The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-22
An Interview with General Grant
What he SAYS OF the South.
Special correspondence OF the Troy Daily Times.

| special correspondence OF the troy Daily Times
| WASHINGTON, February 1--we paid our
respects to General Grant at his headquar-
tiers on Saturday. We found him hard at
work, but cordial as usual in receiving
friends. We had last met him at City
Point, just before the grand aud decisive
| movement that crushed out the rebellion.
| Then he appeared care-worn and almost
Frustrated by his great labors. Now he
gives evidence of an easier life and less
exacting duties. He is, however, the same
calm, modest, eminently sensible and we'll
poised man, whose military combinations
broke the back of rebellion and brought
the traitors to a surrender. He converSed
freely upon the condition of the country,
and there is no attempt at concealment OF
his views. The Questions put to him and
his answers were substantially as follows :
Questionable rebellion was put down
by the strong arm of military power under
your direction, and surely the work was
well done. Now, the question is, what
policy shall be pursued for the re0rganiza-
tion of the late rebel States?
Answer.-No, the work is not all done.
The fighting is finished, but the very i'm
portaut matter of reconstruction is yet to
he completed. / think if the southern
States had accepted the amendment in
stead Of rejecting it so hastily, they would
have been admitted by Congress in Deem
Der; but now l think they will have to take
the amendment, and manhood suffrage be-
sides. Congress will insist upon this.
Question.-How are affairs at the South,
General? Is it true that in Texas and
many other sections no adequate prOtec-
ton is given to Union men,
Answer.-It is true that in O large pro-
portion of Texas Union man is not safe
if beyond the limits of military protection.
In and about Galveston a better state of
things exist, and a majority of the people,
| have no doubt, would be glad to have the
laws enforced. In many other sections Of
the South loyal men have no proper secu-
rity for life and property unless they are SO
located as to be taken care of by the
military. The civil courts fail to punish
offences against Union citizens, white and
black. And as for that matter, they were
always remiss. ! am told that no murderer
who had held what is called respectable
position before he committed the crime
was ever hung or otherwise punished in the
State of Virginia, and l believe the same
is true of most, if not all, the late slave
States.
Question.-You say, General, the civil
courts have failed to protect Unionists at
the South. Well, are not the so-called
State governments there the greatest Of
all failuresi
Answer.-That is political question for
Congress to decide. / only give facts, and
others may construe them as they please.
/ believe that large numbers at the South
would be glad to have the laws enforced
impartially; in some parts this is the senti-
ment of the majority. But the trouble is
they are overborne by the lawless element,
and cannot enforce justice.
Question.-Well, in any event, there can
be no more fighting'
Answer.-Oh no, unless Brooks and
Wood and that Copperhead set get up
their threatened war, and there is some
doubt, | think, whether they will under
take to carry out their threats.
One of our party, Mr.. G. o. Greene, Of
Troy, who is on his way to Augusta, Ca,
here made the inquiry whether Union
man is perfectly safe in travelling south :
Answer.-Oh yes, perfectly safe. There
is no danger at all on the regular lines of
travel. But, then, if you should stop and
get into angry political discussions, there
would be danger in some places, no doubt.
In that case shooting would probably be
passed off as justifable homicide, if the
murderer was arrested at all.
After passing compliments, &C., we babe
the General good day, all our party being
highly pleased with the interview, and
feeling strengthened in our conviction that
U. S. Grant is not only fit to be General,
but eminently fit to hold the more exalted
position of President of the United States,
to which loyal people will call him.
T M F.