The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-12-27
Message Of the President.

In response 10 resolution OF the senate,
the President % inform the Sen
ate OF the present condition Of the rebel
lious States, the following message was
sent in, and was read with the accompany
ing letter Of Gen. Gran. 10 the President, I
and the report iof Gen. Carl Schurz, both /.
Of which We are compelled 20 omit for want +
u room. Upon its being read, Senator
sumner said ths message was only paral- /
leled by Pierce's whitewashins message on I
Kansas" This was a hasty and ill-timed
remark at least, and Nr. Sumner afterwards
qualified il by saying that II was the mes
sage Of tho President 10 which be referred,
and that he did not question the patriotism
or honesty Of the President. We shall here
alter leer at length to the present conli-
ton Of affairs at Washington, as between
the President and Congress:
10 The senate o. the United States.
In reply to a resolution adopted by the
Senate on the 18th, | have the honor 10
state that the rebellion waged By q pOr-
ton Of tho people against the properly con-
stituted authorities Of the Government OF
The United states. has been suppressed; that
the United States are in possession Of every
state IN which tho Instruction existed,
and that, as far as could be done, the courts
OF the United States have been restored.
pOst-Oiiices re-established, and steps taken
20 put into elective operation the revenue
laws OF the country. As the result Of the
measures instituted hy the Executive with
Lea.
functions OF the States cOmprehended in
/ the inquiry OF the Senate. the people in
North Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia.
/ Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. Arkansas
and Tennessee, have reOrganlZed their re-
spectlve state governments. and are Yield
ING obedience 10 the Laws aud Government
I Of the United states with more willingness
and greater prOmptitude, than. under these
circumstances, could reasonably have been
anticipated. The proposed amendment 10
the Constitution. providing for the abolition
/ OF slavery forever within the limits Of the
country, has been ratified 0y each OF these
I states with the exception Of Mississippi.
from which no official Information has been
received, and in nearly all OF them meas
ures have been adopted, or are now pend
Ing, TO confer upon the freedmen the privil-
eyes which are essential 10 their comfort
/ protection and security. In Florida and
Texas the people are making cOmmeudable
/ progress IN restoring their State govern
ments, and no doubt is entertained that
/ they will, al an early period, be in u cOndi-
| ton 10 resume all Of their practical rela-
+ tons wiki The Federal Government In
hat portion Of the Union, lately in rebel
/ leg. the aspect Of affairs is more promising
/ ta..n IN view Of all the circumstances,
could have been expected. The people
/ throughout the entire South evince laud-
able desire 10 renew their allegiance to the
/ Government, and 70 repair The deyasiatiOns
I Of war 10y Il prompt and cheerful return 10
| peaceful pursuits. An abiding faith Is en-
| ierAiueu tiat tuelr ACTIONS VIII CONFORM 10
/ their professions, and that, in acknOwiedg-
| ing the supremacy OF the Constitution and
/ the laws OF the United States, their 10y
I atty will be unreserveGly given 10 the Gov
| eminent whose leniency they cannot fail to
! appreciate, and whose fostering care will
soon restore them 10 condition of pros
perity.
| IL Is true that, in some Of the States, the
/ demOraizing effects OF the war are 10 be
! seen in occasional disorders. but these are
| Of local character, not frequent in occur
! renee, and are rapidly disappearing as the
authority OF The civil power Is extended and
sustained. PerplexIng questions were nat
/ urally 10 be expected from the great and
sudden change IN the relations between the
TWO races, but systems are gradually devel-
oping themselves. under which the freedman
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
/ his home.
From all the information IN my posses
sion, and from that which | have recently
| derived from the most reliable authority.
| am induced To cherish the belief that per
! sOnal luminosity j. surely and rapidly merg-
/ ing itSolf into - spitit Uf Nationality, ana
that representation connected with prop
erly adjusted system OF taxation, will re-
suit in a harmonious restoration Of the re-
| .atIOns Of the States 10 the National Union.
The report of Gen. Carl Shurz is here
with transmitted. rs requested by the Sen
ate. No report from Hon. John Cov0de
has been received by the President
The attention OF the Senate is invited 10
! the accompanying report of Lieut. Gen.
Grant who recently made tour Of inspec-
lion through several of the States whose
inhabitants participated in the rebellion.
signed ANDREW JOHNSON