Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-20
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
The State of the Country

The following is the message of President
johnson, sent TO the Senate yesterday, IN re-
| sponse to resolution of inquiry adopted by
| that body:
To the Senate cf the United States In reply to
the resolution adopted by the Senate on the 18th
instant have the honor TO state that the rebe
lion waged by a portion of the people against
the properly constituted authorities of the Gov
ernment OF the United StaIes has been sun
pressed; that the United States are in possession
| of every State in which the insurrectIon exist
ed; and that as far as could be done, the courts
OF lhe United States have been restored. post
Offices re-established, and steps taken to mt
INTO effective operation the revenue laws Of the
country.
AS the results of the measures instituted by
the Executive, with the view OF inducing
resumption 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 9ntalenSe 10 me laws and Government Of
| the United States with more Willingness and
greater promptitude than under the cir
cumstances could reasonably have been an
tIcipated.
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
of them measures have been adopted or are
now pending to confer upon freedmen the
privileges which are essential to their com fort
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 n condition to resume all of their
practical relations with the Federal Govern
ment.
In that portion Of the Union lately i'm rebel
lion" the aspect of affairs is more promising
than, In view or all the circumstances, could
well have been expected. The people through
out the entire South eyince a laudabIe desire TO
renew their allegiance to the Government and
TO repair the deyastations of war by a prompt
ana cheer1ni 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 Com
sttution and the laws OF the United States
iheIr loyalty Will be unreseryedly given 10
the Government, whose leniency they cannot
fall 10 appreciate, and whose fostering care
VIII soon II store them 10 a condition of pros
perlty 1t Is true that in some Of the States
the demoraliZlng effects of the war are to
Ge seen In occasional disorders: but these are
local IN character, not frequent in occurrence,
ana are rapidly disappearing as the civil au-
thorlty Is extended and sustained Perplexing
questions were naturally to be eIpected from
tne great and sudden change in the relafIons
between the two races; but systems are gradu-
ally developing themselves under which the
freedman will receive the protection 70 which
he is justly entitled, and, by means OF his
labor, make himself a useful and independent
member of the community IN which he has his
home.
From all the information in nv possession
and from that which have recently derived
from the most relianle authority, I am induced
TO cherish tie belief that sectional animosity is.
surely and rapidly merging itself into a spirit
of nationality, and that representation, con-
Dected with properly adjusted system of tax =
alton, will result in a harmonious restoration
of the relations Of the States TO the National
Union.
The report of Carl Shurz is herewith trans
mltted, 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 q
tour of inspection through several of the States
whose Inhabitants participated in the rebellion.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington. ID. G.. Dec Is Is65