The national Republican., 1867-02-21
CONGRESS AND THE SOUTH.
Letter from Plens, Dan; Rice. ::

Letter from DtOnel ban. htce.
MLJARDs' HOTEL, Feb. 20.
Having been sol cted by many gentlemen
in public life, m shbcrs of Congress and
others, who were \ Faro that I had lately re.
turned from tourS in the South, to give the
result of my observations Of the people there,
| have felt reluctant to intrude upon the
public, but sense Of duty has impelled me
TO do so in order to'correct, II possible, the
false impressions prevailing too extensively
in the North respecting the real sentiments
of the citizens Of the States in which !
Travelled extensively, viz Louisiana, Ala
bama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, and Virginia My personal observa-
tions have led me TO the conclusion that
false and exaggerated reports ore made by
interested parties respecting them for the
purpose Of influencing the legislation Of Con.
gress in such manner as to keep the States
lately in rebellion ont Of the Union, in order
that their own private ends may be secured.
General Howard's department is working
well, with few exceptions. II seems to have
been his aim to teach the black men to
make themselves selEsupporting, and just in
proportion to their efforts in this direction
are they prospering. The most miserable
among the blacks are those who persist in
hanging upon the skirts Of the Government
and feeding at the Bureau crib.
The schools for colored children and adults
which are supported by private contributions
arc doing well, while those maintained by
Government are, in too many cases, con
Quoted by spectators and selfish persons.
The Freedmen's Bureau in South Carolina,
under General Scott, is in good working
| prIar Tho Npl,, trnuhla nxNar,an,ad or;sna
where ill-disposed officers have crept into
positions, and where spectators and claim
agents Of the old bounty-swindling order
have tampered with the freedmen.
There Is set Of traders in some districts
who swindlo the poor negroes shamcfully by
selling them bogus jewelry and gewgaws al
most exorbitant prices. In some instances
these persons write for the northern papers,
and as it is for their interest to have the
South dominated by military force, they
will, Of course, paint horrible pictures Of the
subdued rebels. In one instance that came
to my knowledge, trader had sold breast
pin to a negro for $5 which was made in
! Waterbury, Connecticut, for SiGteen cents
and this man was the correspondent Of the
Chicago Tribune, q leading radical paper in
the North. am thoroughly convinced that
Congress, while prompted to many acts by
an honest Indignation, is terribly misled by
statements Of interested parties. The con,
stant complaint Of the Southern people is,
that they are cruelty misrepresented; that
while in their ruin and desolation they
earnestly desire the restorationlol friendly
relations with the Government, they are &c
cused most unjustly Of numbcrless outrages
and wrongs.
In regard TO the question Of suffrage,
have found, from conversations with the most
intelligent Of the colored men, that they dep,
recate the idea Of allowing all to vote, whether
they are able TO understand the matter OIL
not. In their way they expressed an unmis
taxable preference for qualified suffrage.
| have no political objects in view, | have
no pecuniary interests 10 subserve, in speak
| ing Of these matters. Fortune has so faI
aided my efforts that am independent, and
am actuated solely by desire TO see the
country restored 10 a happy condition. Upon
the honor of man ! believe that Congress
has been mised and that If the honorable
Senators and Representatives knew what
know through my personal experiences in the
South during the winter just passing, their
views would be modified in regard to the
need Of an expensive military establishment
there which would prove an intolcrable bur
den upon the Northern States, an unncces
sary irritant upon the great national sore
and which may lead to chronic disarrange
ment of "the best government the world cvel
saw"
Respectfully yours, &c, DAN. RICE.