Page:Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs (Volume Two).djvu/100

Rh of the United States, with the same rights they had before the war.”

Question: “How can they do that? By wishing us in a war with England or France, in which they would take part against us?”

Answer: “In that event their desire is to establish the Southern Confederacy. They have not yet given up their desire for a separate government, and if they have an opportunity to strike for it again they will do so.”

When asked what he knew of secret organizations he said that he had received several communications to that effect but the parties were unwilling to have their names made public. He added: “The persons communicating with me are reliable and truthful and I believe their statements are correct in the main.

“The nature and object of the organizations,” he said, “are the embarrassment of the Government of the United States in the proper administration of the affairs of the country, and if possible, to repudiate the national debt, or to gain such an ascendency in Congress as to make provision for the assumption by Congress of the debt incurred by the rebel government; also, in case the United States Government can be involved in foreign war to watch their opportunity and take advantage of the first that comes to strike for the independence of the States lately in rebellion.”

These extracts from the testimony of General Thomas are a fair exposition of the condition of public sentiment in the Confederate States with the exception in a degree of the border States. It is apparent also that General Thomas had not the degree of confidence in the good purposes of those who had been in the rebellion that was entertained by Northern officers including Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan.

As the loyal men of the South were greater sufferers