New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07
RECONSTRUCTION.
Evidence Before the Com.
nittee Of Fifteen.
whe Political Aspect IN the Gulf
States.
epeol, Dispatch to The y. Y. Tribune.

large amount OF testimony pertaining 10 lhe conuloh
OF Arkansas. Mississippi Alabama and Georgia.
Among the most important OF the witnesses are the io
lowing:
Mvor.Gen George II. Thomas examined by, Mr.
Bout we'll. Kentucky Tennessee, georgia. Alabama
and Mississippi are included in my command; the PEG.
pie Of Alabama extremely anxious TO be under tue
PROSTITUTION OF the United States ana 10 nave that
State in lis regular position nm the Union but they are
not yet personally friendly t. the mon. They are
DESTROYS 70 live under the Government OF the United
States and have attempted 10 pass laws rs judicous
they could at the time 20 regulate the affairs OF the
freedmen One Of their bills was not considered CON
Bttufi0ual By the Governor and was returned by HIM
III thinks the new Legislature VIII pass Just ana Ialr
b 10 regulate the affairs Of the freedmen OF the State.
People there think they have had tnir trial IN their
stcwgt 10 gain their Independence and have failed
completely They how profess 10 have given up the
contest. and express themselves desironS OF re-
suuiuc their relations with Government. IL
IS difficult 20 say what portion Of the peo-
pie of Alabama are Trustworthy Union men,
Before the secession Of toe STATE majority Of the peo'
Ole Of Alabama were f0r the Union and when the sub,
icci first submitted 10 the people majority voted
against secess on: aua l am informed that the State
Sas eventually taken ont Of the Union bv the ckery
o. determined Secessiouists People acQuesced IN TIE
result and many OF them seemed 20 give mp their mon
sentiments and some Of those original mon men nave
remained Rebels, and are now strongly III sympathy
4ith enemies OF the Government. Others nave e1'
rrcss.l their clalness that the Rebellion has been
crushed aud profess desire 20 nave the state back In
khc Union: but their interests and sympalmes have
srch hold upon them Gt this time that 1t Is very
Tneats from any man there am inclined to
fhuk very small proportion OF them would be
wiling 10 sacrifice their piuueity end interests in the
South for the sake Of the Mon They did not do II
before and il is fair 10 presume that they would still
adhere the advancement Of their own private inter
ests In some portions oi the STATE there is very
bitter feeling between those who have been UniOniss
dlrins the and those who have been identified
With the Rebellion. In other portions people all seem
to desire be friendly TO one another and TO adhere TO
The Government In some portions OF Northern Alabama
public sentiment is decidedly in fave OF the Government.
rta IL. fnlau of
people may be expressed in this way If they thought
they could establish Southern COnfederacy they would
prefer IT, but seeing hope OF that they desire 10 live
under the COnSttu OF the nlted StstcS IHele ~
On Alabama a strong, decided dislOyal sentiment
Enough think Union sentiment predominales III many
pOrtlOnS of the State In elections That nave taken
Tlace in that State DO not know that II has been
universal thing for candidates 20 put themselves before
Gle people having participated more or less actively
An the Rebellion. There were two distinct parties ID
Northern Alabama and the Union Candidates were
defeated; but think the Union Candidates there for
the State Legislature, were all or maor! OF mem
elected i think. IN Central ana southern AhDamh
fbe successful candidates were either officers OF the
Rebel army or active and working Rebels Reports OF
frauds in certain districts IN elections were forwarded
10 me and l suppose are now on file in the AoJutan
Generals Office. Tie charge was that improper per
sons permitted 10 vote, and II was subsiontaied
4 understand. In that State up 10 this time.
Union men and freedmen haze not to any great
extent been in danger Of thcir lives. But
few Instances of personal violence have been reported
- me. Generally speaking, the presence OF United
States troops and officers OF the Freedmen Bureau mas
teen sufficient TO put down any demonstration OF hos
riity do not think II would be expedlent 10 remove
che troops until people show that they themselves
willing and determined 70 execute clYu law with I'm
partial Justice 10 al parties. think public sentiment
Il divided on the subject Of allowing freedmen 10 be-
come freehOdeIs. have heard Of 10 legislation on
shat subject either 10 empower them 70 become
freehOders, or 10 Prohibit them rom becoming
such. II national troops and the Ireedmens
Bureau were 10 be Withdrawn from the state az this
SINE do hot believe that The union men or the freed;
men could have justice done them. Injustice TOWARD
~
lenses and neighborhOoG combinations to annoy them
40 much that thev could not reside there am satls'
fed that until better state Of eenng Sn aise lneIe
al restraint should be removed, the freedmen Woulu
he thrown back into condition OF virtual SaVc!-
That is they would be compelled by legislative enact
snents 70 labor for little or 10 vases. and legs
IaiiOn would assume such loIm that they
would not dare leave their employers Tor rear;
nf punishment; and unless white men VINO had lea
Onion men through the war had very strong personal
Friends they could not live in the STATE. Ihey WouI4
be annoyed much in various WAYS that me! eo1lu
not i've there III any peace OF c5Mloi. tu4HH e.''
grants rom abroad would be klnuy received Dut
2ink emierants from the North, or MON men, WOu!a
be- cody received and treated with indifference
6on krorg wbet or any Efforts have been made OF not
70 ascertain Whether the negroes would DC wiling 10
remove 10 any territory assigned 70 t.c y that were
10 ne done: bat from ny knowledge OF NJ gro Character
think thew would OBI ct % H. ! tAius The mass o.
them desire very much 10 continue 10 i've ~ ther ora
neirhb0rhoods and with their old masters ilValabY
1,lere thew have been treated well as slaves wa
horn IN southern State and reared The age OF ~ IN
that country. Since then have been d. me army My
services have been mostly 10 Southern states ana on
tbe frontier bordering Oh Southern St4lcs ILeiels
10 danger OF trouble ron negroes remaining who're
fhev are unless whites treat them badly that they
are compelled IN selfdeiense 20 up against then
There is section OF Alabama where tr people under
tie direction Of a phiianthfopc gentleman OF thsi
stat have gone 70 work, Of themselves, to estao-
hsh A Freedmen's Court or something equYa-
Iert h II Though which they pgopOss 70 nd
minister fair and impartial justice between employees
md negroes. They have also undertaken 10 ehtaD'
~ scsools for religious instruction Of negroes
and fJr education primitive branches Of knowledge.
Tbedpostion Of negroes for education If universal
and practical among the younger portion vi them.
he'll capacity for receiving instruction has A0 Ft'
b.su liy Developed bul from all learn from con
yersafiO with different persons. they possess fhr ca
pacj.y ior acquiring knOgleCge. i tiaE The second
generation can be instructed much more eGhIy ana
thoroughly than the present one because ~ measure
fbe mind of the negro Is entirely unGeye0ped OF the
preseut time except In matters Of practical ODsefFatlO
4 thirk In every instance where the negro las
been assured that be would be paid fair wages and lie
bas gone 10 work willingly. ara has continued 70 WORK
ns 6n ~ the contract las been faithfully performed
he pgrt of bis employers do not think Georgia differs
materially FROM Alabama. There may be somewhat
more OF personal hatred toward negroes IN then rela
tOn as freedmen, bat u YET IL mas Dech easily
controlled through the FreeedmeDs Bureau, and that
feeling is constantly improving IN al tie States
People Of Mississippi appear 10 me To be more mlusve
and more prone TO stand Up for and the opinions
IL difficult matter to describe Tie olhelelct DetWeen
peone Of those two States vet there IS difference
onsder the people OF Mississippi the least promising
Peope Of that State do not listen 20 arguments ana
discussion with a. rnucn caihess as Tue pcopc W ana
hama do I do not know that / Gun give a decided
opinion Of the difference and state OF feeling ~ those
Saies now and lust after Lees surrender because re-
ports received after Ices surrender were gehefaly
kfom persons who Travelled huriedy through that sec,
fiOn OF the country. i think In great majority o!
cases they are disposed look on most favorable SIDE
Immediately after the surrender OF Lee and the down
fell Of the COnfederacy perhaps thes diu NOT n'eet