Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-12-22

lTnE pRFsIpEsTs aIEssXGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. COWAN said message has just
been received from the President, in res
ponse to resolution calling for informa-
ton as to the condition of the States late
ly in rebellion. He called for the reading
of the message. The message of the Pref
dent was then read as follows:
p PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate of the United States:
In reply to a resolution adopted by the
Senate on the 18th, / have the honor to
state that the rebellion waged by por-
ton of the people against the properly
constituted authorities Of the Government
of the United States, has been suppressed,
that the United States are in possession of
every State in which the rebellion existed,
and that as far as could be done, the Courts
of the United States have been restored,
post offices re-established, and steps taken
to put into effective operation the Revenue
laws of the country. As the result of the
measures instituted by the executive with
a view of inducing resumption of the
functions of the States comprehended in,
the inquiry of the Senate, the people in
Nerth Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas
and Tennessee have recognized their res
pective State government and are yield
ing obedience to the laws and the gov
ernment of the United States with more
willingness and greater prompitude than
under the circumstances could reasonably
have been anticipated. The proposed
Amendmenttoth to the Constitution, providing
for the abolition of slavery forever within
the limits of the country, has been rati-
fed by each one of these States, with the
exception of mississippi, from which no
official information has been received, and
in nearly all of them measures have been
adopted, or are now pending, to confer up
on the freedmen privileges which are es-
sential to their comfort, protection and Sc
curity.
In that portion of the Union late in
rebellion, the aspect of affairs is more
promising than in view of all the circum-
stances could have been expected. The
people throughout the entire South eviuce
laudible desire to renew their allegiance
to the Government and to repair the de-
vastations of war by prompt and cheer
fId return of peaceful pursuits. An abid
ing faith is entertained that their actions
will conform to their professions, and that
in acknowledging the supremacy of the
Constitution and Laws of the United
States their loyalty will be unreservedly
given to the government whose leniency
they cannot fail to appreciate, and whose
fostering care will soon restore them to a
condition. of prosperity,
1t is true that in some of the States de-
moralizing effects of the war are to be seen
in occasional disorder, but these are local
in character, not frequent in occurrence,
and are rapidly disappearing as the au-
thority of the civil power is extended and
perplexing questions were naturally to be
expected from the great and sudden
change in the relations between the two
races, bnt the systems are gradually de-
veloping themselves under which the
freedman will receive protection to which
he is justly entitled, and by means of his
labor make himself useful and independ-
ent member of the community in which
he has his home.
From all the information in my posses
sion, and from that which | have recently
derived from the most reliable authority,
am induced to cherish the belief that
personal animosity is surely and rapidly
verging itself into spirit of nationality,
and that, representation, connected with
properly adjusted system of taxation, will
result in harmonious restoration of the
States to the National Union.
The report of Carl Schurz is herewith
transmitted as requested by the Senate.
No report from the Hon. John Covode
has been received by the President.
The attention of the Senate is invited
to the accompanying report of Lieutenant
General Grant, who recently made tour
of inspection through several of the States
whose inhabitants participated in the re-
bellion. 'ff ~
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec. ls, 1865.