Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-22
R ICONS LON,
South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida.
Tertimony of Gen. Howard

The following is the substance of the
Testimony of General Charles Fl. How
ard, before the Reconstruction Com
mittee; @Ra1 rs
= In answer, to the questions asked
him, be replied that he had been in ser
vice for three months and more in South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and had
different counties Of the frst mentioned
State, mingling freely with the inhsb-
itants. From bis observation, he
thought that the feeling Of the majority
of the people of South Carolina could
hardly be called friendly toward National
Government Some old gentlemen man
Tested an undolbted disposition to be
faithful in their duties as citizens, but q
great many showed an intention to get
around the requirements Of the Govern
.ment, in any way they could. Es-
pecially was there an unmistakahle
bitter feeling toward those who had been
loyal from the beginning. This bitter
ness was also very marked in reference
to Northern Immigrants, and such per-
sons from the North as had already set
tied there were strongly of the opinion
that unless the United States authorities
were continued there it would be almost
impossible for them to remain. AaA
InGen. Howard Q opinion, If the Union
troops were Withdrawn from South
Carolina entirely the result would be
that the freedmen would be prevented
from carrying on any legitimate BUSH
ness by those who are their natural ene-
mics, and the old Union. men would be
completely ecstracised. In some por-
tionslof the State he thought that no
Northern man could remain, unless he
curried favor in some way with ex.
rebels. The Unionists1of South CARROLL
ma are much fewer than those of Geor.
gia or FLORIDA. The feeling is very
strong against allowing the negro to
obtain any education, the argument
being with some that it would be useless
to undertake such q work, and others
holding that itrwonld result In positive
injnryEto labor. These arguments, in
most cases, are grounded ton their old
prejudices against the negro, and few
are able to- give valid arguments for
their views. And in this connection,
Gen. Howard testified that the feeling
against those engaged in the work Of
teaching, the colored people was very
strong. They were not only refused as
siatanee, but everything was done to
make their work as difficult as possible.
School rooms were refused, even when
the rooms which are desired are unused;
il is very difficult to obtain boarding
places, families needing pecuniary as
sistance refusing to take those engaged
In this work RTEE
The blacks are very anxious to obtain
instruction, and always listen eagerly to
addresses on the subject of education.
In cases where they have been urged to
renew their contracts for another year,
they have given as the prominent reason
why they wished to change employers,
their desire to get near village whera
they could have the benefit of a school.
As compared with white children, the
schools which were visited and examined
would indicate that there was no inferi-
Gritty on,the part of the colored children.
Gen. Howard had taught himseIfin wears
before, and carefully examined the child
rem, who were being taught in the ele.
SA@4~lC9t 944 III W6S LIS CON-
viction that in the progress that had been
made, and the understanding thas was
ezinced OF their studies, the colored pu-
pills were in no degree behind vhits
children who were pursuing similar
sEudies in the North. EsysI-s lsNY
This prejudice against the blacks is
pretty universal, not being confined to
any particular class, existing in as in
tense form among the higher classes
as among the merchants and mechanics,
a1d ell classes, without exception, are
utterly and entirely opposed to negro
suffrage. There is also widespread
feeling against ownership by the blacks
of land, and corresponding universal
wish among the blacks themselves to
possess land in fee simple If left IN.
restrained By any act of Congress, Gen.
Howard 10 decidedly of the opinion that
the Legislature of the State would pass
an act prohibiting the black race entire.