The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-30
General Grant on Reconstruction.

We find in the Lewiston (hIaine) Journal some
notes made by the editor OF an hours interview
with General GRANT at Washington few days
since, which, even if We suppose the conversation
to be colored and distorted by tho reporter, are
not pleasant to read. According to the statement
before us, the General intimated that it would
perhaps have been better for the country had the
war continued for year longer, explaining and
country, as follows:
There were some parts Of the country where
brmss NEEDED d 10
to bring their people to realizing sense Of the
enormity of their, crime and the necessity of q
thorough repentance. "I fnd," said he, "thpt
those parts o. the South which have not felt the
war, and particularly those which have been with
in our iaes, and have therefore escaped the rebel
CONSUMPTION and taxes, are much less disposed to
accept the situation in good faith than those por-
tions which have been literally overrun with fire
and sword.", l... -, ~ '.
Referring to the temper Of the Southern people,
now to bring, themselves to tho proper frame Of
ago" said he, 'they were willing to do anything;
situation ''some of the rebel generals" he
added, "are behaving nobly and doing all they
can to induce the people to throw aside their olll
prejudices and to conform their course to the
changed condition of things. Johnston and Dick
Taylor particularly, are exercising good infIq-
ence; but, he added lice is behaving badly; He
had reason, from what he said at the time Of the
surrender, to suppose he would. No man at the
Sou h is capable of exercising. tenth part Of the
influence for good that he il; but instead of using
it, he is setting an example OF forced acqui-
escence 30 grudging and perncious in its effects
as to be hardly realized"
"The men who wero in the rebel armies," said
Grant, sacquiesce in the result much better than
those who stayed at home. The women are par
tioularly bitter against the Union and Union
| bitterness of feeling among all classes, but am
satisfied it would die out IL their leading men
| had not somehow got the idea that treason after
| all was not very bad, aud that the Southern
cause as they phrase it, will yet triumph, not in
| war, but in politics." ''In my Judgment" said
Grant, 'sthe tone of certain men and certain
papers at the North is such as to do incalculable
| mischief In making the late rebels believe that
they are just much entitled to rule as ever, and
| taat il they will only stand by what they are are
sasedb bs their Ehts hsy will hSVS sdaaR hs
Grant '.is only playing over again the incipient
stages Of tho rebellion" He was confident that
the large majority Of the Southern people would
smother their resentments and become good oiti-
zens, IL these mischief-makers at the North (the
Copperheads) would only let them alone. For
| himself, * he had the power, the first thing he
would do would be to seize the Now York News
aud kindred sheets, which are giving the South 30
dangerons AN idea OF their own position and
t"rroops, . said Gen. Grant, ..must be kept in all
the principal points in the South for some time to
come This will DO necessary to repress the turbu-
lence Of q class OF the South very dangerous to
| all we'll disposed persons, and also to protect the
\ rights ofthe freedmen, who are looked upon with
dsepi hatred by a yory large proportion ofthepeo.
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