To that end, and by virtue of the permission you honored me with when sending me out to communicate to you freely and unreservedly my views as to measures of policy proper to be adopted, I would now respectfully suggest that you advise Congress to send one or more "investigating committees" into the southern States, to inquire for themselves into the actual condition of things, before final action is taken upon the readmission of such States to their representation in the legislative branch of the government, and the withdrawal of the national control from that section of the country. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CARL SCHURZ. His Excellency ANDREW JOHNSON, _President of the United States_. DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL CARL SCHURZ. No. 1. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, _Hilton Head, S.C., July_ 27, 1865. Dear Sir: I have received your letter of the 17th instant, from Charleston, propounding to me three questions, as follows: 1st. Do you think that there are a number of _bona fide_ loyal persons in this State large enough to warrant the early establishment of civil government? 2d. Do you think that the white population of South Carolina, if restored to the possession of political power in this State, would carry out the spirit of the emancipation proclamation, and go to work in a _bona fide_ manner to organize free labor? 3d. What measures do you think necessary to insure such a result in this State? The first of these questions I am forced to answer in the negative, provided that white persons only are referred to in the expression "_bona fide loyal persons_," and provided that "the early establishment of civil government" means the early withdrawal of the general control of affairs from the United States authorities. To the second question, I answer that I do not think that the white inhabitants of South Carolina, if left to themselves, are yet prepared to carry out the spirit of the emancipation proclamation; neither do I think that they would organize free labor upon any plan that would be of advantage to both whites and blacks until the mutual distrust and prejudice now existing between the races are in a measure removed. To the third question I answer, that, in order to secure the carrying out of the "spirit of the emancipation proclamation," and the organization of really free labor in good faith, it appears to me necessary that the military, or some other authority derived from the national government, should retain a supervisory control over the civil affairs in this State until the next season's crops are harvested and secured. The reasons which have dictated my replies I shall notice quite briefly.