Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-15

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20 gain such an ascendancy In Congress
as 10 make provision there for the as
sumption Of the debt incurred by the
rebel government; and Also in case the
United States Government can be in
volved ia a foreign war, to watch their
opportunity and take advantage OF the
frst that occurs 10 strike for the indie.
pendenCo otthe States lately in rebellion.
Q-Do you know Of any persons Of
influence being implicated In this move
meut A.-As yet ! have not ascer-
taiued that any persons OF influence are
implicated in il aud l will further
state, In justice To the people Of the
South, that know OF some men who
were prominent in the rebel army,
who, believe are honestly trying TO
become good citizens Of the United
States. They have been paroled by
military authority, have applied TO the
President for pardon and are awaiting
his decision, They have set themselves
to work quietly to earn an honest live
lihoOd in some practical and peaceful
manner thereby setting good example
TO other people Of the South.
Gen Grlerson testifes that at the time
of the surrender of Lee and Johnston
his Impression of the people Of the
South was that they Were willing to &C
cept almost any terms that might be
granted by the government. They
feared tat their property would be cOn-
dsc'.ted and that possibly they would
not be allowed to remain In the country.
But they have since grown moro exact
ing in their demands, and more bitter
towards the government.
Q.-To what do you attribute the
change Of sentiment between the time
Of Lees surrender and later on? A
That would oe only a matter OF opinion !;
think 4 the dlsloyal had been dealt
with more severely there would have
been less dissatisfaction and more loyal
~ in the south TO day their demands
have steadily increased at the time |
left they complained that their Congress.
men were not admitted, and they seemed
to think that on that account they
were an Injured people. think that
every Congressman elected from the
State of Alabama was elected by reason
of his devotion TO the cause Of the rebel
hon. Some Of them served at Rich
moud as Cou~ressmen, aud others as
Officers in the rebel army but In no case
that | know Of was loyal man elected.
The truly loyal people Of Alabama do
not wish the present elected Congress
men and Senators, from that State adj
mitted into Congress.
Q.-DO you know whether there is
any expectation on the part Of the peo-
pie in that section Of the country that
they are to be compensated in any way
for their slaves or for other losses in
CURED during the war? Ayes, sir;
there is great feeling of that kind they
seem to think that their property has
been stolen from them by the govern
ment they do not accept the condition
Of Freedmen Ia many places where
there are no troops, l have known in
stances Of negroes being forced 10 call
their former owners masters, as hereto
fore, aud of their being told that when
troops were removed they would again
be forced into slavery-that they would
he Just as much slaves as ever
Gen. Griersou testifies in regard TO the
freedmen that they show great willing
ness to work and If they had fair
chance they would be a self-supporting
people; that they manifest q wonderful
desire to learn to read that they are
and will remain true to the government;
that they desire to acquire lands and
homes where they are, but the whites
are opposed to It. He further says
l think there is q great desire on the
part Of many Southern people for an
| assumption of their debt. They wish
TO bring that about, aud many desire to
be paid for their slaves. think they
would oppose the payment Of the ma
tional debt, | think they have no pa
triotism for the Union, they appear to be
now as much devoted to the cause Of the
rebellion az they were during the war
They appear to accept the situation be-
cause they cannot do anything else at
I present, not because they are satisfied
with it, | think that if another election
were held for Congressman and Senators
they would elect men who are even
stronger in their sentiments for the
South aud against the Government than
those heretofore elected. They did in
some cases try to pick men who would
not be Objectionable in every respect.
They think that these men now would
be Objectionable to the Southern people,
infer this from o great many things.
For instance all employees of railroads,
telegraphs, and express companies who
were loyal TO the Government are having
their heads cut of and their places filled
by sympathizars with the rebellion.
Many of them were heretofore officers in
the rebel service. At the time of the
surrender, and even after, they mani
Tested disposition rather to divide this
thing, bat that is entirely changed
Gen. Grierson also testifes in regard
to organizations being formed for the
renewal of the rebellion, and to the de-
sire al the South that the Government
should become involved In foreign
war, to afford the Southerners another
opportunity to attempt its destruction.
Gpn Sayt0D tpgt{6ps II think a enolJ