Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-10
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1865.
Condition Of the South, additional
Testimony.


lion committee, presented on Wednesday
further testimony taken by the commit.
tee II embraces the examination Of
Majnr c. C. andrews, during portion
of 1884 in command of the district of
Houston, Texas; Col. Israel Wedges
until recently in command Of the East
ern District of Florida; b. c. Truman,
correspondent of the New York Times;
Stephen Powers, correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Commercial; De Bow OF De
Bows Review DR.. J. NJ. Turner, form
erly editor Of the Nashville Gazette and
correspondent of the Washington Union;
Caleb Forshey Superintendent Of the
Texas Military Institute, and during the
war q confederate engineer Adjutant
General Thomas and Mai.-Gen. Phil.
Sheridan.
The testimony of Gen. Thomas relates
principally to the localities of Matches
and New Orleans, in which places he has
spent large portion of the time since
the war IN connection with a cotton
plantation owned by his son. 1t repre-
sents the people, so far as he came in
contact with them, anxious for the res
toration of the Union and favOrably
disposed towards the Federal Govern
ment and towards Northern men.
TESTIMONY OF GEN. PHIL. SHERIDAN.
The testimony of Gen. Phil. Sheridan,
forwarded by mail from New Orleans,
in response to interrOgatories sent to
him by senator Williams, as chairman
of the sub. committee, is interesting and
we give a large portion of it. We
quote
O.-What are the feelings of those
who took part in the rebellion and sym
pathized with it toward the General
Government
Al believe they accept the situation,
and have an earnest desire for the resto-
ration OF a perfect Union, but exhibit at
the same time an unmistakabte desire
to glorify the rebellion.
O.-What has been the effect of the un
stinted exercise of the pardoning power
upon such persons? Has 1t made them
friendly or otherwise toward the Gen
eral Government?
Al have noticed no particular
change in sentiment on account OF the
clemency OF the Executive.
O.-What would be the effect in your
opinion, upon the State organization if
the people were left without control to
act for themselves
Al believe they would quarrel
among themselves, and that the sensi-
.,k,+nHtSnI ,Nnpp1n Nun1lH rpurpt
the absence Of the military force.
y
Q.-What would be the condition OF
the Iowa. men if they were left without
any protection by the Federal Govern
ment?
Any impression is that for the
present they would feel unsafe, and
that many of them would leave the
country.
O.-State your opinion as to the ne
cessitv for the continuance of military
force in your department, and your rea-
SONS for this opinion?
Al consider it necessary to main
tain military force in my department
for the following reasons To give Sc
curity to Northern capital and Unlol
people. and to give an actual and Cordla
support to the freedman until he ha
time to work out his social status.
also believe its presence necessary t.
prevent ouarrelling among the Southern
people themselves.
CAPABILITIES OF GOLoRED PEOPLE.
Q.-State fully your opinion as to tn
capability of the colored people, wha
do thew know, and to what extent cal
thew exercise the rights of freemen
Are they willing or unwilling to worl
without physical compulsion, with kin,
treatment and fair wages and stat
what. 10 your judgment, is the bes
course sor Congress to pursue In re
erence 10 these people
A.-The COlOred race, like all othe
races, have different degrees of inteI
ligence and capacity. In New Orleans
where colored people are better treate
than in any other city in the Unite
States, there is an excellent colored Sc
cietv, and q very high degree Of re
tinement exists in it. Starting froi
this, YOU can 90 into the State of Lot
isiana and find the Colored man aboJ
as ignorant as it is possible for any HI
man being to be. The freedmen, as fl
as am informed, have a great desil
to learn. l cannos say whether the
learn rapidly or not. l believe the
are willing to work, because their n
cessities compel them to do so.
this they are like all other races.
never have known white or blac
,uan who was performing manual L
hor for the love Of it. l believe Il
hes, thing that Congress or the STATE
can q o is to legislate as little as poss
HE in eference to the colored man b
yond ei, ring him security in his perst
and nrop. rty. His social status will
worked out by the logic of the necessi
for his labor. 1t is the only labor TIL
can be obtained in the South for son
time to come.
LOUISIANA md TEXAS.
o.-Please make such Suggestions
occur TO your mind a. 10 Ihe e. n =
iudicions aud efficient rem. 'euies Ior y
evils that exist in your departure
growing out of the late rebelliC VI.
A.-The feeling and sentin, emu