Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-12-28
Message of the President on the State
of the Country. ~


The following is the Message Of President
johnson, sent to the Senate on the goth, in re-
spouse to resolution Of inquiry adopted BY
that body:
TO The Senate Of tie United STATES In re-
ply to the resolution adopted by the Senate on
the 18th inst, have the honor to state that
the rebellion waged by portion of the people
against the properly constituted authorities of
the Government of the United States has been
suppressed that the United States are IN pos
session of every State in which the insurrection
existed and that, as far as could be done, the
courts of the United States have been restored,
post-offices re-establisled, and steps taken to
put into effective operation the revenue laws Of
the country. ~us 80,
As the results of the measures instituted by
the Executive, with the view of inducing re-
sumption of the functions Of the States COM
pretended in the inquiry of the Senate, the
people in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Tennessee have reorganized their
respective State governments, and are yield
ing 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 of the Constitution
providing for the abolition of slavery forever
within the limits Of the country has been rati-
fed by each one of those States with the excep-
ton Of Mississippi, from which no official IN
formation has been received, and in nearly all
them measures have been adopted or are now
pending TO confer upon freedmen the privileges
which are essential to their comfort, protection
and security In Florida and Texas the people
are making commendable progress in restoring
their State governments, and no doubt is enter
tanned that they will at an early period be In
condition to resume all of their practical rela-
tons with the Federal Government.
In, that portion of the Union lately in rebel
lion" the aspect of affairs is more promising
than, in view of all the circumstances, could
well have been expected. The people through
out the entire South evince a ,laudable desire to
renew their allegiance to the Government, and
to 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 Constltu-
ton and the laws of the United States their
loyalty will be unreservedly given to the Gov
eminent, whose leniency they cannot fail to APP
preciate, and whose fostering care will soon re-
store them to a 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 local in character, not fire.
quentin occurrence, and are rapidly disappear
ing as the civil authority is extended and sus-
tanned. Perplexing questions were naturally to
beexpected from the great and sudden change IN
the relations between the two races but sys
TENS are gradually developing themselves I'M
der which the freedmen 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 possession,
and from that which / have recently derived
from the most reliable authority, / am induced
to cherish the belief that sectional anamosity is
surely and rapidly merging itself into spirit
of nationality, and that representation, connect
ed with properly adjusted system of taxation,
will result in harmonious restoration of the
relations OF the States TO the National Union.
The report of Carl Shurz is herewith trans
mitted, 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 of Lien
tenant General Grant, who recently made
tour of inspection through several of the States
whose inhabitants participated in the rebellion.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D. c., Dec Is, 1865.