MISSISSIPPI. 



585 



terra of Jefferson Davis, and J. L. Alcorn for 

 the long term. 



Gov. Humphreys, in his inaugural message, 

 after asserting the supremacy of the Constitu- 

 tion of the United States, said that he had " al- 

 ways believed that no one or more States could 

 constitutionally sever the ties that unite the 

 people of the several States into one pople," 

 though not unmindful that a different doctrine 

 had been taught and maintained by some of 

 the brightest intellects and most illustrious 

 patriots. He regretted that the solution of the 

 question had been referred to the arbitrament 

 of war ; but having been so referred and decided 

 beyond appeal, the people of the State acknowl- 

 edged the decision, and were anxious to renew 

 their fealty to the United States, and in good 

 faith to maintain it. " It is now our duty," 

 said he, "to address ourselves to the promotion 

 of peace and order to the restoration of law, 

 the faith of the Constitution, and the stability 

 and prosperity of the Union ; to cultivate ami- 

 cable relations with our sister States, and estab- 

 lish our agricultural and commercial prosperity 

 upon more durable foundations trusting that 

 the lessons taught by the rebellion will not be 

 lost either to the North or the South that 

 freemen, once enlightened, will not submit to 

 wrong or injustice, that sectional aggression 

 will meet with sectional resistance, and that 

 the price of political perfidy is blood and car- 

 nage." To attempt to persuade the world that 

 the State had abolished slavery willingly, 

 would, he said, be " hypocritical and unprofit- 

 able." It would be due, however, to her honor 

 to show by her future course that she had done 

 so in good faith, and that slavery should never 

 again exist within her borders. With regard < 

 to the emancipated slaves he said, " The highest 

 degree of elevation in the scale of civilization 

 to which they are capable morally and intellect- 

 ually must be secured to them by their educa- 

 tion and religious training ; but they cannot be 

 admitted to political or social equality with the 

 white race. It is due to ourselves to the 

 white emigrant invited to our shores and, it 

 should never be forgotten, to maintain the fact 

 that ours is and it shall ever be a government 

 of white men." He urged that the State, in 

 the guardianship she might assume over the 

 freedman, should deal justly with him, and pro- 

 tect him in all his rights of person and property, 

 but that he should be required to choose some 

 employment that would insure the mainten- 

 ance of himself and his family, and that he 

 should be compelled to fulfil his contracts for 

 labor. 



On the 26th the State Auditor, in compliance 

 with a resolution adopted by the House of Rep- 

 resentatives the day before, made the following 

 statements : 



Igt. The amount of Cotton Notes issued un- 

 der an act entitled " an act authorizing 

 the issuance of Treasury Notes, as ad- 

 vances upon cotton," approved December 

 , 19, 1861 $5,000,000 00 



2d. The amount of Auditor's Warrants drawn 

 upon the Treasury as advance upon cotton.. $5,000,002 00 



3d. The amount of cotton bonds 

 redeemed to 1st May, 1865, and 

 notes destroyed $1,171,163 50 



Redeemed to 20th May, 1865, notes 

 not destroyed 26,173 85 



Redeemed from October 24tb and 



25th,1865 6,09550 



$1,202,437 85 



Cotton bonds unpaid $8,793,564 Co 



On the same day the treasurer reported as 

 follows : 



Bonds to secure advance on cotton have been 

 filed in this office amounting to $4,191,717 50 



Overissue on bonds and repaid into Treasury 

 byA.J. Gillespie, Auditor 15000 



Outstanding Auditor's warrants issued for ad- 

 vance on cotton 8,184 50 



$5,000,002 00 



Amount cotton money repaid and burned $1,171,103 50 



" " 26,62360 



" " " to me since 



16th October, 1865 6,095 50 



Total amount paid to redeem bonds $1,203,882 60 



While the Legislature was in session the fol- 

 lowing correspondence took place between Gov. 

 Humphreys and President Johnson : 



To His Excellency tlie President of the United Slates ; 



A telegram just received from the President of 

 Mobile and Ohio Railroad, says : Passenger trains of 

 cars were attacked on the evening of the 14th, pos- 

 session taken by a garrison of colored troops at 

 Lauderdale Springs, ladies insulted, and the officers 

 unable to control the troops. 



The Legislature has memorialized for removal of 

 United States troops, and seem willing to extend to 

 the freedmen the right to testify in court, if assured 

 the troops would be withdrawn. Members fear that 

 one concession only leads to another. What assur- 

 ances can I give on this subject ? 



B. G. HUMPHREYS, Governor of Mississippi. 



WASHINGTON, November 17, 1865. 

 . G. Humphreys : 



The troops will be withdrawn from Mississippi 

 when, in the opinion of the Government, the peace 

 and order of the civil authorities have been restored 

 and can be maintained without them. Every step 

 will be taken while they are there to enforce strict 

 discipline and subordination to the civil authorities. 

 There can be no other or greater assurance than has 

 heretofore been on the part of the Federal Govern- 

 ment. 



There is no concession required on the part of the 

 people of Mississippi, or the Legislature, other than 

 a legal compliance with the laws and Constitution 

 of the United States, and the adoption of such meas- 

 ures giving protection to all freedmen and possession 

 of property without regard to color, as will entitle 

 them to assume their constitutional rights in the 

 Federal Union. The people of Mississippi may feel 

 well assured that there is no arbitrary disposition on 

 the part of the Government to dictate what their ac- 

 tion shall be, but on the contrary to simply and kind- 

 ly advise a policy that is beneficial and will result in 

 restoring all the relations which should exist between 

 the States comprising the Federal Union. It is hoped 

 that they will feel and appreciate the suggestions 

 herein made, for they are done in that spirit which 

 should pervade the bosom of all who desire peace 

 and harmony, and a thorough restoration of the 

 Union. There must be a confidence between Gov- 

 ernment and States, while the Government confides 

 in the people. The people must have faith in the 

 Government. This must be mutual and reciprocal, 

 or all that has been done will be thrown awav. 



ANDREW JOHNSON, President 



