The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-03-14

q. So far as your knowledge and OBJ
seryation extend, whaa is the condition Of
the popular sentiment in the State Of
Tennessee, so far as it relates to the Fed
eral Government, and the rights Of the
Union people and Of the frccdmeni A.
l have studied the condition affairs in
Tennessee pretty carefully, and have
had practical demonstrations OF the con.
dition Of affairs there, having, in addition
to III. information I have derived from
personal observation, such information as
| have received from other sources the
Union sentiment in Tennessee, of course,
has been sufficient to place the State in
It's present favorable condition toward the
Government, and IL protected, encouraged
by the presence Of a small military force,
will gain the complete ascendancy in the
State in the course Of year or two;
do not think Il would be safe Mt this time
to remove the national troops from Ten.
nessce, or TO withdraw martial law, or tc
restore the writ of habeas corpus to its
full extent.
Q. What is the condition of East Ten.
nessee as conpared with Middle an,1
West Tennessee A. East Tennessee i,
perfectly safe, because the Union element
prolominates there very largely Middle
Tennessee is disturbed by personal animos
ities and hatretls much more than it is by
the disl'yalty of persons toward the Gov
ernment of the United States those per.
aonal animosities would break out and
ovcrawe the civil authorities but for the
presence there of ,c troops Of the United
States. In West Tennessee personal ani
mosiiies exist even more strongly than
they do IN Middle tennessee, and there i.
less loyalty in West than in Middle Ten.
nessce; but the people of Tennessee de-
sire very muoh it is their strongest desire
to be back in the Government of the
United Staie'; still, while they wish tc
enjoy the rights of citizenship, they are
not friendly toward Union men, particu.
larly men from Tennessee who have beer
in the Union army; they are more un-
friendly 10 Union men, natives of the
State Of Tenncsse or of the SJuin, who
have been in the Union army, than the,
are to men of Northern birth.
@. What is the condition Of the Unior
people in West Tennessee A. The
Union people OF West Tennessce are in ;
minority, but public sentiment there i:
gradually approaching good loyal stan
dird.
@ Do you think there is an improve
ment going on generally in the scnlimen
of the State! A. Yes, sir; I can prob
ably better express my opinion IN thi
way think the people of Tennessee,
will 60 on improving in their union scnii
ment, provided They are prevented fioa
running to extremes against their persona
enemies in the Union ranks; and til,
presence of troops there is necessary, ,simpl,
to prevent them from committing excesse
and being led astray in their private ami
mosliies.
Q. You believe, then, that il would b,
dangerous either TO remove the n,tiona
troops, or 10 restore the writ of habca,
corpus, or to abolish martial law in Ten
n,ssees A. do for the present.
Q. What is the condition of the freed
men in Tennessee A. The condition o
the freedmen in Tennessee is very favor
able at this time; a very great improve
ment has taken place in their condition
and if the affairs of the Freedmen's Blu
reau can be administered for another yea
in the way they have been adminisiere,
for the last fix months, mutual confidence
would he rastnred between whites ant
blacks, and | am very much in hope tha
the freedmen could then be left TO tn
protection Of the civil auihorities Of tn
State.
Q Then the administration of tn
Freedmen's Bureau has met with you
approval! A. Yes, sir.
Q. Under Gen. Fiske9 A, Yes, sir
Q. Do the freedmen generally fin
employment in Tennessee A. DO no
know Of any difficulty in their finding EN-
ploymcnt.
@. And at fair wages' A. Yes, sir
and there is general understand;n,
among the negroes and among the white
that each is to comply with his part @
tho contract, so that there is no difficult
and no dissatisfaction.
@ Has Gen. Fiske the charge of tn
freedmen in the whole of the State o
Tennessee I! A. Yes, sir; and in Ken
lucky in addition.
By Mr.. G'ilkr-You say you believe
gradual improvement is going on in Ten
nessce ns to loyalty' A. Yes, sir.
Q. Give your opinion as 10 whethc
the admission into Congress of Represcn
taiives from Tennessee would tend to en-
courage layal people and strengthen thei
feelings Of loyaltyi A. Very much
it would not only encourage loyal peopl
to exert themselves, but it would encour
age the rebels to return TO loyalty, becaus'
they would see that their chances an,
hopes were passing away from them; i
you will permi: me to give additiona
reasons why think the delegation from
Tennessec should be admitted, | will d,
sO 1 flaint fha b.lauati.,,, fr..r, TanraS,a.