The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-03
RECONSTRUCTION.
The Presidents Message-Lieutenant- General
Grants Report
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's MESSAGE.


10 the Senate Of the United States.
In reply to the resolution adopted by the
Senate on the 18th instant, l have the honor
to state that the rebellion waged by q por-
ton of the 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 the instruction existed; and that,
as far as could be done, the courts Of the
United States have been restored, post-offices
re-established and steps taken to put 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
comprehended in the inquiry of the Senate,
the people in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Arkansas and. Tennessee have reorganized
their respective State governments, and are
Welding obedience to the laws and Govern
ment of the United States" with more will
lingness and greater promptitude than under
the circumstances could reasonably have been
anticipated.
The proposed amendment of the Constitu-
ton providing for the abolition OF slavery
forever within the limits of the country has
been ratified by each one of those States with
the exception of Mississippi, from which no
official information has been received, and in
nearly all of them measures have been adop-
ted or are now pending to confer upon freed
men the privileges which are essential to
their comfort, protection and security. In
Florida and Texas the people are making
commendable progress in restoring their
State governments, and no doubt is enter
tanned that they will, at an early period, be
in a condition to resume all Of their practi-
cal relations with the Federal Government.
In d" that portion of the Union lately in re-
bellion," the aspect of affairs is more promis
ing than in view Of all the circumstances
could well have been expected. The people
throughout the entire South evince lauda-
BILE desire to renew their allegiance to the
Government, and to repair the devastations
of war by a prompt and cheerful return to
peaceful pursuits. An abiding faith is en-
tertained that their actions will conform to
their professions, and that in acknowledging
the supremacy of the Constitution and the
laws of the United States their loyalty will
be unreservedly given to the Government,
whose leniency they cannot fail to appreciate
and whose fostering care will soon restore
them to condition of prosperity. tits true
that in some of the States the demoraliZing
effects of the war are to be seen in occasional
disorders; but these are local in character
not frequent in occurrence, and are rapidly
disappearing as the civil authority is extern
ded and sustained. Perplexing questions
were naturallysto be expected from the great
and sudden change in the relations between
the two races but systems are gradually de-
veloping themselves under which the freed
men will receive the protection to which he
is justly entitled, and, by means of his labor
make himself useful and Independent men,
Der of the community in which he has his
home
From all the information in my possession
and from that which have recently derived
from the most reliable authority, am in
duced to cherish the belief that sectional an
mostly is surely and rapidly merging itself
into spirit of nationality, and that repre-
sentation, connected with properly adjus-
ted system OF taxation, will result in har-
moniors restoration OF the relations of the
States to the National Union
The report of Carl Shurz is herewith trans
united, as requested by the Senate. No re-
ports from the Hon. John Covode have been
received by the President The attention of
the Senate is invited to the accompanying re-
port OF Lieutenant General Grant, who re-
Gently made tour of inspection through
several of the States whose inhabitants par
ticipat ID in the rebellion.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D. c., December IS, 1865.