Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-09
General Thomas Before the Committee Of
Reconstruction.


GEORGE II. THOMAS before the Reconstruction
Committee. General THOMAS is in command
of the Military Division Of Tennessee, which
is composed of the States Of Kentucky, Ten
nessee. Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, with
HEADQUARTERS at Nashville. The teuds between
the factions in Tennessee have been more en-
Uttered than in any other Southern State, for
which, to a great extent, Governor BRowNLow
is more responsible than any one else
II was TO the state Of feeling in Tennessee that
General THONAs's testimony was principally
directed. This officer says that there is no
trouble about East Tennessee, the Union SEN
timent being very strong. He says that Mid
die and West Tennessee are disturbed far more
q" bv personal animoSities and hatredS" than by
disloyalty, and he thinks these personal AMI
mosities would break out and overcome the
civil authorities but for the presence Of the
troops. He says;
1.-THE Union sentiment in Tennessee, Of course,
has been sufficient 10 place the State in lis present
favorable condition towards the Government, and it
protected and encouraged by the presence Ot small
Union force, II will gam the complete ascendancy
in the State in the course OF year OF two. don
think il would be safe at this time 10 remove the
National troops from Tennessee, or to withdraw
martial law, or TO restore the writ OF ha6eGS corpus
70 its full extent
He thinks the people Of Tennessee viii 60
on improving in their Union sentiment, pro
,zided they are prevented from running 10 cx-
tremes against their personal enemies in the
Union ranks and the presence Of troops there
IS necessary simply 10 prevent them from COM
hitting excuses, and being led astray in their
private animoSities.
40. Will you give your opinion as to whether the
admission into Congress Of the Representatives from
Tennessee would tend 20 encourage the loyal people
and strengthen the feeling of loyalty in that state
A ] think il would very much. 10 would not only
encourage the loyal people TO exert themselves but
it would encourage the rebels 10 return 10 their 10y
alty because they would see that their chances and
hopes for another outbreak were passing away from
them II YOU will permit me 20 give additional rea-
sons why / think the delegation from Tennessee
should be admitted wish TO do So
We reproduce, in detail, the questions pro-
pounded by the committee, and his answers
thereto as to his reasons for thinking that an
other outbreak is contemplated as contin-
gency by the Southern people:
20. You also stated as a reason why, in your
opinion the State OF Tennessee ought TO be repre-
sented in Congress, that in that was done, the
rebel people would abandon their hopes OF another
outbreak Have you any reason 20 believe that they
still entertain the opinion or that any considerable
norton of them do, that there may be another out
breakl A. | have received communications from
various persons in the South, that there was an I'M
derstanding among the rebels, and perhaps oTganl-
cations formed or forming, for the purpose OF gam
ing as many advantages for themselves as possible
4 have heard il also intlmated that these men are
very anxious and would do all in their power 70 m
volye the United States in foreign war, that if
a favorable opportunity should offer they might turn
against the Government of the United states again.
Do not think they will ever again attempt an out
break on their own account because they all aunt
that they had fair trial in the late rebellion and got
thoroughly wOrSted There is no doubt but that there
il 4 universal disposition among the rebels m the
South 10 embarraSs the Government IN its admins
traton if they can as 10 gain any advantage Tor
themselves, if possible.
breaking up the Government A. They wish 10 be
recognized as citizens Of the United States with the
same rights that they had before the war.
20. How can they do that by involving Us in a
war with England or France, in which they would
take part against US J. In that event their de-
sire is 70 re-establish the Southern COnfedency.-
They have not given up their desire for separate
government, aud if they have an opportunity to
strike for il again they will do so.
90 Does this intelligence in regard to these or
carnations reach you from such authentic source rs
10 commend your belief OF their existence A..
Yes sir; it comes from very reliable men.
20 What is the industrial condition oil the peo-
nile OF Tennessee Are they taking steps to put in
crops and employ such labor as is within their reach
A. The industrial condition Of the state has I'M
proved so much that, by the end Of the year think
the people will be more interested m their private
operations and pursuits than they Will be IN politics.
ana De very much Quoted down. They are very
cd moi
in the State is being put in operation again. lhe
Union people OF Tennessee particularly wish TO De
quiet
the rebels are going 20 work quietly TO cultivate
their farms; great many of them say that they
failed in their attempt 20 gain their independence OF
The United states, and that they now wish 10 be
ouiet citizens of the country and are going to turn
their attention to farming again.
Mark the language Of the witness. lie has
4,reesired communications from Udri0US persons
in the South and "haS heard Il mtimated, -
&c. sc. Who are the writer's of these CON-
munications, and from whom did these "inti-
nations come II is important to know. It
there is a conspiracy on foot the conSpirators
ought TO be known. Are we to suppose that a
committee. whose most anxious wish is TO dis
grace, harrass and persecutc the South, would
let so important discovery drop still-bOrn il
il amounted to anything Would 1t not be,
indeed, its duty to prosecute the enquiry and
n search out the guilty leaders of such con-
spiracyl Let US bestow a moment upon this
matter bv way of analysis There Is an So or
sanitation forming in the South For what
To gain as many advantages " as possible
What kind of advantages Those Of " citizens
of the limited States, with the same rights that
they had before the war; Admit the existence
Of such an organization, for the sake Of argu
ment. Is there any treason in it, On the
contrary it is marked by every feature OF 10y
oltv and patriotism. They want to get baci
under the flag and in the Union. That Is pre-
cisely what we have all along understood wa
required of the Southern people. But II seem
now that it is criminal. 1t is criminal not L
want to get back, and criminal to want to &c
hack. Tell US what is not criminal
But saws General THOMAS" They have no
.. given up their desire for separate govern
{. ment. and, if they have an opportunity t
90 strike Tor II agdlu, tHSS "'' Wv N0'
cnnninc enough to reconcile these two contra
dict;ons-that we want to get back in the Unior
and NJ the same time want to establish
Southern Confederacyi The two things ar
utterly irreconcilable-as irreconcilable as IN
conduct ofthat officer of the army who 0ecam
Unionist because of his disgust with his ma
tive State for being too slow to secede
General THOMAS speaks Of ga universal dis
"pOsitiOn among the rebels in the South
"embarrass the Government in its adninlS'ra
ton" The President takes very ditferen
view. He is the administrator Of the Govern
ment, and at this moment nearly all Of his EN-
barrsssments proceed from the Northern Radi
Gals. The South complies with all of hi
wishes; the Radicals with none.
General THOMAS says Transformation ,scome
from very reliable men," Like Sr,,Svp wit
his numerous correspondents, he docs no
name them; and it appears that, while N,
committee deemed the statement imD0-.,D
enough to influence its action against Tenpes
see, it did not deem it important enough 70
enquiry as to the names Of the Generals in
e,-r,oD+s Il not this what Mr.. PICKwIcK cal