It was others opinions as well:
"You came into our country with your army, avowedly for the purpose of subjugating free white men, women, and children, and not only intend to rule over them, but you make negroes your allies, and desire to place over us an inferior race, which we have raised from barbarism to its present position, which is the highest ever attained by that race, in any country,
"...to place over us an inferior race..."
Gen John Bell Hood to General Sherman
"They have for years past encouraged and sustained lawless organizations to steal our slaves and prevent their recapture, and have repeatedly murdered Southern citizens while lawfully seeking their rendition."
What you say about the relationship between a lot of slaves, and their owners is true. It must not have been too friendly at times, due to so many running away. The South's big gripe about not being able to retrieve the runaways from Northern States bears this out. If it was so wonderful, running away wouldn’t have been an issue for some...
"...in Southern states hostility arose as a result of the struggle to control local government. Former slaves were viewed as proxies for the Yankees, who left the South following Reconstruction. Hostility to and violence against former slaves in other parts of the United States were primarily caused by competition for labor and perceived racial differences."
A truthful, but dire indictment about the South, the one WAR Grant LOST, against the terrorism brought on by equalization of the slave race. Yours is a thoughtful and true statement, a quality you always have in your postings.
Kevin Dally