Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-01-05
Message OF the President to the Senate.
70 the Senate of the United Suites

TO the Senate Of the United Suites:
+ In reply to the resolution adopted by the
Senate On the 18th, have the honor to state
that the rebellion waged by a portion Of the
people against the properly constitutional au
thoritics 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 Unit
ed States have been restored, post-offices re-
established, and steps taken to put into cf-
fective operation the revenue laws Of the
country.
AS the result Of the measures instituted
by the Executive with the view Of inducing
a resumption of the functions Of the State,
comprehended in the inquiry Of the Senate );
the people in North Carolina, South Carroll
ma, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and Tennessee, have recog
nized their respective State governments, and
are yielding obedience to the laws and Gov
ernmcnt of the United States, with more
willingness and greater promptitude, than
under the circumstances could reasonably
have been anticipated The proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, providing for the
abolition of slavery forever, within the linn
its Of the country has been ratified by each
one of those States, with the exception of
Mississippi, from which no official informa-
ton has been received; and in nearly all of
them measures have been adopted, or are now
pending, to confer upon freedmen the privi-
leges which are essential to their comfort,
protection and security
| In Florida and Texas the people are max
ing commendable progress in restoring their
State governments, and no doubt is enter
tanned that they will at an early period be in
condition to resume all of their practical
relations with the Federal Government In
that portion Of the Union lately in rebellion
the aspect Of affairs is more promising than
in view Of all the circumstances, could web
have been expected. The people through
out the entire South evince a laudable desire
to renew their allegiance to the government
and to repair the devastations Of war by a
prompt and cheerful return to peaceful pur-
suits. An abiding faith is entertained that
their actions viii conform to their professions.
and that, in acknowledging the supremacy of
the Constitution and the laws of The United
States, their loyalty will be unresertcdly Civ
en- to the government whose lenicncy they
cannot fail to appreciate, and whose fostering
care viii soon restore them to condition Of
prosperity. It is 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 occur
renee, and are rapidly disappearing as the
authority Of civil government is extended
and sustained.
Perplexing questions were naturally to be
expected from the great and sudden exchange
i'll the relations between the two places, but
systems are gradually developing themselves
under which tie freedmen 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 possession,
and from that which | have recently derived
from the most reliable authority, am induc-
ed to cherish the belief that sectional animos-
ity is surely and rapidly merging itself into a
spirit Of nationality, and that representation,
connected with a properly adjusted system of
taxation, viii result in harmonious restora-
ton of the relations of the States to the ma
tional Union
The report Of Carl Schjirz is herewith
transmitted, as requested by the Senate. -
| No reports from the Hon. John Coyods have
been received by the President.
The attention of the Senate is invited to
the accompanying report Of Lieutenant Gen
eral Grant, who recently made tour Of in
spection through several of the States whose
inhabitants participated in the rebellion.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec, Is, 1865.