New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-08

ItOVIe 4.
other State do you find the sort OF opposition as 10
Tennessee; my duties within the last eight months nave
called me through the five States OF kentucEy lehh
see. Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi; made an III
specton tour through the three States below Tennessee
in addition to my regular duties; tits melancholy
fact that among the biterest opponents OF me negro W
Tennessee the intensely radical loyalsts OF INC
mountain district the men who have been IN our
armies take East Tennessee for instances the great OPP
position to the measure in the Tennessee Legislature
giving the negro the right TO testify, and an equanty
before the law has from that section chiefly IN
Middle Tennessee and in West Tennessee the largest
and the weathiest planters of the old slave holding pop
ulation have cordially c00perated with me III my
duties ian the people of East Tennessee.
o. In what way docs their opposition manifest itself
A. In desire that he should be entirely removed rom
the State. opposing his education and right 10 justice
before the law.
O. Do the freedmen manifest disposition to be in.
dusrious and secure livelihood for themselves a.
They do and to elevate themselves they literally hun
ger and thirst for knowledge.
Q. What proportion Of them are able to find employ
ment' A. All Of them in Tennessee who can 90 any
work. could furnish employers for % 900 more labor
ers from my district than have such Is the demand
for labor in the valley Of the Mississippi; during .he
first 90 days Of this month made contracts at the
Memphis Agency Of the Freedmen's Bureau covering
| T. go persons and at good remuneratiye wages.
q. Do the freedmen recognize you and your Bureau
os means of protection TO themi A. They do.
| o. And they have confidence in your administration
of The BuIeaui "A They appear TO have the fullest con
fdence as also in the military administration OF that
division; the Freedmens Bureau has received the most
hearty and cordial cooperation OF ten InomaS, the
Cornandant Of that divisions the freedman mas no pet
ter friend in the country than MaJorMen yn that
In Middle and West Tennessee there Is no oppOsltIoh
70 the freedmen for there Isl there are saVehodes anu
returned Rebel soldiers there VINO perseclte the oi
terly and pursue them with vengeance and treat tne
with brutality. and burn down their dwellings, anu
school houses but 1t is not the rule: such couuc' -
exceptional; it may not be best ior me 10 sPer n
of Kentucky in this connection, bur, Don
trasting the two States. can say thdt
the freedmen in Tennessee are treated WIN T hn
favor than they are in Kentucky there Is more Dru
talty to negroes and more wicked malicious pereea
ton of loyasts in the State OF Kentucky 70 day ta
the State of Tennessee; l have Travelled over pom
States and observed carefny have Travelled neoR IN
portions OF those States haze mentioned gong as
/ Aiissouran talking with the people on Their pahta
tons and the negroes in their quaiterS' reaching so
real sentiment Of the people in that way the opposition
10 the freedmen Kentucky in many localities very
great in fact to freedom Itself.
o. How large Is the pccuniary support that you are
obliged TO extend 10 the freedmen In Tcnnessee' A.
nm not TODAY issuing single ration 10 freedmen IN
Tennessee except 10 about 100 orphan children and ~
old people at Memphis. and about 90 orphan chiidreH
and IS old people nj Nashville; that Is all.
q DO you issue rations TO white people in tennessee
A. During the last year the rations issued 10 wne peo
pie in Tennessee have been mueh III excess Oh tnosc ~
suel 10 freedmen; when took charge OF my dlstrlct
the Government was feeding 1900 people; IN roma
numbers about II 800 white persons, and 90 black the
month preceding the establishment OF the freeunen
Bureau for rations alone for that class OF people the
sum of s97 600 expended; my first efforts were TO
reduce the number OF these benehcaries OF the bov
withhold tho ratiOns ana make tno peol'
self supporting far as possible and in the course OF
four months I reduced the monthly expenses RON
sg 900 to 600 saving within that on subsistence ten
times as much money the whole Frcedmens Bureau
cost 10 the District including all salaries paid TO
officers and agents for the Government.
/ O Is the military support of the Government rec
CURED In the state OF tennessee IN hid OF your
O DO Won believe the affairs OF the Bureau could be
safely administered there without the military support
1 Of the Government A. do not; my subOrdnates
Il oil / /
n county for the position; for instance. select the
County Judge. at the county seat ana give nm the
agency OF the Frcedmens Bureau In that county, and
under our regulations and instructions be administers
our Affairs II be- needs II be requests any district or
post commandant to give him assistance and he gets H.
o. Are they frequently compelled 10 require such hld
O. And YOU do no, think tina, at this time the mitery
could be safely Withdrawn from Tennessee n. do
not.
O. DO you think that martial law could be safely
I abolished there at this iimei ~ do not.
O. Do you think 1t would be safe at this time to re-
store the writ Of habeas corpus theref A. do not.
o. What II The general sentiment Of the white pOpu-
aion in the Of Tennessee at this time in respect
10 loyalty TO the Federal Union A / should think
that the majority 81 the people OF Tennessee counting
them right through are opposed 10 the Goyernment;
think the al the polls today II every man were al
lowed Ia Otc lie pleased but according 10 bus own
Judgment wonld show majority against the General
q. Is there any difference in that respect in farent
parts the Siatci A. Yes sir; there u more LOYALTY
In East Tennessee than In any other portion of the
state. ana there is more in Middle Tennessee than
there IL Ia West Tennessee.
O. Is there now safety 20 the Union people Of the
State Of Tennessee, A. But little opposition TO the
Union peop. has come within my observation; large
delegation Of the citizens Of Memphis waited on me not
long ago and stated that they cruelty oppressed
by the Rebel element VI the population In that section
and that they feared the military protection was To be
withdrawn from the saie and they stated 70 me that
If the military was withdrawn, those persons IN most
portions Of West Tennessee. who had been early and
consistent friends ofhe Government and oyai 70 H.
would be compelled TO withdraw with the military 'hat
was their opinion as expressed To me.
o. l. il your belief that within two or three years
there will be mutual understanding arrived at between
the white and coorcd populations OF tennessee
tho Freedmens Bureau could be dispensed with A.
Yes sir believe that with the enactment OF Just laws
laws securing impartial Justice to nil men. and their en-
forcement in that State by the civil authorities II would
not take that length Of time TO properly adjust the new
relations.
BY M Griar-Q Where your headquarters A.
Al Nashville. Tennessee.
o How long have you been In Kentucky Have you
been at Frankfort latelyi A. Yes sir; have been In
Kentucky the most OF the time for the last six weeks.
was there often during the Summer months. and made
tours through the State.
O When you speak Of the vote OF the majority OF the
people Of Tennessee being In opposition to the General
Government do Won mean that the majority would vote
10 overthrow the Government, OF do you mean that
they are opposed 10 the present policy OF the Govern
nentf A. / mean this. that believe majority OF the
people Of Tennessee to-day would prefer that the Rebel
lion should have been succsss-that Ia my meaning.
O. Is there not an increasing oyaty-s disposition
gradually growing up 10 take position under the Fede
raj Government and do their duty A vii tell you
lust what my observation In that particular has been
when 10 that district In June last there seemed
20 be general disposition the part OF the majority
OF the people 70 cordially support the Government To
return TO Industrial pursuits and TO let by cones be by
cones; In the conrso Of three four months there
seemed TO be increase Of dissection. heard more
of complaints against the Government. more express.
scns Of regret that the Rebellion bad failed more open
| and unjust criticisms Of the Government; then.
again. that feeling subsidized and believe the feeling
/ to-day IL growing better,