Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-03-21
Reconstruction.
REPORT oy TINE coxulrrrE TO CONGRESS.


WASHINGTON, March ga large mass c
testimony was reported to-day from the Com
mittee on Reconstruction.
q General B. n. Grierson testified in refer
! encc to Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee
q persons with whom he had conversed, On,
, did not appear to think they had done wrong
r Their only regret seemed to be that they hat
! not the means to carry out their designs.
Q.-Is the feeling OF hostility to the Gov
ernnent one which controls great majority
or only majority of the people in the re
gion in which you have spoken?
Alt is the feeling Of tho majority. a
!, the time of the appointment Of civil officer
great many of those who had served in the
army during the rebellion were repentant
There was hardly loyal man appointed te
civil Office under the State Government.
Q.-So far as you know, how does Alabam,
and Mississippi compare with Georgia and
; TENNESSEE
Al think there is not much difference e
If any, it is in favor of Tennessee. think
Tennessee is rather more loyal State. ]
had hoped that afterthe rebellion they would
all have been loyal, at least, that they would
have accepted the situation serenely. But
am satisfied that they do not. believe there
is now an organisation existing throughout
these States for the renewal of the rebellion
There are many circumstances or things
which have occurred since the surrender to
make me believe it.
| Q.-Is there any sentiment with regard to
foreign war;
A.-There seems to be manifested q desire
to have the country involved in war with
France 10 relation to Mexico. think, in
such an event, tkey would seize the opportu-
nifty to turn against tho Government. This
is tho sentiment Of the leading men in the
South, from all can learn. The spirit oil
resistance, still exists and is as strong as ever,
and il the event Of this country being en-.
gagged in foreign war, the enemies of the
Government throughout the South mediate,
and would not fail to seize the opportunity to
attempt again its destruction.
This is corrobo.a,ive Of Gen. Thomas
testimony, which has already been published.
General Otis II. Howard testified that in
his official capacity he visited all the cities,
principal towns, and every county in South
| Carolina.
Being asked by the Committee what was
the feeling toward the Government, whether
it was friendly or unfriendly, replied: He
thought the feeling OF the majority of the
people of South Carolina is not kind, aud
can hardly be called friendly. He did, how
ever, meet with old gentlemen who seemed
to show proper spirit and ON undoubted
disposition to be faithful to their duties as
citizens hereafter. But he met with great
many persons who exhibited illfeeling ana o
disposition TO get around, in any way they
could, the requirements of the Government,
and especially with reference to the negro ;
and the feeling exhibited toward Union men,
those who have been loyal from the beginning,
was now unmistakably bitter,
If the military forces were withdrawn from
South Carolina, it would be source of great
INJURY 10 Ireedmessssrin shont the. State. No
Northern resident could remain there unless
be courted favor of the influential. Feeling
is more intense among the female portion Of
the community, without exception, against
Northern men.
The condition of Georgia and Florida was
much the same as that of South Carolina,
and there was hostility against Union men
and late immigrant, from the North. There
were some Union men in Georgia and Flori-
da who have always been so, but the p,cvail.
ing sentiment, which is bound to control, is
simia- to that of South Carolina.
Charles II. hewis, seyPetary Of the Com
monwealth under Governor Perpont, said
| his decided impression in regprd to affairs in
| that State, Is that the masses of the people
(aad by that term he did not mean only la
bouring classes, but all those persons who
were not politicians we're very favouraby
disposcd toward the Government at the time
Of Lees surrende-
He believed that very decided efforts had
been made by politicians to change that feel
ing since that time, aud he was afraid that
they had succeeded 10 considerable extent.
| He beloved TINT tie majority of tue people
for the publishers of papers and politicians,
who, to great extent, control public opiuion.
He believed that many of the old politicians
are engaged in promoting the dissatisfied
feeling With the government.
He had no reaan to believe tina. there is
any such organization in that State, but from
a conversation WIKI some of the most ou.-
spoken secessionias Of the State, he was in
cined 10 think that agreat majority of them
would be very glat to see the country involved
in foreign war, u the hope that they could
again get up secession party in the South
put he had no idps that a majority, or any.
thing like majority of the people of Yir-
ginia entertain any such wish or desire at
this time. He belisVed the feeling wss con-
fined to the most ultra aecessionists.
He believed the object of politicians and
of the press was 10 bring about such q state
of things which would produce that revolt,
| but he was p holes that the mass Of the peo-
ple of Virginia Lave too much good sense
ever to 20 out again if they can help it.
These poiiticiansnov profess their loyalty to
the Union, but hewas free to cay he distrusted
their profsssionsgay much.
Miss Clara Barton, of Massachusetts, VITO
has been engaged in searching for missing
men of the Union army, testified before the
Committee that Ihs thought the people South
have no respect o. the Government, and they
have less Friendship for the negroes NOW than
when they owneithem. They say the peo-
pie would again rduce them to slavery, but
she would not Eait to take the chance of be-
ing q slave, were in their power.
The freedmen hve the best fepling toward
the Government md Northern people.
Lieut.. Col. D. II. Coff, on duty in the
Freedmen's Bursu in North Carolina, testi
fies that he has knowledge of twenty coun.
ties. and the secssionists had no inclination
to oppose the Gsernment by open war any
further.
He thought thy had no more love for the
Government nov than they had at any time
during the rebellion, and only submitted oft
as q necessity. icing most sensitive of their
interests they mxe the best Of it. He had
heard regrets oppressed at the result Of the
fight. There is reat desire to get back fully
into the Union. He was satisfied that it was