Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-12-28
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM TSEE
E'RR.SItsENE.
Gen. Grants 0MciaI Report Of
l,is Tour Of Inspection.

3 -st, SENATE. r T
MIR. WILSON introduced bill the more eficc-
tually to provide lor the aalional defence, by cs-
iablishng a uniform militia throu ghout ihe United
States. 1t is his bill of February Last, organic NJ,
the gener'dhilitia system and providing Aliits-
~ Bureau of the Government. The bill was re-
icrred To Committee on Military Alai,s.
Mr.. pOOLlI'TLE introduced a bill in relation
to the Ereedmen's Bureau, which authorizes the
President to extend and maintain IA branch of that
Bureau in eyery Stale in which slaves have been
cmancipated 10y the operation of the war or tho
amendment OF the Constitution, AMI also author
ICES him TO suspend lis operation in or wlLhdraw
the military forces fIOm the States in which he is
satisfied that hostlities have ceased the inSirrec
ton been suppress cd, peace and order restored and
the civil authority established and the laws 80
modified as to procure equal protection to all per
sons III all their rights without distinctions of race
color. including the right TO make contracts sue
and be sued, appear witnesses, buy sell real an
personal estate and all the rights of property and
personal liberty. The bill was referred to the
Committee on VI ilitary alftirs. .c ...r
Mr.. CONNESS introduced bill to amend an
act for the Disposal f coal lands aud town proper
ty which allows the right enter 80 acres coal
lands TO any person actually engaged in coal min :
ing upon the premises at the passage of the act,
and fixes the price at twenty dollars per acre. A
declaratory descriptive statement of such lands and
Improvements is required to be filed within one
year from the passage, of this act. and proof and
payment within one year thereafter The bill was
referred to the Committee OH Public Lands.
Mr. TRuMBULL gave notice OF bill to en-
large the powers of the Freedmen's Bureau so as TO
secnre freedom to all persons within the United
States, and to protect every individual in the fall
enjoyment OF his rights OF person and property, and
furnish them the means Of their vindication.
Mr.. .TRUMBULL-"In giving this notice de-
=, :, of ~
of the constitutional amendment abolshing slave
ry. Whatever diversi,es OF opinion there may be
as to tie actual adoption, of the amendment at
this time, in consequence of the abnormal con
dtiOn OF some OF the legislatures which have
ratified il, there can be doubt that it will soon
and probably before action could be had in Con-
gress, have the sanction of a sufficient number of
States 10 put its adoption beyond cavil. / have
never doubted that under the second section Of the
amendment it would be eoeompetent for Congress
10 protect every person in the United States in all
ghts of person and property belonging to a free
citizen and to secure those rights is the object of
the bill propose 70 introduce. | think it impor-
tant that action should be taken on this subject at
early day, both for the purpose of qaietiiic ap-
prehensiOn in the minds OF many friends Of free
dom, lest 10y local legislation or prevailing pub
tic sentiment in some of the States persons OF the
A African race should continue TO be oppressed, ami
in fact deprived Of true freedom, for the purpose OF
showing to those among whom slavery has hereto
fore existed that unless they, by loca legislation
provide for the real freedom of their former slaves
the Federal Government will, 10y virtue of its own
authority, sec that they are luliy protected.
Mr.. COWAN said message had just been re-
ceivcd from the President, in esponse to resolu-
ton calling fer in formation as TO the conduct Of the
States lately in rebellion, He called for the read
ing fthe message.
The message of the President was read as fol-
lows:
To sle Senate Of The United States:
in reply to the resolution adopted by the Senate
the l2th, have the honor 20 state that the re-
bellion wagcd by a portion of the people against
the properly constituted authority of the Govern
ment of the United States has been suppressed
that the United States are in possession Of every
Stste in which the insurrcction existed, AMI that,
as far as could be done the courts of the United
States have been restored post offices re- establish
ed, and steps taken to put into effective operation
the revenue laws Of the country. as the result oil
the measures Instituted by tue Executive with the
view OF inducing the resumption OF the functions
Of the State comprehended in the inquiry of the
Senate.
The people in NORTH Carolina. South Carolina
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, hkan
sas and Tennessee. have recognized their rcspec-
tive State GOVERNMENTS and are yielding obedi-
ence to the laws and Government of the United
tude than, under the circumstances, could reason
ably have been anticipated. The proposed amend
men; to the Constitution providing for The aboli
.tiea ef slavery forever w;thin the limit. of-our
country has been ratified by each one of these
States with the exception Of Mississippi, from
which no official information has been received
aud in nearly all of them measures have been
adopted, or are row pending. to confer upon the
freedmen the privileges which are essential to
their comfort protection and security. IN Florida
and Texas the people are making considerable
progress in restoring their State Governments, and
no doubt is entertained that they will, at an earl,
eriod, be in a condition to resume all their prac
teal relations with the Federal Government
in that portion Of the Union lately in rebellion
the aspect of affairs is more promising than, il
view of all the circumstances, could well have
been expected The people throughout the entire
South evince laudable desire to renew their al
legiapce TO the Government and to repair the de.
vastaton Of war by promp: and cheerful return
to peaceful pursuits. An abiding faith is enter
taiped ths fractions vi conior co their pro
fessions, and that in acknowledging the supremac,
Of the Constitution and laws ofthe United States
| their loyalty will be unreservediy given to the
Government whose lenicncy they cannot fail t.
appreciate aud whose fostering care will soon re
store them to condition of prosperity.
/ 1t is true that in some of the States demoraliz
ing effects OF the war are to be seen, in eccasOna
disorders but these are local in character not fre
ouent In occurrence, and are rapidly disappcarin,
as the authority ol the civil power is extended ant
/ sustained.
Perplexing questions were naturally TO be ex
cected from the great and sudden change in the re
| lations between the races, but systems are gradu
ally Developing themselves, under which the freed
man will receive the protection to which he
justly entitled, and, by means of his labor, max
| himself useful and independent member of tn
community in which he has bis home. From al
| the Information in my possession, and from tha
which Ihave recently derived from the most re
liable authority, Lam induced to cherish the be
liefrthatpersonal animosiy is surely and rapid
merging selfinto spirit of nationality, and tina
! representation connected With properly adjuste
system of ta>AtiDB, will result in harmonou
restoration or the re ations. OF the States TO th
| National Union
The report Of Gen. Carl Sehurz is herewt
transmitted as requested by the Senate. No re
port from the Hon. John Covode has been receiy
cd by the President
Tie attention of the Senate is invited 10 the ac
companying report of Lieut.. Gen Grant. who re
Gently made a tour of iuspt tction through sever;
OF the States whose inhabitants participated in til
rebellion. - .gntSigned .llcJ oi oi-
,s-.t..rsar szus "a ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dee. Is, 1852 80 si rr
81 siiz hra GEN. sRANr'sp hEroRr.u -ai'r-
HEabouaRrERs ARMY OF rnE UxrTED SrArLs)
afS ti.l aSO '' Dec. ls, 1865 (
His Excellency, Andrew Johnson, President