The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-20
Message of President johnson to the Senate.
WAsHrNGToN Dac 10

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.
The following message was received in the
Senate to-day from the President in reply to
a resolution of that body adopted on the 18th
instant: .+IHos' 7i'l -AN it ai
"I have the honor to state that the rebel
lion waged by portion of the people against
the properly constituted authorities of the gov
eminent of the United States has been sup
pressed,-that the United States are in posses
sion of every State in which insuITection ex-
listed, and that as far as could be done the
Courts of the United States has been restored,
Post Offices reestablished and steps taken to
put into effective operation the revenue laws
of the country.
As the result of measures instituted BY the
Executive with view of inducing resump-
ton of the functions of State comprehended
in the inquiry of the Senate, the people in
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Tennessee, have recognized their 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 circumstances
could reasonably have been anticipated. SIC
The proposed Amendment to the Constitu-
ton providing for the abolition of slavery for
ever within the limits of the country, has been
ratified by each one of these States with the
exception of Mississippi, from which no Off
cial information has been received, and in
nearly all of them measures have been adopt
ed or are now pending, to confer upon freed
men 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 entertained that
they will at an early period be in a condition
to resume all their practicable relations with
the Federal Government. NAEA3 80
In that portion of the Union lately in re-
bellion, the aspect of affairs is more promising
than in view OF the circumstances would well
have been expected. The people throughout
the entire sonth evince laudable desire to
renew their allegiance to the Government and
repair the devastations of the war by prompt
and cheerful return to peaceful pursuits An
abiding faith Is entertained that their actions
will conform to their profession, and that in
acknowledging the supremacy OF the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States, their loy-
atty will be unreservedly given to its Govern
ment whose leniency they cannot fail to ap-
preciate and whose fostering care will soon re-
store them to a condition of prosperity. al
1t is true that in some of the States the de-
moralizing effects of war are to be seen in oc-
casional disorders, but these are local in cha
racter. not frequent in occurrence, and rapid
ly disappearing as the authority Of the civil
power is extended and sustained. Perplexing
questions we're naturally to be expected from
the great and sudden change in the relations
between two races, but systems are gradually
developing themselves, under which the freed
man viii receive the protection 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 home. From
all the information in my possession and from
most reliable authority, am induced to cher
ish the belief that sectional luminosity is surely
and rapidly merging itself into the spirit Of
nationality, and that representation. connect
ed with properly adjusted system of taxa
of the relations of the States to the national
Union. The report of Carl Schuz is herewith
transmitted, as requested by the Senate. No
report from Hen. 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 a tour of inspection
through several of the States whose inhabi
tants participated in the rebellion.
signsd AspREw JOHNSON,