen> bureau. | think
: there are such organizations. Of course
K | only elre my opinion un thai subject.
Is From everything could learn. and iron
'Studyln- tine Southern people. | do not
Il think IL would be wise tp withdraw the
II military and ireedmen'> bureau think
il would result IN great injustice and iniu-
ry TO the colorcd people, and al~o 10 the
II poorer CLASSES oi whites and all loyal
= white men at the South.