The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-12-30
Special Message.

the passage OF tlI:s net. and proof Of payment
within one year thereafter. Referred to the
Committee IA Public Lands.
Special Message.
The following message from the President
wss received and read
To the Senate of the United States ! have
the honor to state that the rebellion waged
hy a portion of the people against the pro-
perlv constituted authorities of the Govern
mcnt Of the United States. has been sup.
pressed, and the United States is in posses
sion of every State i'm which insurrection ex.
listed. and that so far as could lie done, the
courts of the United States have heea restor.
ell postoiices re-established, and steps taken
Il put into effective operation the revenue
laws Of the country. As the result of the
measure instituted by the Executive, with q
view 10 inducing the resumption of the func-
iions Of States, comprchendetl in the inquiry
of the Senate. the people Of North Carolina.
South Carolina. Georgia. Alabama, Missis-
.sippi. Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee.
have organized their respective State Gov
ernments, aud are yielding obe1ienee 10 the
laws and Government of the United States,
with more willingness and greater prompt
tude than under the circumstances could be
reasonably anticipated.
The proposed amendment to the Gonstitu-
ton. providing for the abolition Of slavery
forever. withia the limits of the country, has
been adopted ly all the States lately in re-
heliion except Mississippi. from which no
official information has been received. In
nearly ali of them measures have been taken
and adopted Tor are now pcndingl to cnnter
upon freedmen the privileges which are es-
sential to their comfort, protection aud Sc
%curity.
In Florida and Texas the people are max
ing commendable progress in State Govern
ments. No doubt is entertained but ;hat
they will at an early period rcaew all pfae-
teal relations with the Federal Government.
In thai portion Of the Union lately in re.
bellion. the aspect of affairs is more promis.
ing than in view OF all the eirum stances
could well be expected. 1t is true that in
some States the a~emoralizing effects Of the
war are to he seen in occasional disorders,
but these are local in character and rapidly
disappearing. As the authority of the civil
power is extended and sustained, pcrplexing
questions were naturally To be expected from
the great and sudden change in relations be.
tween the races, but systems are gradually
developing themselves under which freedmen
will receive the protection To which they are
Justly entitled, and 10y means of his labor
will make himselfa useful and independent
member Of the commonwealth in which h'
has a home. The people throughout the Ell
tire South eyince q lawful desire to renew
their allegiance to the Government and re
pair the devastation of the war by u promp'
and cheerful return to peaceful pursuits. Al
abiding faith is entertained that their actions
will conform to their professions. and thai
in acknowledging the supremacy Of the Con
- - - r A. =. Gt-k.. 49,,
/ LOYALTY will be unreservedly given to thu
GJyernment, whose l~enieney they canno
fail to appreciate, and whose fostering carr
viii soon restore them to q condition OF pros
perity.
From all information in my possession
and from that which was recently derived
from reliable authorities, / an induced t.
cherish the belief that personal luminosity i
surely and rapidly merging itselfinto aspiri
of nationality and hat representation con
nectei with u properly arrayed system o
taxation will be the harmonious restoration
of the relations fthe States to the Nationa
Union. The report of Carl Schurz is here
with transmitted as requested by the Senate
No report from Hon. John Covode has beer
received by the President.
The attention of the Senate is invited t
the accompanying report OF Lieut.. Gen
Grant, who recently made a tour of inspee
ton through several States where the inhabi
tants participated in the rebellion.
(signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
After reading Gen. Grants report Sumne
asked that the report of Gen. Schurz shoul
be read. Several Senators objected on tn
ground that the reading should begin, as
was a very important document. He instanc
ed the fact that a full report of affairs in Kan
sas was read in the Senate, and that the pre-
sent report was much more important tina
that. lie said the message ofPresident john
son was like the whitewashing message
Brigadier General Franklin Pierce ON Kan
sas. johnson denied that there was q plai
statement of the facts. The Clerk commen
ed by reading Sehurz's report, when Sum
ner ought to qualify the statement that tn
message intended to whitewash affairs tina
are worse than those of Kansas in the day
of Franklin Pierce. Sumner said he had notl
ing to modify, Lut reiterated his statement
Dcohttle said he was panied to see the Sena
tor from Massachusetts make a charge who
he knew to be false in saying the Messag
was an attempt to whitewash affairs in til
South, and said it was a direct attack upo
the integrity of the President. Sumner d.
MED any intention of charging the Presiddl
with ~falsehood, but said there was no que'
ton before the House, when he made tn
remark and statement about embarrassing
! he referred only to the document which wa
read, and not to the policy of the Presiden'