The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-12-22
Message of President Johnson.


THE RECONSTRUCTION PROBLEM
Tn reply to resolution adopted by
the Senate. on the 18th inst, ! have
,he honor to state that the rebellion
waged by a portion Of the people
against the properly constituted au-
thorities OF the government OF the
United States, has been suppressed;
that the United States arc i'll the pos
session Of every state in which the
instruction existed, and that rs far as
could be done, the courts of the United
States have been restored, post-ollices
established, and steps taken TO put
into effective operation the revenue
laws Of the country. As the result OF
measures instituted by the executive,
with n view Of inducing II resumption
of the functions OF the states compre-
hondod in the inquiry of tho Senate
the people in North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, MISSISSIPPI
ri. Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennes-
see have reorganized their respective
state government and are yielding
obedience to the laFs and government
Of the Ugitcd Stat&, w1h-more VII.
lingnoss and greater promptitude thai
under the circumstances could reason
ably have been anticipated. The pro
posed amendment to the constitution
providing for the abolition of slaveu
forever within the limits of the coun
try, has been ratified by each one Of
these with the exception of MISSISSIPPI
pi, from which no official infornation
has been received; and i'll nearly all D
them measures have been adopted o.
are now pending, to confer upon The
freedmen the privileges with are es-
sential to their comfort, protection
and security. In Florida and Texas
the people are making conmendhblt
1 progress III restoring their state gov
ernments, and no doubt is atertaineC
that they will, at an early period, BIZ
IN condition to resum, all theil
| practical relations with he fedora
government.
In that portion Of the Union htel.
IN rebellion the aspect q affairs i
more promising than, in 'iew u al
the circumstances, could have been ex
pectcd. The people throughout th
entire South eyince q laudable desir
TO renew their allegiance to the GOV
ernment, and to repair the devasta
tons Of war by prompt and Cheerful
return to peaceful pursuits. An abid
ing faith is entertained that their &C
tons will conform to their profession:
and that in acknowledging the srl
promacy of the constitution and law
of the United States, their loyalty vii
be unreservedly given to the govern
ment, whose leniency they cannot ia
to appreciate, and whose fosterin
care viii soon restore them to n con
dition of prosperity. Il is true tina
III some of the states the demoralizin
effects of war are to be seen in occa
sionol disorders but these are local i
character, not frequent in occurrence
and rapidly disappearing as the au
thority of civil power is extended an
sustained. Perplexing questions wer
naturally to be expected from tn
great and sudden change in the relG
tons between the two races, but sy'
tens are gradually developing then
selves under which the freedman Wi
receive the protection to which /
Is Justly entitled, and, by means of b
labor, make himself a useful and ind
pendent membes, Of the community
which he has his home.
! From ali the information ii my pc
session, and from that which halS !
ceived from the most reliable autho
ity, | am induced to cherish the bell
that sectional animosity is surely Al
rapidly merging itself into spirit
nationality, and that representatio
connected with properly adjuste
system of taxation, viii resu
in the harmonious restoration
the relations of the states to the n
l tional Union. The report of Gle
= Carl Schurz is herewith transmitte
= as requested by the Senate. No I
port from Hon. John Coyode has be
received by the president. The attic
ton OF the Senate is invited to the {
companying report of Lieut.. Gt
> Grant, who recently made a tour
) inspection through several of t
D states, whose inhabitants participat
\ in the rebellion.