The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-12-27
WHOLE NO. 48O.
- -77 - go -'
Recon 3 structlOn.
u. S. SENATE, Dec. 10Th.

US. SENATE, Dec. 18th.
Mr.. Cowan said a message had just been re
, ceived from the President. in response to a
resolution calling for information as to the con
dition of the States lately in rebellion. He
called for the reading of the message.
The message Of the President was read as
follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
In reply to the resolution adopted by the
Senate, on the 2lst inst, have the honor tc
state that the rebellion waged by 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 CT every State in which
the insurrection existed, and that as far as
could be done, the courts of the United States
have been restored, the post offices re estab-
lished, and steps taken to put into effective op.
Grafton the revenue law of the country As
the result Of the measures instituted by the ex.
ecutive, with the view of inducing the resump.
ton of the functions Of the States comprc.
hended in the inquiry Of the Senate, the pco-
pie in North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkan.
sas and Tennessee, have reorganiZed their re-
spective State governments, and are 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 anticipated.
The proposed amendment 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 ex-
ception 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 upon the freedmen
the privileges which are essential to their com.
EOr nnttN L
Texas the people are making commendable
pogrcss in restoring their State governments,
and no doubt is entertained that they will, at
an early period, be in a condition to resume all
their practical relations with the federal gov
ernment. In that portion of the Union lately
in rebellion, the aspect Of affairs is more prom.
Using than in view of all the circumstances
could well have been expected. The
people throughout the entire south eyince
laudable desire to renew their allegiance to the
government, and to repair the devastation of
war by prompt and cheerful return to peace
ful pursuits. An abiding faith is entertained
that their actions will conform to their confes.
sions, and that, in acknowledging the suprema-
cy of The Constitution and the 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
1t is true that in some of the 8 .ates
the demoraizing effects of the war are to be
seen in occasional disc orders; but these are local
in character, not frequent in occurrence, and
are rapidly disappearing as the authority of the
civil power ia extended and sustained. Per.
picking questions were naturally to be expected
from the great and sudden change in the rela.
tions between two races, but systems are grad.
ually developing themselves, under which the
freedman will receive the protection to which
he is justly entitled, and by means of his labor,
make himself a useful and independent mem.
member of the community in which he has his
home From all the information in my pos
session, and from that which have recently
derived from the most reliable authority, | am
induced to cherish the belief that personal ami.
mostly is surely and rapidly merging itself in-
to spirit Of nationality, and that representa-
ton, connected with properly adjusted system
Of taxation, will result in a harmonious restor-
alton of the relations of the States to the ma
Iional Union.
The report of Carl Schurtz is herewith trans
mitted, as requested by the Senate. No re-
port Of the Hon. John Covode has been re-
ceived by the President. The attention of the
Senate is invited to the accompanying report
Of Lieut.. Gen Grant, who recently made tour
Of inspection through several of the States
whose inhabitants participated in the rebellion.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.