The Secretary read, as follows: Hsioqumrsas Aauins or U.S. WASHINGTON, D. C., December18. 1865. Sin; In reply to your note of the 16thinstant. reguestingu report from me giving such information as mayhe possessedof. comingwithin the scopeof the inquirics made by the Senateof the by U.S. in their resolution of the 12thinstant, I have the honor to submit the following: With your a proval and also that of the honorable Secretary of orIlet]. Washington city on the 27th of last month for the our menof making a tour of inspection thronghsomeof t lately osouthernStates or State! in rebellion and to seewhat changeswere necessary to be madein the disposition of the military forcesof the country: how these forces could be reduced and Expenses curtailed. &c and to learn. as far as possible the feelings and intentions of the citizensof those states townrd the General Government. The State of Iirginiu beingso accessible to Washington city, and information from this uaiter thero tore belpg readily obtinned. I hustene through the State without conycrsing or meeting with any of its citizops. In Raleigh. NCarolina. I spent one do; in Charleston SCarolina. twodays: Savanna uud A usta, Georgia. each one day. Both in traveling an while stopping. I saw much and converse freely with the citizensof those states. aswell aswit officersof the army who have beenstationed among them. The following are the conclusions cometo by me: I am satisfied that the massofthinltin; men of the tSaoiuthth. Accept the present situation of affairs in good The questions which have heretofore divided the sentiments of the people of the 2 sections slavery and States rights or the right of a State to secede from the Uniont icy regard as having been settled forever by the highest tribunal. arms. that ninn canresort to. I was pleased to learn from the lending men whom I met, that they not only accepted the decision arrived at as final. but that now. when the smoke of battle has cleared away and time has beenmven for reflection. this decision has been a fortunate one for the whole country, they IOOOIVHIB like benefitsfrom it with those who opposed them in the field and in council. 4 yearsofwar. during which law was executed only at the point of the bit on“. throughout the States in rebellion. have left the people possibly in a condition not to yield that ready obedience to civil authority the American people have generally been in the habit of yielding. This would render the prudence of small garrisons throughout those States necessary until such time as labor returns to it: proper channels and civil authority is fully established. I did not meet anyone. either those holding places under tho Government or citizens of the southern States. who think it practicable to withdraw themil itary froui the South“ present. The white and the black mutually require he protection of the General Government. There is such universal acquiescencem the authority of the General Government throughout the portionsof country VlSllcth by lne. that the mere presenceofa military force, without regard to numbers is lutheiont to maintain order. The goodof the country and cconomy require that the force kept in the interior wheret ero are many fro cu (elsewhere in the southern States than at forts upon the sea coast no force is necessarynliould all be white troqpa. The reasonsfor this are obvious Withoutmentioning many of the m. The presenceof black troops. lately slaves demoralizeslabor bothby their advice aud by furnishiu in their campsa resort. for the t men for long istanics around. White troops generally excite no opposition, and therefore a "pal number of the m can maintain order in a given district. Colored troops must bekept in bodies sufficientto defend themselves. It is not the thinking men who would useviolence toward any class of troopssent among them by the General Government. but the ignorant in some cases 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 broughton bysuch causes. My observations lead me to thoconcluson that the citizens of the southern States are annous to return to selfgovernment within the Union as soon as possible; that while reconstructing they want an require protection from the Government; that they are in earnest in wishing to do what theythink is required by the Government. not humiliating to them as citizene and that itsuch a coursewas mted out they would pursue it in good faith. It is to by regretted that there cannot be a greater commingling at this time between the citizens of the 2 sections and particularly of those intrusted with the lawmaking power. I did not give the operatibns of the freedmens Dureau that attention would have done if more time adbeenat my disposal. Conversations on the subject, however, with otheers connected with the bureau lead me to think that in someof thostatesits affairs have not been conducted with good judgment or economy and that the belief. widely spread among the freedmen of the southernStatgsJhat the lands of their former owners wh ill. at least in part, be divided among them, has comefrom the agents f this bureau. This belief is seriously interferingwn the Willin g of tho freedmen to make contracts for the coining year. In some form the Freedmens Bureau is an absolute necessity until civil law is establishedand enforced, securin to the freedmen their rights and full protection. tpresent. however. it is independ cut of the military establishment of the country and seemsto be operated by the different agents of the bureau according to their indiiidual notione. Every where GenlHoward, the able head of the bureau mule friends by the l just and fair instructions and advice ho have; but the complaint in SCarolina was that when he left, things went on HS before. Many. perhaps the majority. of the agents of the Freedmens Bureau advise the freedmen that by their own industry they must expect to live. 10this end they endeavor to secure employment for them, to see that both contracting parties comply with their engagements. In some instances, 1 am sorry to say the freedman's mind does not seemto bodisabusof the ideathat a freedmim has the lit to live without care or provision for the future. The effect of the tbioenlieifnincadmivpissi. otonwonfsl. And sciistieidsl. eInnessand accumula such casesltbink it will be ifflllltlthat vice and disease will tend to the Ietxtermination, or great reduetionpt the colored race. cannot be expectedthat the opinions held by men at the South for yearscan be changodin a day and therefore the freedmen require for a few yeais not only laws to lprotect them. but the fostering care of thosewho wi give them good counsel and in whom they can rely. lheFroedmens Bureau being separated from the military establishment of the country. requiresall the expense of a separate organization. o does not necessarily know what the other is doing or what or ders theyare acting under. It seemsto methis could be corrected by regarding every offioeron duti vnth troops in the southern States at!Monte of the reed men 5 Bureau and thenhaveall ordersfrom the head of the bureau sent through Dept commanders. This would create a responsibility that would secure uniformity of action throughoutall the South; would insure the orders and instructions from the head of the bureau being carried out, and would relieve from duty and pay a large number of omploye sot the Govornment. I have the houorto be. very respectfully. your obe dient senant. u S GRAXTI LieutenantGeneral. His Excellency A. Jameson, Presidenta} the U.S.