Special Message Of The President

To the Senate of the United State : In reply to a resolution adopted by the Senate on the 12th, I have the bonor to staie that the rebellion waged by a portion ol the people against tha properly constituted authorities of the Gvorument of the Utiited States has been euppressed, that the United States are in possession of every State in v}jch the insnrrection existed, and that as far as could be done the Courts of the United States have been restored, postoffices reestablisbed, and steps taken to put into effective operation the revenue laws of tbe country. As the result of tho measures' instituted by the Executive, with the view of induciug a resuraption of the funotions of the States cornprehended in the inquiry of the Senate, the people in Nortn Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee, have organized their respective State governments, and are yielding obedienee to the laws and Government of the United States, with more willingness and greater promptitude than under the ocumstances could reasonably have boen anticipated. The proposed amendment to the constitution providing for the abohtion of slavery forever vvithin the limits of the country, has been ratified by each one of these States, with the exception of Missiswtppi, from which no official information has been received, and in nearly all of them measures have been adopted, or are now pending, to eoüfer upon the freedmen the privileges which are essential to their comfort, profection and security. In Florida and Texas the people are making commendable progress in restoring their State Governments, and no doubt is entertained that they will at an earlv period be in u condition to resume all óf their practical relations with the Federal Government. In that portion of the Union lately in rebellion, the aspect of aifaiis is more promising than, in view of all their circumstances, could well have been expected. The people throughout 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 pursuits. An abiding faith is entertained that their actions will conform to their rofssiois, and that in acknowledging the eupremacy of the CoEstituiñon and 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 a sondition of prosperity. It is true that in some of the States the demoralizod effccts of the war are to be scen in occasional disorders, but these are loca!, of a character not frequent íd occurrence, and are rapidly disappearing as the authority of the civil power is extended and sustained. Pcrplexing questions were naturally to be expected frora the great and pudden change in the relations between the two races, but systems are gradually developing themaelves under which the freedman will receive the proteotion to which he is justly ontitled, and by meana of bis labor, make himself a useful and independent member of the community iu which he has his home. jrotn all the oformation in my posseseion, and f'roin that which I have recenty derived frorn the most reliable au.hority, I ain induced to cherish the elief that personal animosity issurely and rapidly inergiog itsolf into a spirit of uaionality, and that representation, con-, nectod with a properly adjusted system of taxation, will result in a harnoñous restoration of the relations of the States to the national Union. The report of Cari Sohurz is herewith ;ransmitted, as reqr.ested by the Senate. o report frora the Hon Jn.o,. Covode las been reoeived by ths President. Tho attention of the Senate i's invited to ,he sccompanying report of LieutenaDt Goneral Grant, who recently roade a our of inspeotion through several of the States whose inhabitants participated in the rebellion. (Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON. Washington, Dec. 18th, 1865. GEN. GRANT'S REPORT. ÍEADQUAETERS, ArMY OF THK ÜN1TKD ) States, Dec. 18th, 1865. J To His Excellency, A. Johnson, President of the United States ; Sik: - I reply to your noto of the I6th inst., requesting a report from me, iving such information as I may be aossessed of, coming within the soope of ;he inquines made by the Senate of tho United States, in their resolution of the 12th inst., I have tho honor to submit the following, with your approval, and also that of the honorable Secretary of War : I left Washington city on the 27 th of last month, for the purpose of raaking ft tour of inepection throughout some of the Southern States lately in rebellion, and to soe what chnnges were necessary in the d'sposition of the military forcea of the country, how these forcea could be reduced and expenses curtailed, &c, and to learn as far as possible the feelings and intentions of these States towards tha General Government. The State of Virginia being so aocessible to Washington city, and information from this quarter therefore beiug readilv obtained, I hastened through the State without conversing or meeting with its citizons. In lUleigh, North Carolina, I speDt one day ; io Charleston, South Carolina, two ciays; and in Savannah and Augusta, Georgia, each one day. Both iu traveling and i wbilst Btoppiug I saw uiuch, and rersci! frclv wit!) the eiiizrris if ihoso tjtkteft, a? ivoil as witli ofliceM of tiio itrmv who havo besa statumod amorig them 'i'lie fiilluwiug ar ttie ctonelasions como to by me : I am sitisfieJ thut tiui niu-s of thinking men of the Smult sccöpt the pre-u-nt situutiot) of uffaira in good fuitli. The qiiestiona whii:h have hitberto divido! tho scntimenia of thu uéoule of twoecti'm?, sluvery and State r.ighi, or tlio right ol a State to sooede froui tlie Union, tbey regard as having beeíi settlod forevi-r by tlie bighcst tribunal, anus, tbat man cao res.ort lo. I W88 pleasel to learn f rom the leiding nien whom I met, that tbey not only accept tlie decisión arrived at as final, bnt now tlie smoke ot battlo haseleared away, ant) time bas beeu giveu for refiection, that this decisión has been a fortnnato one for the whole country, tbey receiving tho like bunefits f rom it witb thosa who oppoaed thern in the field ancf in the council. Foiir yéara uf war, duriüg whioh law was exeuuted only at the poiüt of the bayonet throagbout the States in robellk-mi-bave left the people poexibly in a aondition not to yield tbat reatly obedience to civil autbority that the American people have generally been in the babit oL yielding. This would render the presence of srnall garrisons throughot those States neceeaary uutil such time as labor returns to its proper channel, and civil authority is fully established. I did not meet any one, either those holding places under the Government, or citizens of the Southern States, who thought it practicable to witbdraw the military frum the öouth at present. The white and the black inutually retjuire the protection of the general Government. There is such universal aequieseence in the authority of the general Government throughout tho portions of tbe country visited by va, that the mere preseuce of a military foree, without regard to numbers, is Bufficient to maintain order. The good of the country requires that the lorce kent in the interior, where there are many freedtnen - elsevvbere iu the Southern States than at forts upon tlhc sea coast no forcé is neeessary - ehnuld ill be w'nite troops. The reaons f;r tliis aro ttbvious, without mentiening nlany of them. The presence of black troop-, latüly slaves, demoralizes labor both by their advice, and furüisbiny in Elitair c:!i)us Q resort for the freedtnen Fr long diïtances around. White troops genurally excite no opposition, and the re Í'. to Li srnall number of tlicm can niiiintaiu ordiftr in a í,'ivon distiiet. ('Olored troops must bo kept in botlieN KulKcient to di'fond thomselves. It is not the thinking men who would do violence towards any class of troops sent ainong thfii) by tho general Q-ijvem(rei t ; but the ignorant in some plwces inight, and the late slave, too, who might be imbned with the idea that the propeity of hls !:ito master should by right belong to him, at least should have no protection from the colored poldiers. There is dar.ger of collision being brought on by such causes. My obsorvations lei me to the conclusión that the citizens of the Southern States are mxious to return to eelf governnietit willirn the Union, as so n as ■oKsiblej that hi'o reconst;uoting thcy v.iint and requii-e [ïrotection from ihe Govornme:it ; that, they think, b re quired by the Govci'nmenY, and is not humiliating to them as eitizens; and that if such a course was poitrted out they would pursuo it in good faith. It is to be regretted that there cannot be a greater comiumgling at this timo boIween the citizons of the two section, and partioularly of those entrustod with the lw making power. I did uot give the operatiöna of the Freedmon'a Bureau that attenticm I would have dona if moro limo had been at my dipsal. Conversations, however, on the subject, with officers connected with the Bureau, led me to think that in sonrio ol the States, its aftairs have not been conductod with good judment or eooooniy, and Unit the belief widely spread among the freedmeu f the SouUktu States, that the lands of thuir former owners will, at least in part, be divided aoiong thein, has come from the agents of this Bureau. This belief is seriously intiirfering with tbo willinguesa of the freedmen to make contract for the coming year In ome fórms tho Freedmen 's Êureau ie an abo-lute necessity, until civil law is establiahcd ar.d enforced, securing to the freedmen their rights aud full protection. At present, however, it i,s independent of tho mtlitary establishment oí the country, and aeems to bo operated by the difterent agenta of the bureau ccording lo their individual notiona. Everywhere General Howard, the able head of tne bureau, made friends by tbo just and fair instruclions and ad vice he gave, but the complaint was when he left things went on is bufore. Many, parhaps the majority of the ageuta of the Freedmen's Bureau, ad ris the freedmen that by their own iudustry they must expect to live. To this end they endeavor to secure employment for them, and to see that both cootracting pariies comply with their engageraents. In some cases I am sorry to say the freedman's mind does not eeem to bo disabused of the idea that the freedman has the right to live without care or provisión for the future. The effuot of the belief in the división of land is idleaessand aecuiuulations in. cainps, tow:s, and citiep. lu such cases I think it wiíl be fouud that vice and disease will tend to the exterminaron or great destruction of the colored race. It cannol be expected that the opinious held hy men at the South for ye.irs eau be ebunged iu a day, and, therefore, the frecdmen require lor a few yeurs, not oiily laws to proteet them, but the 'fosterintj care of those wlio will givo them good counsel, and ou vrhoii) tuey can rely. Tlie Free'lmen's Bureau being separated frrin the tuilitary oritablishmeut of the country, requires all the expjn-ie of a-soparato orgauizitiou. Oue does not uecessarily know what the other ia doing, or what orders thcy aio acting under. It seems to me this could be oorreeted by regard ing all offisers on duty wiih troops iu the Southern States uu agonts of tlie Preedmeh's Bureau, and Uien have all oidora f rom the heud'juarters of the Buroau-cnt tlirouh ilio departiimnt cürrnrvitidors. 'A'ni ouU( cruattt a reapoMÍbUit lU.tt wol'!-:! cSBn i1'; raiüf s' i.t' ;:Ci('i fhiougtöul !: ."■■ r.' I), woiilii iiu ue dus ulcera and instrucfkms fioin tbehead ui' tl'.o bureau being cairit'd out, nuti woulcj t'lievo from duty aiid pay ft large niim lier of oinji-loyts ui the Gtavemmeuk 1 l'rüve tlio binor to be, very respectfullv, your obedieot servunt, (Signed,) U.S. GRANT, Lieut. General.