Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-13
The Late Provisional GOvernu

The Late Provisional Governments.
The President on the 9Th transmitted
to the House a report Of Secretary Sew
ard, in answer to a resolution Of inquiry
about provisional governments, etc,
lately adopted in that body. The SecTe-
tary states that the same information IS
about to be printed for the Senate, and
it will be sent to the House when COM
pleted.
In a similar communication sent to the
Senate, Mr.. Seward says:
1T viii appear that all the persons ap-
pointed provisional governors were re-
quired to take the oath prescribed by
Congress, except W. w. Holden, ap-
pointed provisional governor Of North
Carolina. The omission Of the require
ment in his case is believed to have been
entirely accidental He, however, took
the amnesty oath prescribed in the Pres
ident's proclamation Of May %, 1865.
There is no record in this Department of
the Oaths which were taken by the sew
eral provisional governors.
In the supplementary report TO the
President, he says:
at now appears that the foregoing
report was prepared in this Office on the
23d Of January by the Acting Secretary
of State, William Hunter The delay Of
transmitting it was due to the fact tkat
iJ was held for revision by the under
signed Secretary Seward But neither
the preparation of the report, nor the
passage Of the first resolution of the
Senate, became known to the Secretary Of
State until they were brought to his
knowledge after the passage Of the Sen
ate's second resolution
The papers accompanying the Presi-
prOcl8matiUus and communications,
many OF them heretofore published, rela-
tive 70 the restoration of the Govern
ment Of North Carolina, from May %,
1865, 10 January -, 1860; of Mississippi,
hom June l3, 1865, 10 Decembee 4, 1865;
of Georgia from October Il, 1855 to
Decent Der IS, 1865; of Texas De-
cember 9, 1865; from Provisional
Gov. Hamilton promising to lay
before the Legislature the constitutional
amendment prohibiting slavery of Ala
bama, from June y to December 20, 1865;
of South Carolina, from July p to De-
cember Is, 1855; of Florida, from July IA
TO December 80, 1855.
Among the South Carolina dispatches
is one Of November 9th, from Secretary
Seward to Gov. Perry, declaring that the
President is not satisfied with the action
of the Convention and Legislature, and
that adequate ordinances were necessary
declaring all insurrectionary action was
unlawful and void al imitis, and that an
objection 10 the last clause Of the Consti-
tutiOnal amendment was querulous; that
an acceptance 10 the amendment was
necessary to a restoration.
On November 8 the Secretary tele-
graphed again that the early adoption of
the amendment was deemed important
by the President, who regretted that
neither the Convention nor the Legisla-
ture had pronounced the State obliga-
tons for the rebel debt null and void
ana that the State seemed to decline ac-
ceptance Of the amendment 20 the United
States Constitution.
ON November 20 the Secretary again
urges the Presidents request TO repudiate
the rebel debt. On the same day Gov.
Perry declared the State had passed the
Constitutional amendment, and hoped
the doors would be open to the members
from South Carolina. On NoVeab Der q
he telegraphs that the Convention had
adjourned and therefore could take no
action relative TO the rebel debts.
On December 10 Gov. Perry announces
that the Government Of South Carolina
is complete and the people loyal, and
asks fUlflmenJ Of The promise TO with
draw the United states troops.