Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-12-27
Gen. Grants Report on Reconstruction.

Mr. Cowan said that a message had Just
been received from the President, in re-
Spouse to a resolution calling for informa
ton as to the condition of the States late
" in rebe lion, and called for the reading
Of IT,
The message of the President was read
~ follows
To the Senate Of the United States:
In reply to the resolution adopted bv
the Senate on the 10Th. have the honor
to state that the rebellion waged by por-
ton Of the people against the properly
constituted authorities of the government
Of the United States has been suppressed :;
that the United States are in possession
Of every State in which the insurrection
existed and that as far as could be done
the courts Of the United States hare been
restored post-offices s-established, and steps
taken to put into effective operation the
revenue laws Of the country. As the re
suit of measures instituted by the execu-
tive with the view Of inducing Il resump-
ton Of the functions of the STATE, COM
pretended in the inquiry of the Senate.
the people OF North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia Alabama, Mississippi.
Louisiana. Arkansas and Tennessee have
recG fl;zed their respective State govern
mcuts and are yielding obedience to the
laws and government of the United States
with more willingness and greater promp-
titude under the circumstances than could
reasanab'v have been antiCi atG1
The proposed amendment TO the con-
stitut.on, providing for the abolishion of
slavery forever within the limit Of the
country, has been ratified by each one of
t. ose States, except Mississippi, from viii IN
noolficial information has been received
and in nearly all of them measures have
been adopted. or are now pending to con fer
upon the freedmen the privileges which are
essential to their comfort protec ion and
security In Florida and Texas the peo>
pie are making col1mendahle progress in
restoring the State governments and no
doubt is entertained that they will at an
earlv period be in condition to resume
all Of the practical relations with the fed
eral government
In that portion of the Union lately in
rebellion the aspect OF affairs IS more
promising than, in view Of the circum-
stances. could vel be expected
The people throughout the entire South
eyinco a iaudablc desire to renew their
allegiance to the Government and to re-
pair the devasfations of war by prompt
and cheerful return to peaceful pursuits
An abiding faith is entertained that their
actions viii conform to their professions
and that in acknowledging the supremacy
Of the Constitution and laws of the United
States, their loyalty will be unreservedlv
giyeu to the Government whose leniency
they cannot fail to appreciate and whose
fostering care will soon restore them to a
condition of prosperity 1t Is true that in
some Of the States the dcmoralized effects
of the war are to be seen in occasional
disorders, but these are local in character.
not frequent in occurrence and are rapid
II disappearing as the authority Of the
civil power is extended and sustained. -
Perplexing questions were naturally to be
expected from the great and sudden
change in the relations between the two
races but svstems arc gradually develop
inc themselves under which the freedman
will receive the protection to which he IS
Justly entitled, and by means of his labor
make himself q useful and independent
member of the community IN which he
has home
From all the information in nv posses
sion and from that which I have recently
derived from the most reliable authority.
| am induced to cherish the belief that
personal animosity Is surely and rapitiIv
merging itse into a spirit Of nationality,
and that representation, connected with n
properly adjusted system Of taxation. will
result in harmonious restoration of the
relations Of the States at the National
Union. The report OF Carl Shurz is here
with transmitted as required bv the
Senate. No report from the Hon. John
Coyode has been received.
The attention Of the Senate IS invited
to the accompanying report of Lieut. Gen
eral Grant, who recently made tour OF
inspection through several of the States
whose inhabitants participated IN the re-
bellien.
(Sicned,) ANDREW JOHNSON
Washington, Dec. Is, 1865