The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-25
An Interview with General Grant.
what He Says OF the south.

| Special Correspondence Of the Troy Daily Times
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-We paid our
respects to General Grant at his head
quarters 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
and decisive movement that crushed
out the rebellion. Then he appeared
careworn and almost FRUSTRATED by his
| great labOrs. Now he gives evidence
of AN easier life and less exacting du-
| ties.
He is, however, the same calm, mod
est, eminently sensible and we'll poised
man, whose military combinations
| broke the back of the rebellion and
! brought the traitors to surrender.
He eonversed freely upon the condition
of the country, and there Is no attempt
at concealment of his views. The cues
tons put to him and his answers were
substantially AS follows:
| q. The Rebellion was put down by
the strong arm of military power un-
der your direction, and surely the work
| was well done. Now the question is
what policy shall be pursued for the
reorganization of the late rebel States,
a. No, the work is not all done. The
| fighting is finished, but the very i'm
| portnnt matter of reconstruction is yet
/ to be completed, / think il the South
ern States had accepted the amendment
instead of rejecting it so hastily, they
would have been admitted by Congress
in December, but now Think they will
have to take the amendment, and man
hood suffrage besides. Congress will
insist on this.
Q, How are affairs at the South, Gem
eralH Is it true that in Texas, and
many other sections, no adequate pro-
lection is given to Union men2
a. 1t IS true that in u large proper
| ton of Texas Union man if not safe
if beyond the limits of military protec-
ton. In and about Galveston a better
state of things exist, and 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 security for life
and property unless they are so located
as to be taken care of by the military.
The civil courts fail to punish offenses
against Union citizens, white and
black. And as for that matter they
I were always remiss. am told that no
murderer who had held what is called
respectable position before he COM
United the crime, was ever hung or
otherwise punished in the State of Vir-
ginia, and L believe the same is true of
most, If not all, the late slave States.
q. You say, General, the Civil Courts
have failed TO protect Uuionists at the
South. Well, are not the so-called
State Governments there the greatest
OF all failures?
4. That is a 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 impartiRlly; in some
parts this is the sentiment of the ma
jority. But the trouble is they are
overcome by the lawless element. and
cannot enforce justice.
q. Well, in any event, there can be
no more lighting?
a. Oh no, unless Brooks and Wood.
aud that Copperhead set, get up their
threatened war, and there is some
doubt, think, whether thew will un-
dertaks to carry out their threats,
One of our party, Mr.. @. o. Greene, of
Troy, who is on his way TO Augusta,
ia, here made the inquiry whether a
South?
a; oh, yes, perfectly safe. There is
no Eanger at all on the regular lines of |
travel tray But then if you should stop
a ii sst into angry political discus |
slohs' there would be danger in some |
places no doubt. In that case shooting |
would probably be passed off as iusfifi7
able homicide, II the murderer was ar
rested ut all. was ar
After passing compliments. eto vo
oade the General good day, all onr
parry being highly pleased with the in
terNlew, and feeling strengthened in the |
conviction that U. 5. Grant is not onIy,
MT TO be General, but eminently fir To
hold the more exalted position of Pres
ident ofthe United States, to which a
loyal people will call him. J.M.F.