Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-06-01
the COLLAPSE OF THE REBELLIoY.

In reply To- queStlon as TO whether he was
not surprised at the suddenness of the collapse
of the rebellion, Grant said that he was although
he had always supposed that when it did
break down it would go all at once. Il thought
however" he remarked, that it would hold out
another season and am not sure, he added,
| sbut that it would have been better for the
country if it had. There were some parts of
country where our armies had never trcd, par
ticularly Texas, which needed TO feel the blight
ing effects of war to bring their people to a re-
alizing sense of the enormity of their crime,
and the necessity of thorough repentance
ind,' said he, that those parts of the South
which have not felt the war, and particularly
those which have been within our lines and
and have therefore escaped the rebel cOnscrip-
tion and taxes, are much less disposed TO accept
| the situation in good faith than those portions
which have been literally overrun with fire and
sword. 2 - it -1a'
h. es TEMPER or THE SOUTH.
w Referring TO the temper of the Southern peo-
| pie, he remarked that they are much less dis
| posed now TO bring themselves to the proper
frame of mind than they were one year since.
! HA year ago, said he, "they were willing to do
anything now they regard themselves as mas
| ters of the situation. Some of the rebel gene
+ rails" he added, care behaving nobly and doing
all they can TO induce the people to throw aside
their old preiudices and to conform their course
10 the changed condition of things Johnston
| and Dick Taylor, particularly, are exercising
good influence; but Lee is behaving badly
He is conducting himself very differently
from what l had reason, from what he said at
the time of the surrender, to suppose he would.
| No man at the South is capable of exercising
tenth part of the influence for good that he is,
but Instead of using it he is setting an example
of forced scquiescense SO grudging and pernic-
ious in its effects as to be hardly realized.
tsThe men who were in the rebel armies
said Grant, ''acquiesce in the result much better
than those who staid at home. The women are
particularly bitter against the Union and Union
men. of course" he added, ''there is some
bitterness of feeling among all classes, but /
am satisfied it would soon die out if their lead
ing men had not somehow got the idea that
treason after ali was not very bad, and that-the
Southern cause, as they phrase it, will yet tri-
umph, not in war but in politics. In my .iudg-
hent'' said Grant, THE tone of certain men and
papers in the North.is such as to do incalcula-
bic mischief in making the late rebels believe
that they are Just as much entitled to rule as
ever, and if they will only stand by what they
are pleased to call their rights they will have
help from the North. This, significantly add
ed Grant, %is only playing over again the incip-
lent stages of the rebellion. He was confident
that the large majority of the Southern people
would smother their resentments and become
good citizens if these mischief-makers at the
North (the copperheads) would only let them
alone. For himself, if he had the power the
first thing he would do would be to seize the
New York Nctos and kindred sheets, which are
giving the South SO dangerous an idea of their
own position and rights" ,.Dick Taylor"
added Grant, Ftold me that the great body of
The South would settle down quietly and be
satisfied with anything if it was not for this
false idea of their rights and called ll-treat-
ment fostered by such sheets. r ..- +. J.
,rn. -.ia.5 TROOPS IN THE SOUTH. -.r
Troops, +" said General Grant, must be kept
in all The principal points in The South for some
time to come. This will be necessary to rcpress
the turbulence of a class of the South very
dangerous 10 all well disposed persons and also
to protect the rights of the freedmen who are
looked upon with deep hatred by a very large
proportion of the people. | am in favor, how
eyer,H he added, -Of not retaining our volun-
teers for this duty, because they very naturally
think that they fulfilled their engagement one
year since. Hence, whenever have heard of
any dissatisfaction in volunteer regiment
have at once ordered their discharge. 1 couldn't
consent to the punishment for turbulence of
brave men who had been through the war, and
who regarded themselves as being wrongfully
held = have given orders for the immediate
discharge of all the white volunteers"
MEXICO. Itt ..is
Grant spoke in high terms of Sherman, Sher-
idan, Howard and other generals, and referred
10 our Mexican difficulties forcibly adding that
he believed the French invasion of Mexico
part of the rebellion; and he should have been |
glad TO have Seen detachment of our army |
sent there one year since, He would engage
that Sheridan, with plenty of arms and two |
Thousand American troops and goodly num- |
Der of American officers, would, with the aid of |
the Mexicans, clean. Macmillan ont of Mexico |
in six months.
But we have already extended our account of |
this interview too far and must omit many other
matters. Suffice it to say that we left General |
Grant more deeply impressed than ever before, |
even, of his great ability, his unflinchiDg pa |
triotism, and his thorough devotion to liberty |
and Justice. We thank God that in this crisis |
such man is at the head Of our armies, and if |
duty and his country calls, that he will be ready
to take upon himself more responsible duties. |
ass
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
- Senate.-May % Mr.. Wilson reported an |
other Bounty bill, accompanied by report
Bills were passed to amend the Homestead law |
and to amend the postal laws. The bill to con-.
solidate the public debt was called up and de-
bated by MIR. Sherman, and postponed till to-
day. Mr.. Chandler introduced bill supple
Department and reported bill TO prevent sea-
men from wearing sheath knives After an Ex-
ecutive session, the Senate adjourned 1
VI Iioase.---A resolution was adopted calling for
inflammation in, regard to pensions stopped on
account of the rebellion. bill was passed to
amend the Civil Appropriation bill for le59.-
A bill to appoint an Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, was passed, 69 TO A.. A bill TO continue
the Ereedmens Bureau for three years was re-
r4o1f t1,aN IT,. l..
considered briefly, and the House then took up
the Bankrupt bill which was debated at length
by Mr.. Jenekes, and passed, IS to 50. The tax
bill was again taken up, and the debate on it
continued through the evening session. I'M
portant notifications were made in respect to
the tax on tobacco and cigars. -'''' 'iit
,Seadte. 24th.-The Senate directed
select committee to inquire into the condition
Of National Banks throughout the county,
The West Point bill was discussed, but not
reached. The Reconstruction resolution was
taken up, Senator Stewart of Nevada made
speech, rectiDg his objections to the Presidents
plan, and contending that universal am
nesty and universal suffrage formed the only
plan of reconstruction. The people should be / /
trusted. The ballot was necessary to the self ,
of the blacks. He would chain
he disloyal whites to the ballots of the loyal
blacks Mr.. johnson moved to strike out the
he third section, dlsiranchlsIng the rebels
when; the further consideration was postponed. I
Mr. Sherman offered an amendment to the Re- q
Committee report. Mr.. Wilson's
appointing historian of the War, i
vas considered, and referred TO the Military J
Committee when the Senate adjourned. &
House.-The House considered the joint res q
'lutiOn passed by the Senate confirming the c
lights of the negroes to their Sea Island estates,
Iut itlwas met by the morning hour and sent q
'yer until Tuesday next. Mr.. Schenck an I
lounced that the Bounty Bill had been revised. l
All local bountes paid to soldiers arc to be de-
lucted from the sums due them. An amend '
nent was adopted to the Freedmen's Bureau c
,il confirming the right of the negroes to their
Sea Island lands, The tax bill was fully con- v
dered Ground coffee, spices, photographs, a
nrbrotypes and dagnerreotypes were relieved a
rom taxation, while cigarhghts We're taxed t
Pending the consideration of the bill the House /
diourned.