North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-01-03
IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF THE PRES
.-...... IDENT. ... " ~.
ACCOMPANYING REpoRr OF GEN. GRANT.

WAsHINGToN, Dec 1910 the Senate
6f the United States I'm reply to the res
olution adopted bv the Senate on the 18th,
have the honor to state that the Rebel
Hon waged bya portion of the people
against the properly constituted authorities
Of the government of the United States has
been suppressed THAT the Unitedf States
are in possession of every State in which the
the in<urrection existed and that. as far as
could be done, the Courts of the United
States have been restored, port offices re-
established. and steps taken to put INTO eff
fec:iYe operation the revenue laws Of the
country. !..... .... a.. .
As the result of the measures instituted
by the Executive with the view of inducing
a resumption of The functions of the State,
conIprehended in the inquiry of the Senate,
the people in North Carolina, South Carroll
ma, Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and Tennessee have re-or
| ganized their respective State Governments,
| and are yielding obedience to the laws and
! Government of the United States with
more willingness and greater promptitude
than under the circumstances could reason
ably have been anticipated. The proposed
| amendment to the Constitution providing
for the abolition of slavery forever within
the limits of the country. has been ratified
10y each one OF those States, with the ex-
ception of Mississippi, from which no of
fetal information has been received and in
most of them measures have been or are
now pending to confer upon freedmen the
| privileges which are essential to their COM
fort, protection and security. .-sDFI'
In Florida and Texas the people are max
ing commendable progress in restoring
| their State Governments, and no doubt is
entertained that they will, at an early Pc
riod, be in acondtion to resume all of their
practical relations with the Federal Gov
| Cl lh'HCht' III bhoC poi1iOh VI AaOl CAioh
lately in rebellion the aspect of affairs is
more promising than in view of all the cir.
cumstances could well have been expected.
The people throughout the entire South
evince an audible desire to renew their al
| legiance to the Government, and to repair
the dcvastations of war by a prompt and
cheerful return to peacefuk pursuits. An
| abiding faith is entertained that their &C
tions will conform to their professions, and
that in acknowledging the supremacy of the
Constitution and the law of the United
States their loyalty will be unreservedly
given to the Government whose leniehcy
they cannot fail to, appreciate and whose
fostering care will soon restore them to
condition of prosperity. 1t is true that in
some of the States the dcmoralizing effects
of the war are to be seen in occasional dis.
orders but these are local in character, not
frequent in occurrence and are rapidly dis
appearing assthe authority of civil govern
ment 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 systems are gradually developing
themselves under which the freedman will
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 Sec
tional animosity issu;ely and rapidly merg'