The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-20
A Lively Report from the special Radical
Committee.


einnati Commercial has furnished that paper
with the report of the special radical commit
tee for the investigation of affairs at the
south. Its publication may be considered
slightly premature, from the fact that the
committee have not yet left Washington, but
as there won't be any difference between the
ideas in this and the report that they will
make when they come back, we publish it
now:
WASHINGTON, January, 1866.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Represen-
tatlves
Your committee, appointed to visit the
states lately IN rebellion, and investigate and
report upon their condition as to loyalty and
fitness for readmission into the Union, have
perforated the duty assigned to them, and
beg leave to make the following report:
Naturally, the first place visited by your
committee Richmond, Virginia, the cap
ital of the late confederacy. Our coming had
been heralded by the newspapers there, and
the demonstration at the railroad depot on
our arrival may be taken as, in some degree,
indicative OF the popular sentiment in that
city. We found large concourse of citizens
of African descent awaiting US, and as we
disem barked from the cars, they hailed us
with shouts of welcome, mingled with This
way to the Soottswood House. Here's yer
buss for the Continental Here's yer cab for
any part Of the city, Baggage to the hotel,
gents &c. 1t was grateful to the hearts of
loyal men TO be thus welcomed Ia city 50
lately the headquarters of rebellion, while,
at the same time. we began TO feel convinced
already that the only truly loyal people OF
the south were of the colored race.
We cOu{1 not decline tha bOsnitalities so
| generously rendered US. and accordingly we
| selected two carriages from the large umber
| placed at our disposal We were driven to
| the Spottswood, by our hospitable friends,
who charged us two dollars apiece, and half a
| dollar extra for baggage. After so much
| kindness from the coored race, we were un-
prepared for the harsh treatment we subse-
| uuently received from tbs white oligarchs of
! Richmond. The proprietor OF the Spotts-
wood gave rooms In the fifth story, back,
saving to his clerk, as we have been informed
by a faithful African who BACKED our boots
for a quarter Il pair, that they were good
enough for Yankee radicals. The same spir-
it of dlsloyal hate was manifested to in
the diuiug room, whore. IN response to our
repeated call for goldfish and pumpkin pie,
we were served with nothing but bacon and
hot cakes. We asked why this was done,
and were told by - loyal waiter, to whom we
had Just given postal half dollar that Mr..
Spottswood said he didut keep a hotel for
the accommodation Of Yankees, and. there
fore, persistenrly excluded Goldfish and pump-
kin pie from the bill OF fare.
Your committee do rot deem ii necessary
to dwell upon this evidence of smouidering
disloy atty, nor to compare it with the bastily
formed opinion of Gen. Grant respecting
southern sentiment.
/ Our object was to get beneath the surface
Of things in the south to tiud the true charac
ter OF the social substratun. We remained
Ia Richmond few days to study the obarac
ter OF the people. On all hands we found ev
idence OF distinction on account OF color, ex
cept in q freedmen's colony, here the black,
received the whites on an equal footing witt
themselves. We also noticed a disloyal dis
position to speak of StonewGl jackson and
Gen. Lee in terms OF praise and conmenda
ton. while Gen. Buffers fa ne was only men
toned IN contempSuous connection with al
, yer spoons, and occasionally little plated
ware, ana he Eimself seemed 10 better kruwI
a. the Bottle Imp Of Bermuda Hundred thai
Ia any either way.
Our next visit was to Atlanta, Georgia.
| Here we had long conversation with
treasury agent, who had had ample means 0
Information ON the subject OF Georgia 10y atty
lie gave il as his opinion that 20 admit Tia
southern states to representation al this time
would be highly inJudlclOus. lie did not be
Heve th8G there was white native OF Tia
I state loyal enough to take his place, and Gs
} serted TINT to remove him and others similar
, " situated, would be not only dangerous t.
r the welfare of tho country, but would be als
the height of ingratitude to men who hat
risked character and reputation for the patri
otc cause of cotton and ten or twelve thous
and dollars q year. Your committee-c9ncur
red entirely In his opinion.
: While in Atlanta your oommirte heart
= many expressions Of sentiment which 20 t
/ show how far Gen Grant is mistaken in wha
he says Ia his late report. On one occasion
0 especially we heard what convinced us tha
4 the lava Of secession still burned in the south
7 ern bosom. The case was that OF a young gen
n tlemau from Massachusetts, OF poor bat homes
parents, vino had come to the south in the Ca
: pacity of q freedam's school teacher. He ha
e casually made she acquaintance of a souther
: lady Of two score aud ten, whose husbnu
: had fallen under the rebel flag, leaving he
L a widow OF handsome estate. The youny
. gentleman, DESTROYS of matrlnony and piar
? tations, pressed his suit, and was progressin
as he thought, most favorably, when one e'
ening the widow told him at a tea party, i
= the presence Of large number of people
r that she'd rather be buried alive than mai
ry Yankee The patriot school teacher n
: longer plies the rod of chastisemeut over IT
factorv freedmen. The star of his hope ha
h gone down, aud ne has gone back to Boston,
wreck of his former self.
d Your committee next went to Montgon
II cry, Alabama, where, at Richmond, th
It colored citizens focked to meet us, and vie
with each other for the carrying of our bag
It gage We paid them fifty cents q carpet-sac
from thesdepot, and they were enthusiastic
e their demonstrations of loyalty, in receivin
t. the currency from us, In this city evidence
n of disloyalty met US ON every hand. A 'e
- mont missionary had been insulted fe