The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-20
THE UNION RESTORED-PRESI.
nENT,S MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10. The Presi-
dent to day, in reply to the resolution
of the Senate of the 18th inst, commu-
nicated message stating that the rebel
lion waged by II portion of the people
against properly and constituted author
tiles of the government, had been sup
pressed, and that the United States Is
in possession of every state in which
the insurrectinn existed, and that, as
far as could be done, the courts of the
United States had boon restored, post
offices have been re-established, and
steps taken to put into effective action
the revenue tax of the country. lie
saws, as the result of the measures I'M
stitpted by the executive with the view
of inducing q resumption of all the
functions of the states with the people
of the North, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Tennessee have Organ-
ICED their respective states, and are
quietly yielding obedience To the laws
and government of the United States
with more willingness and greater
promptitude than under the circum-
STANCES p0uIlt have been expected. The
proposed amendment to the CONSTITUTION
has been ratified by each one of the states
mentioned, except Mississippi, from
which official information has been re-
ceived. The President also says, from
all the information in my possession,
and from that which have recently re-
ceived from the most Trustworthy au-
thOrity, ! am induced to cherish the
belief that sectional agimOsity il surely
and rapidly merging itself into Il spirit
of nationality, and that representation
connected with properly adjusted sys-
tenn of taxation, will result in q harno-
NOUS restoration of the relations Of tho
Gen. Grants report, which the Presi-
dent transmits to the Senate, briefly
reviews his tour of inspeotiAn through
out the South, aud states that he Is sat
iyfied with the mass OF the thinking
men of the South who accept the pses..
snt situation of affairs in good faith, and
says he was pleased to inform the lead
ing men whom he had mot thai they
not only accepted the decision arrived at
as final, but that now the smoke OF bat
tie had cleared away and time had been
given for reflection, the decision has
been fortunate one for the whole
county. He also says there IL suoh O
universal acquiescence In the authority
of the general Government through the
section of the country visited by him,
that the mere presence of u military
force without regard to numbers, ~ snf-
ficient to maintain order. Gen. Grant
states that the good of the country, as
we'll az economy, requires that the force
left in the interior where there are
many freedmen, should be Whitetronps
He flrther remarks, /" My observations
lead me to the conclusion that the citi-
zens of all the southern states are anx-
ious to return to self -gOvernment within
the Union as sOOu as possible; that
whilst demonstrating they want and
require protection from the Govern
ment. The report, says the telegraphic
operator, "is very interesting, aud fur
nishes many favorable facts in.regard to
the condition of affairs IN the southern
states, and shows throughout friendly
feeling towards the South" .,a.f
Secretary Seward has addressed letters
to the Provisional Governor and Gov
ernOr Of Georgia, similar to those sent to
Alabama, tendering to the newly elect
ed governor of the former state, the CO.
operation of the Government of The
United States, when necessary to the
welfare and prosperity IF Georgia.
AT recent joint session of the Amer
lean Freedmen's Aid Commission and
America Union Commission, 1t was
unanimously adopted to unite the two
commissions in one bishop. U4il,il
Mr., Simpson was chosen President.