Year: 1866

After sojourn of thirty days in the
State Of Mississippi, I have gathered some
ideas Of RECONSTRUCTED" people that it
may be well to tell to others This visit
has opened up the condition and state Of
mind Of the people of that section, to my
view SO differently from what I expected
and had been told did exist, that / have
determined to lay my experience before
you.


| had been led to believe that the rebel,
after having submitted the question of
difference tnat existed between the North
and the South to the arbitrament of arms;
and the matter in dispute having been
decided against him, had taken the cath
in all honesty, kissed the bible with earn,
est vigor, planted the old flag over the
oblterated "stars and bars" and with de-
voted love for the constitution, laws and
Government of the United States, was
actiug in good faith for the good Of the
people and Government. | did believe
likewise, that they had been persucded in
to the opinion that we were not entirely
a set Of cowardly Yankees, and that we
had earned, and in measure enjoyed
their respect But in all this l was
wrong. ,- .......r


Had spent my time in the large river
towns, should never have learned but
that Mississippi was indeed re construct
ed, and that she deserved to be represent
ed to Congress, and treated in all respects
like one Of the sisterhood ofloyal States,
but | went into the interior, and while
riding in cars, moving around on horse
back or on foot among the plantations, sit
ting in bbar-rooms and public places, I
have taken especial pains to keep my hair
off my eyes, and believe [ have enjoyed
unns@:@:l opportunities &c: fr learning the
true sentiment Of the people. And I
find that they are rebels now if they ever
were; that they are now if ever antagonis-
tic to the Federal Government; thai they
will be governed by it just so much and
just as long as they are compelled to be,
and no more and no longer They are
waiting to day, and l believe intend to
hold themselves ever ready to start in
again on their own account should favor
able opportunity present, or join any for.
eign power with which we may become
involved in a war to break up the govern
ment. | have heard the desire expressed
that we may get into war with France
over the Mexico question, and l have
heard the intention avowed; by those who
have taken the oath; to take up arms for
France should there be such a war. They
speak of the government not as though
they had part and parcel in it, but as the
yankee Government" not Of our flag,
but the "Yankoe Flag = not Of our army,
but the-(and the profano use an oath
herc)-"Y ankee soldiers." The sight of
negro with Federal uniform is all they
can endure. while they entertain disgust
fully equal for his officers.


In transporting a regiment of colored
soldiers the other day, a short distance
over the Southern Railroad, the cars were
run off the track Fortunately none of
the soldiers were killed | was In car a
few hours afterwards when the news was
communicated to the passengers and could
not help noticing the unanimous cxpres-
sion Of disgust from those present when
they learned "no niegers were killed.. .
They hate tho freedmen most earnestly


buso them badly, and often kill them
al have heard them frequently express
themselves upon the subj eot Of negro Kill