Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-12-22
MEssAaE from rRE pREsInEnr

To the Senate of the United States:
| In reply to a resolution adopted by the
Senate on the 18th, have the honor tc
Etate that the rebellion, Waged by a I,or.
ton of the people against the properly
constituted authorities of the Govern.
ment of the United States, has been UP.
pressed; that the United States are nov
In possession of every State in which the
lnsurrection existed and as far rs co uld
be done, the courts of the United St.Ltes
have been restored, post offices re-est abb
llshed, and steps taken to put into active
operation the revenue laws of the cOun-
try.
AS the result of the measure institu ted
by the Executive with the view of in
| ducing resumption of the functions of
the States comprehende6 in the inquiry
of the Senate, the people in North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, LouisiaAa, Arkansas, and
Tennessee, have re-OTganized til cir
respective 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 antic-
ipated. The proposed amendment to the
Constitution providing for the abolition
of slavery forever within the limits of the
country, has been ratified by each one of
these States, with the exception of Mis-
sissippi, from which no official informa-
ton 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 h cir comfort, pro-
lection and security In Florida and
Texas the people are making commend
able progress in restoring their State
Governments, and no doubt is entertained
that they will at an early period be in a
condition to resume all of their practical
relations with the Federal Government.
In that portion of the Union lately in re-
bellIon the aspect of affairs is more
promising than, In view of all the cir
cumstances, could well have been expect
ed. The people throughout the entire
South evince a laudable desire to renew
their allegiance to the Government and
repair the devastations of war by prompt
and cheerful return to peaceful pursuits.
An abiding faith is entertained that their
actions will conform to their professions,
and that in acknowledging the supremacy
of the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, their loyalty will be unre-
servedly given to the Government, whose
lenlency they cannot fail to appreciate,
and whose fostering care will soon restore
them to condition of prosperity.
1t is true that in some of the States the
demoralizing effects of the war are to be
seen in occasional disorders, but these
are localin character and infrequent in ap-
pearance, and are rapidly disappearing as
the authority of the civil power is extend
ed and sustained. Perplexing questions
were naturally to be expected from the
great and sudden change in the relations
between the two races but systems are
gradually developing themselves, under
which the freedman will receive the pro-
lection to which he is justly entitled, and
by means of his labor. make himself
useful and independent member of the
community in which he has his home.
From all the information in my possess
ion, and from that which I have recently |
received from the most reliable authoity, |
| am induced to cherish the belief that
personal animOsity is surely and rapidly |
merging itself into spirit of nationality, |
and that representation, connected with a |
properly adjusted system of taxation, will |
result in harmonious restoration of the |
relations of the Stases to the national |
Union. The report of Carl Shurz is here
with transmitted as requested by the SEN
ate. No report from the Hon. ohm Gov
ode 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.
TSignedl ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec. 18