The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-01-05
spECFAE MESSAGE NJ TIE PRESF.
pENE TO THE SENATE.
GENERAL GRANTS REPORT OF HIS SOUTH
ERN TOUR
WAsHINGroN. "a. l6.

W ASHINGToN, Dec. l6.
Message Of tsle President 10 tlle Senate
TO the Senate Of the United ,St0tes:
In reply to the resolution adopted by
the Senate on the 18th, have the hon
or to state that the rebellion waged by
a portion of the people against the
properly constituted authorities Of the
Government of the United States has
beensuppressed; that the l'nitedStat
are in possession of every State III which
the insurrection existed, and that as
far az could be done, the courts OF the
United States have been restored, post
offices re-established, and the steps tax
en- to put into effective operation the
revenue laws of the country.
As the result Of the measures lnstltu-
ted by the Executive with the view OF
inducing a resumption of the functions
of the State, comprehended IN the m
quiry of the Senate, the people in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, louisiana, Arkan-
sas and Tennessee, have recognized
their respective State governments, are
yielding obedience to the laws and Gov
ernment of the United States with
more willingness and greater prompt
tude than under the could
reasonably have been anticipated. The
proposed amendment to the COnstltu-
tion providing for the abolition of slaV-
cry 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 in
nearly all Of them measures have been
adopted, or are now pending, to confer
upon freedmen the privileges which are
essential TO their comfort, protection
and security.
In Florida and Texas the people are
making commendable progress in re-
storing their State governments. and
no doubt j. entertained that they viii
at an early period be in condition to re-
sumo all oftheir practical relations with
the Federal Government. In that poT-
ton of the Union lately in rebellion
the aspect Of affairs il more promising
than. in view of the circumstances
could we'll have been expected. The
people throughout the entire South G
vince a laudable disire 10 renew their
allegiance to the government, and to
repair the deVaStatiOns Of war ny a
prompt and cheerful return to peaceful
pursuits. IN abiding faith is entertain
cd that their actions will conform to
their professions, and that in acknOWl-
edging the supremacy of the COnstltu-
ton and the laws Of the United States
theirloyalty will beunreservedlygiven
to the government whose lenienCy they
cannot fail to appreciate, and whose
fostering care viii soon restore them to
a condition Of prosperity. 1t IS true
that in some OF the States the demOTa-
liZing effects OF the war are to be seen
in occasional disorders, but these are
local in character, not frequent in oc-
currence 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 sud-
den change in the relations between
the two races, but systems are gradual
ly developing themselves under which
the freedman will receive the protec-
ton TO 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 my pos
session, and from that which have re-
sSPfl.Y dteeriYead eadl fr4}m} the ,gW23t reliable
belief that sectional animO-ity is sure
~ and rapidly merging itself into a
spirit of nationality, and that represen-
tation. connected with a properly adj
iusted system Of taxation, will result
in harmonious restoration Of the re-
lations Of the States to the national /
Mon.
The report of Carl Schurz is herewith
transmitted, as requested by the Sen
ate. No reports from the Hon. John
/ Covode have been received by the Pres
ident.
The attention of the Senate is invited
/ to the accompanying report of Leuten-
ant General Grant, who recently made
a tour of inspection through several OF
( the States whose inhabitants participa-
/ ted in the rebellion.
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec. Is, 1860.