Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-16

| running away from lhet masters Win NJ
vague conception Of freedom. assure you
they had knowledge that the Government
was what they should stand by.
| q What is the disposition Of negroes il
regard To acquiring lands and getting homes
/ A. They desire il; and they desire to re.
main where they have lived heretofore They
seem 20 be attached to their former homes
or localities.
q. What is the disposition Of the white
people in regard TO allowing negroes TO be.
come land owners
A. They do not favor IT, Stakeholder.
felt some res possibility for negroes when they
were slaves, bug they have thrown that of
entirely now. They say, " Government freed
you and now let Government take care o
you" In hiring negroes they try to hire
those who have no old, or young, or feeble
persons depending on them. Former slave
owners will not lease or sell land to negroes
q. DO you apprehend q negro insurrection
in case negroes are not properly treated
A | think negroes have shown a remark.
able degree Of patience, although many Of
them have been brdtally treated since the
surrender. They have manifested no dispo-
sition to rise in rebe lion. The whites were
alarmed about Christmas. They feared that
there would be negro insurrecdon The
negroes believed that land was to be given
them, and that they would be aided and
helped by the Government, and people con-
strued that into an opinion that negroes
would rise up 10 arms against them, but did
not see any evidence to justify any such fear.
| think there is great desire manifested by
the Southern people for the assumption OF
al. III IL. . II.
and many desire to be paid for their slaves.
| think they would oppose the payment OF
the national debt. / think they have no
patriotism for the Union. They appear to be
now as much devoted to the cause Of rebel
lion as they were during the war. They ap-
pear to accept the situation because they cam
not do anything else at present-not because
they are satisfied with it. | think that il
another election we're held for Congress
and Senators, they would elect men who are
even stronger In their sentiments for the
South and against the Government than those
heretofore elected They did in some cases
try to pick men who would not be objection
able in every respect, but l think that these
men now would be Objectionable to the
Southern people. infer this from great
many things for instance--all employees OF
railroads, telegraphs and express companies
who were loyal to the Government are hay-
Ing their "hsads cut off, aud their places
filed By sympathizsrs with the rebellion.
Many of them, heretofore officers in the reb-
e. service at the time Of surrender and even
after thai, manifested disposition rather to
divide this thing, but that is entirely changed.
q So far as you know how do Alabama
and Mississippi compare with Georgia and
Tennessee in the particulars about which you
have spoken;
A. | hink there is not very much differ
ense. II any it is 10 favor of Tennessee as
rather ihe moro loyal State.
O. you have any facts or views that you
have not stated you may state them now.
A. l have mentioned something in regard
TO organizing the militia. There seems TO be
a great desire on tue part Of the Southern
people for that and to remove the Freedmen 5
Bureau. There is an intense hatred to it and
its officers. 1t is looked upon as disgrace
ia that country, by those who now control.
10 beloug TO the Federal army; but, on the
other hand, to have been an officer in the
Confederate army is passport to success
everywhere in the South.
believe that if the militia system is car
ried out it will be organized into brigades and
divisions, and will be Differed throughout by
rebel officers. ] tried every way | could to
get correct information of the people and to
judge them withou. unkind feelings.
l hoped they would be loyal, or at least
that they would accept the situation sincerely,
but am satisfied thst they do not. believe
that there is az organization now existing
throughout the South for the renewal Of the
rebellion.
Many circumstances or things which have
occurred since the surrender made me believe
so. have a statement from men that are Of
the present State Representatives of Alabama
who say that an organization does exist
throug hout the whole South'for that purpose,
and learn from other parties that the His
torical Society have somsthing to do with IT,.
You may have observed notices of very
large attendances at the Historical Society
meetings in Georgia and Alabama. Governor
Patten was in Huntsville while | was in
command, but he did not call at headquarters.
He seemed to be congratulaling the people in
regard to his success with Thomas as to the
removal Of the troop, from there, and as TO
the organization Of the militia. He then
told them it would be organized Immediately /;
in fact, he appointed Colonels, to whom he
was to SEND commissions and, think, be-
fore that Gov. Parsons had also sent COM
miseions to them. Those officers whom he
commissioned were. so far as | know, old Of
ficers in the rebel army.
Q. What is the public sentiment in regard
to foreign war
A. They seem to manifest great desire to
have this country involved in war with France
in regard to Mexico. | think that, as gon-
eral thing, in case of such an event, they
would seize that opportunity to turn against
the Government OF course there are ex-
ceptions but that is the true sentiment Of
the leading people of the South, or those who
have controlling influence and it is my firm
belief after all have been able 10 learn of
the Southern people, during the war aud since
the surronder, that the spirit of resistance
still exists there as strong rs ever, and that
in the oyont of this country engaging IA u
foreign war, the enemies Of the Government
Of the United States throughout the south
do mediate and will not fail Is seize that OPP
portunity to attempt again its destruction.
March Z, in the Senate Mr.. Sumner spoke
at great length against the constitutional
amendment on the appoFuonment Of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Doolttle argued in favor OF
apportionment by voters, which helps the new
states at the expense Of the old.