The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-16
CONDITION OF THE SOUTH
Important Testimony before the
Reconstruction Committee,

'iiiouii' vi teotltnoliy pertaining 10 ttt
condition of Arkansas, Mississippi, Ala
bama and Georgia.. Among the most I'M
portant evidence was the following
TESTIMONY OF Maj. GEN. q. H. THOMAS
To .N. BomweH: Kentucky, Temes-
see. Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi
are included in my command The peo-
pie of Alabama are extremely anxious to
be under the constitution of the United
States, and to have that state in its rcgul-
lar position in the Union, but they are not
yet personally friendly to Union men.
They are desirons to live under the GOV
ernment of the United States. and have
attempted to pass laws as judiciously as
they could at the time TO regulate the al
fairs of freedmen. One of their bills was
not considered constitutional by the gov
ernor and was vetoed by him. He thinks
a new legislature will pass just and fair
bill 10 regulate the affairs of the freedmen
ofthe state. People there have had a
fair trial TO gain their independence, and
have failed completely, They now pro-
tesS to have given up the contest. AMI ex-
press themselves DESTROYS of resuming their
relations with the government. 1t l. dit
ficult to say what portion of the people OF
Alabama are reliable Union men. Before
the secession of the state the majority OF
the people OF Alabama were for the Tn
ion. and when the subject wis first sub
mltted TO the people Il majority voted
against secession: and | am informed that
the state was eventually taken out of the
mon bv trickery of determined secession
ISIS. The people acquie>ced in the result.
and many OF them seemed to give up their
mon sentiments. and some of those ori"-
mai Union men have remained rebels. and
are now strongly in sympathy with the
enemies of the government Others have
expressed their gladne>> that the rebellion
has been crushed. and profess Il desire 10
have the state back in the mon But
their interests and sympathicS have such :,
hold upon them AT this time that ii i very
difficult 10 obtain Il clear expression OF the
sentiments of any man there am imclin-
ed TO think very small proportion ot them
would he willing 10 sacrifice their proper
~ and Interests i'll the south for the sake
OF the Union They did mot do ii before.
and 1t l. fair 10 presume that they would
still adhere 10 the advancement of their
own private Interests In some portions
OF the state there i Il very bitter tccIin.
between those who have been Iuiuni>i-
during the war and those who have been
( identified with the rebellion In other
portions the people all seem 10 desire IL
be friendly 10 one another AMI 10 adhere
10 the government. la some portions ol
northern Alabama the public sentiment j.
decidedly in favor of the government in
other portions of the state | think the sen
tlnent oi the people may be expressed in
this way: If they thought they could cs-
iahli>h the >oulhcrn comic,lcracv. they
would prefer i. /; but seeing no hope OF
/ that. they desire to live under the con>ti-
! ii
.Alahama 4 strong. decided diSIoyal >emti-
mcnl. though think Union sentiment
prcdominatr> in many portions OF tn,
state. In elections that have taken plac,
i'll that state | do not know that il I'm.
been Il universal thin. for candidates to
! put themselves before the people Ia having
participated more or less actively In the
rebellion. There were two distinct par-
lies in northern Alabama. and the Union
candidates We're defeated but | think TN,
mon candidates there for the state legi>-
lature were all, or a majority OF Them
elected. | think in central and southern
Alabama successful candidates were either
officers OF the rebel army. or active ans
working rebels. Reports OF fraud in Ger
tain districts in elections were torwarl,,
to me. and. | suppose, are now on lille il
the adIutant generals office. The ch;lrg,
was that Improper persons were pcrmittcI
TO vote. and 1t WIS Suib>iantlatel. iS | m
der>tand. In that state. up 10 this time
~
great extent been in danger of their lives
But few instances OF personal Violence hay,
been reported TO me. Generally >pcakln:
the presence OF troops and of officers q
the ircclmcn's bureau has been >uilicien
TO put down any demonstration of ho-tiii
ty do not think it would be cxpe.lien
TO remove the troops until the people show
that they are themselves willin. ard dc
termined To execute the civil law with i'm
partial justice to all parties | think tin
public sentiment is divided on the Suhiec
OF allowing freedmen TO become freehold
erS. | have heard of no legislation ol
that subject, either 10 empower them t,
become ireeholder> or TO prohibit then
from becoming such. Ii national trooI,
and the treedmen's bureau were TO
withdrawn from the state at this time.
don't believe the Union men or the freed
men could have Justice done them. In
justice toward them would commence II
suits i'll courts for petty oficnScS. an
nei.hborhood combinations annoy them :
much that they could not reside anon
them. am satisfied that until bette
state of feeling shall arise there-if all re
straintS should be removed-the frrelnni
would be thrown back into Il condition q
virtual slavery; that is. they would b
compelled by legislative enactment> 10 l..
Dor for little Or no wages. and LEGISLATION
would assume such form that they woul
not dare leave their employers for fear q
punishment and unless white men. VIII
had been Union men through the war ha,