The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-22

The following message from President
johnson was received by the Senate OF
Tuesday:
To The Senate ofhe United States:
In reply to the resolution adopted by
the Senate on the 18th instant, / have
the honor to state that the rebellion
waged by a portion of the people against
the properly constituted authority OF
the Government. of the United States
has been suppressed; that the United
States are in possession of every state in
which the instruction existed, and that
as far as 1t could be done, the courts OF
the United States have been restored.
post-oflices re-established, and steps
taken to put into effective operation the
revenue laws of the country.
| AS the result of the measures insti-
tuted by the Executive, with the view
of inducing Il resumption of the func-
tons of the states conprehended in the
inquiry of the Senate, the people of
| North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor-
ga, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana.
Arkansas and Tennessee have reorpan !.
lied their respective state governments
and "arc yielding obedience to the laws
and Government Of the United States. -
with more willingness and greater
prOmptitude than under the circum-
stances could reasonably have been an.
ticipated. The proposed amendment of
the Constitution, providing for the ado.
lition of slavery forever within the linn
| its Of the country, has been ratified by
each OF those states with the exception
of Mississippi, from which 40 official
n TnI inn I,al
nearly all of them measures have been
adopted, or are now pending, to confer
upon freedmen the privileges which are
essential to thelfcomfOrt, protection and
security. In Florida and Texas the
people are making commcndablc pro-
gross in restoring their state govern
ments, and no doubt il entertained that
they will at an early period he in con
dition to resume all their practical reIa-
tiOnS with the General Government.
In THAT portion of the Union lately
in rebellion" the aspect of affairs is
more promising than, in view of all the
circumstances, could well have been ex-
pected. The people throughout the en-
tire South Gvince laudabIe desire to
renew their allegiance to the Govern
ment, and to repair the devastations of
war by prompt and cheerful return to
peaceful pursuits, and abiding faith is
entertained that their actions will con-
form to their professions, and that i'm
acknowledging the supremacy of the
Constitution and laws of the United
States their loyalty will be unreserve lily
given to the Government, whose leni-
ency they cannot fail to appreciate. and
whose fostering care will soon restore
them to n condition of prosperity. 1t is
true that in some of the states the de-
mOralizing effects of the war are to be
seen in occasional disorders but these
are local i'm character, not frequent in
occurrence, and are rapidly disappear
ing as the authority of civil law is ex-
tended and sustained. PerpleXing gues-
tons are naturally to be expected from
the great and sudden change in the re-
latiOns between the two races but sys-
TENS are gradually developing them
selves under which the freedman will
receive the protection to which he is
justly entitled, and, by means Of his
labor, make himself useful and indie
pendent member i'm the community in
which lie has home.
From all the information in my pos
session, and from that which | have
recently derived from the most reliable
authority, l am induced to cherish the
belief that sectional animosity is surely
and rapidly merging itself into a spirit
of nationality, and that representation,
connected with properly.adjusteI sys-
tenn of taxation, will result in u harmo-
NOUS restoration of the relation of the
states to the national Union.
The report of Carl Schurz is herewith
transmitted, as requested by the Senate.
No reports from the Hon. John Covode
have been received by the President.
The attention of the Senate is invited TO
the accompanying report from Lieutcn-
ant General Grant, who recently made
u tour of inspection through several of
the states whose inhabitants participated
i'm the rebellion.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, December Is, 1865.
f Mr. Cowan then called for the reading
of "a report made to the President by
General Grant concerning his late visit
to the South.
General Grants report was readas fol-
lows
HEADQulRTT ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, D. c., December Is, 1865.
His Erc4Heney A. Johnson, President Of The United
States;
SIR: Tn reply to your note of the 10th
instant requesting u report from me,
giving such information as may he pos
scgsed of, coming within the scope OF
the inquiries made by the Senate of the
United States in their resolution of the
10Th instant, ! have the honor to submit
the following:
With your approval and also that of
the honorable Secretary of War, ! left
Washington city on the eth of last
month for the purpose of making tour
of inspection through some of the SOUTH
ern states, or states lately in rebellion,
and to see what changes were necessary
to he made in the disposition of the mill
iary forces of the country, how these
forces could be reduced, and expenses
curtoiled. etc, and to learn MS far as pos
sible The feelings aud intentions OF the
c;t;zeus of those states towards the
general Government. The state of Nir-
SS;n;, heing so accessible to Washington
ec;tv and information from this quarter,
tbareGnre. being readily obtained, | hast
anoJ through the state without con-
,,nrsin~ or meeting with any of its citi-
zens. In Raleigh, N. T., spent one
day in Charleston, ). u, TWO DAYS;
savannah and Augusta, Georgii, eacn
one day. Both in travelling ana Wills,
stopping, / saw much anu cohVerseu
freely with the citizens oil those STATES,
ne well ms with officers OF the army VINO
have been stationed among them. Inc
following are the conclusions come 10
by me: ss ~ tb;,k
n. x.t ftas.v .Vns1 "A