Grant to Johnson, 1865
The following letter I found in a book written by James Shepherd Pike, a northern reporter and abolitionist who went to South Carolina to find out what was going on, in 1874. It is titled "The Prostrate State: South Carolina Under Negro Government", and using testimony given to the U.S. Congress, it shows how Negroes dominated government---94 Negroes in the South Carolina Congress, but only about 7 whites, for example---and how the debt and corruption in the state grew exponentially. I will add more at a later date.
The testimony of General Grant, who went South after the war, has been too little heeded. In his report to President Johnson he said :
"Headquarters Armies of the United States.
Washington, D. C, December 18, 1865. f
To his Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States.
Sir : In reply to your note of the 16th inst., requesting a report from me, giving such information as I may be possessed of, coming within the scope of the inquiries made by the Senate of the United States in their resolution of the 12th inst., I have the honor to submit the following :
"With your approval, and also that of the honorable Secretary of War, I left Washington City on the 27th of last month for the purpose of making a tour of inspection through some of the Southern States, or States lately in rebellion, and to see what changes were necessary to be made in the disposition of the military forces of the
country ; how these forces could be reduced and expenses cur-tailed, etc., etc., and to learn, as far as possible, the feelings and intentions of the citizens of those States toward the General Government.
---------
Both in traveling and while stopping I saw much, and conversed freely with the citizens of those States, as well as with officers of the army who have been stationed among them.
The following are the conclusions come to by me:
I am satisfied that the mass of the thinking men of the South accept the present situation of affairs in good faith. The questions which have heretofore divided the sentiment of the people of the two sections — slavery and State-rights, or the right of a State to secede from the Union — they regard as having been settled forever by the highest tribunal — arms — that man can resort to.
I was pleased to learn from the leading men whom I met, that they not only accepted the decision arrived at as final, but, now the smoke of battle has cleared away, and time has been given for reflection, that this decision has been a fortunate one for the whole country, they receiving like benefits from it with those who opposed them in the field and in council.
The presence of black troops, lately slaves, demoralizes labor, both by their advice and by furnishing in their camps a resort for the freedmen for long distances around. White troops generally excite no opposition, and therefore a small number of them can maintain order in a given district. Colored troops must be kept in bodies sufficient to defend themselves. It is not the thinking men who would use violence toward any class of troops sent among them by the General Government, but the ignorant in some places might; and the late slave seems to be imbued with the Idea that the property of his late master should by right belong to him, or at least should have no protection from the colored soldier. There is danger of collisions being brought on by such causes.
My observations lead me to the conclusion that the citizens of the Southern States are anxious to return to self-government within the Union as soon as possible ; that while reconstructing they want and require protection from the Government; that they are in earnest in wishing to do what they think is required by the Government, not humiliating to them as citizens ; and that, if such a course were pointed out, they would pursue it in good faith. It is to be regretted that there cannot be a greater commingling at this time between the citizens of the two sections, and particularly of those intrusted with the law-making power.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General."
There has never been any reason, since the writing of the foregoing letter, to show that any modification of its judgment is required to express the facts of the situation from that time to this. There certainly never was a civil war ended in which there were fewer after-claps than in ours."
I add this also, that the important thing here that Grant noticed was that the newly freed blacks "...and the late slave seems to be imbued with the idea that the property of his late master should by right belong to him, or at least should have no protection from the colored soldier." Some things haven't changed.
And compare this to the book, "The Southside View of Slavery", some of which I have posted already, and more of which I will post later. The slave in the South was not for the most part treated oppressively. As Nehemiah Adams showed, Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was no more representative of the institution of slavery in the South, than Robinson Crusoe, by Jonathon Swift was representative of the life of the mariner.
The testimony of General Grant, who went South after the war, has been too little heeded. In his report to President Johnson he said :
"Headquarters Armies of the United States.
Washington, D. C, December 18, 1865. f
To his Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States.
Sir : In reply to your note of the 16th inst., requesting a report from me, giving such information as I may be possessed of, coming within the scope of the inquiries made by the Senate of the United States in their resolution of the 12th inst., I have the honor to submit the following :
"With your approval, and also that of the honorable Secretary of War, I left Washington City on the 27th of last month for the purpose of making a tour of inspection through some of the Southern States, or States lately in rebellion, and to see what changes were necessary to be made in the disposition of the military forces of the
country ; how these forces could be reduced and expenses cur-tailed, etc., etc., and to learn, as far as possible, the feelings and intentions of the citizens of those States toward the General Government.
---------
Both in traveling and while stopping I saw much, and conversed freely with the citizens of those States, as well as with officers of the army who have been stationed among them.
The following are the conclusions come to by me:
I am satisfied that the mass of the thinking men of the South accept the present situation of affairs in good faith. The questions which have heretofore divided the sentiment of the people of the two sections — slavery and State-rights, or the right of a State to secede from the Union — they regard as having been settled forever by the highest tribunal — arms — that man can resort to.
I was pleased to learn from the leading men whom I met, that they not only accepted the decision arrived at as final, but, now the smoke of battle has cleared away, and time has been given for reflection, that this decision has been a fortunate one for the whole country, they receiving like benefits from it with those who opposed them in the field and in council.
The presence of black troops, lately slaves, demoralizes labor, both by their advice and by furnishing in their camps a resort for the freedmen for long distances around. White troops generally excite no opposition, and therefore a small number of them can maintain order in a given district. Colored troops must be kept in bodies sufficient to defend themselves. It is not the thinking men who would use violence toward any class of troops sent among them by the General Government, but the ignorant in some places might; and the late slave seems to be imbued with the Idea that the property of his late master should by right belong to him, or at least should have no protection from the colored soldier. There is danger of collisions being brought on by such causes.
My observations lead me to the conclusion that the citizens of the Southern States are anxious to return to self-government within the Union as soon as possible ; that while reconstructing they want and require protection from the Government; that they are in earnest in wishing to do what they think is required by the Government, not humiliating to them as citizens ; and that, if such a course were pointed out, they would pursue it in good faith. It is to be regretted that there cannot be a greater commingling at this time between the citizens of the two sections, and particularly of those intrusted with the law-making power.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General."
There has never been any reason, since the writing of the foregoing letter, to show that any modification of its judgment is required to express the facts of the situation from that time to this. There certainly never was a civil war ended in which there were fewer after-claps than in ours."
I add this also, that the important thing here that Grant noticed was that the newly freed blacks "...and the late slave seems to be imbued with the idea that the property of his late master should by right belong to him, or at least should have no protection from the colored soldier." Some things haven't changed.
And compare this to the book, "The Southside View of Slavery", some of which I have posted already, and more of which I will post later. The slave in the South was not for the most part treated oppressively. As Nehemiah Adams showed, Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was no more representative of the institution of slavery in the South, than Robinson Crusoe, by Jonathon Swift was representative of the life of the mariner.
