The negro will vote with the late master whom he does not hate, rather than with the non-slaveholding white, whom he does hate. Universal suffrage would create another war, not against us, but a war of races.

Another thing. This Government is the freest and best on the earth, and I feel sure is destined to last; but to secure this we must elevate and purify the ballot. I for many years contended at the South that slavery was a political weakness, but others said it was political strength; they thought we gained three-fifths representation by it; I contended that we lost two-fifths.

If we had no slaves we should have had twelve representatives more, according to the then ratio of representation. Congress apportions representation by States, not districts, and the State apportions by districts.

Many years ago, I moved in the Legislature that the apportionment of representatives to Congress in Tennessee, should be by qualified voters.

The apportionment is now fixed until 1872; before that time we might change the basis of representation from population to qualified voters, North as well as South, and in due course of time, the States, without regard to color, might extend the elective franchise to all who possessed certain mental, moral, or such other qualifications, as might be determined by an enlightened public judgment. The above having been submitted to the President, received the following endorsement:

"I have read the within communication and find it substantially correct. I have made some verbal alterations.

"ANDREW JOHNSON."

THE PRESIDENT ON THE REBEL WAR DEBT. Governor W. W. Holden communicated the following important dispatch from the President to the Restoration Convention sitting at Raleigh, October 18:

"WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 18, 1865.

“W. W. HOLDEN, Provisional Governor :

“Every dollar of the State debt created to aid the rebellion against the United States should be repudiated, finally and forever. The great mass of the people should not be taxed to pay a debt to aid in carrying on a rebellion which they, in fact, if left to themselves,

were opposed to. Let those who have given their means for the obligations of the State, look to that power they tried to establish in violation of law, Constitution and will of the people. They must meet their fate. It is their misfortune, and cannot be recognized by the people of any State professing themselves loyal to the Government of the United States and in the Union.

"I repeat that the loyal people of North Carolina should be exonerated from the payment of every dollar of indebtedness created to aid in carrying on the rebellion. I trust and hope that the people of North Carolina will wash their hands of everything that partakes in the slightest degree of the rebellion which has been so recently crushed by the strong arm of the Government, in carrying out the obligations imposed by the Constitution of the Union.

“ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States."

On the next day an ordinance prohibiting for ever the assumption of the debt indicated, was passed by the Convention. It was greeted with loud applause.

RECEPTION OF THE EMBASSY FROM TUNIS.

The Embassy from the Bey of Tunis was presented by Secretary Seward to the President in the blue room of the Executive Mansion on the 30th of October, when his Excellency General Otman Hashem read from a paper, written in Arabic, an address, of which the following is a translation:

EXCELLENCY: His Highness the Bey of Tunis, my august sovereign, presents to your Excellency his warmest greetings and the respectful homage which is due to your exalted position. He has sent me to appear in your presence for the purpose of expressing to your Excellency and to your people the great pleasure which he experienced on the cessation of your calamitous war, and on the restoration of peace and tranquillity in your great country. My august sovereign has also instructed me to present to your Excellency expressions of condolence for the tragic end of the illustrious man, Abraham Lincoln, whose death justly excited national grief and exceedingly affected his Highness. We ardently hope and pray that with this event may end the misfortunes of the United States. In view of the friendship which unites the two countries, his Highness the Bey sends to your Excellency his portrait as a souvenir of his friendship, for the augmentation of which, between our respective people, his Highness has a lively interest and a warm desire. I feel myself flattered and exceedingly fortunate that the choice of his Highness has fallen upon me to accomplish this important and honorable mission, whose success I should regard as one of the noblest results of my life. I take pleasure in stating on this occasion, in the presence of your Excellency, that since my arrival in this country I have everywhere re

ceived the most cordial and flattering greetings, and the liveliest expressions of sympathy for my country, for which I am duly grateful. The President replied:

GENERAL: This inauguration of national courtesies between the old continent of Africa and the new continent of America seems to us to be suggestive, and we trust that it is auspicious. I am glad that Tunis has sent us an envoy, and am especially pleased that you have been chosen by his Highness the Bey to be that minister. You are favorably known to us as a soldier and a scholar, and, above all, as a statesman devoted to the extinction of slavery. You will be able to report to his Highness the Bey that the American nation are trying a humanitarian experiment. It is nothing less than this: Whether a people can have liberty and at the same time govern itself. The events, pleasing and painful, to which you have referred in your speech, and to which your Government has referred so kindly in your letters of credence, were incidents of this great trial. We have accepted them as such; and while we thank God that He has saved us from the calamities which were threatened us by great crimes, we thank Him for having inclined the nations of the earth to interpret these crimes and their consequences so justly. We humbly trust that our success will be beneficent, not only at home, but throughout the world; because it will give assurance that although war and conquest are so directed by Providence as to produce beneficent effects, yet that benevolence and peace are even better agencies to promote the progress of civilization. The portrait of the Bey which he has sent us, besides being interesting to us as the likeness of a national friend, is valuable too as a work of art. It is received with satisfaction, and Congress will be apprised of the gift. The Executive Government will endeavor to make your sojourn agreeable, as it will at all times be pleased to know the wishes of your Govern

ment.

THE PRESIDENT AND THE FENIANS.

The release of Mr. John Mitchel having been granted by the President, on an application made by the Congress of Fenian Societies of the United States, held in Philadelphia in October, the Congress sent a deputation composed of Colonel Roberts of New York, President of the Fenian Senate, and B. Doran Killian of St. Louis, to express the thanks of the organization. The deputation was accompanied by Mr. Stephen J. Meany of Toledo, Ohio. These gentlemen were favored with an early interview. Having been presented, Colonel Roberts addressed the President as follows:

Mr. PRESIDENT: I have the honor of being delegated by the Convention of Irish-American citizens, assembled in Philadelphia, representing large social classes in thirty States and Territories, to wait upon your Excellency and express to you how deeply they feel the act restoring to freedom a man whom they love and venerate for his

self-sacrificing devotion to his native land. They remember nothing of John Mitchel's American career. They can never forget that he risked all a patriot should for Ireland. I am sure, your Excellency, the American people will have no cause to regret the sympathy they feel and the friendship we believe they entertain for their fellowcitizens of Irish birth. We, sir, are not unconscious of the fact that we have found in America liberty, justice and an asylum.

President Johnson replied in substance as follows:

GENTLEMEN: I am glad to learn that the steps which have been taken in the matter referred to have met with the approval of the gentlemen who have sent you here. As you, sir, delicately remarked, we could not remember Mr. Mitchel's American career; but we were anxious, as a mark of respect and compliment to the large section of our countrymen with whom Mr. Mitchel was previously identified, to yield to their expressed wishes in that regard.

THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE AND UNION.

Proclamation of the President of the United States of America.

Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God, during the year which is now coming to an end, to relieve our beloved country from the fearful scourge of civil war, and to permit us to secure the blessings of peace, unity and harmony, with a great enlargement of civil liberty;

and

Whereas, our Heavenly Father has, also, during the year, graciously averted from us the calamities of foreign war, pestilence and famine, while our granaries are full of the fruits of an abundant season; and Whereas, righteousness exalteth a nation, while sin is a reproach to any people;

Now, therefore, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby recommend to the people thereof, that they do set apart and observe the First Thursday of December as a day of National Thanksgiving to the Creator of the Universe for these deliverances and blessings.

And I do further recommend that on that occasion the whole people make confession of our national sins against His infinite goodness, and with one heart and one mind implore the Divine guidance in the ways of national virtue and holiness.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the United States the ninetieth.

By the President:

ANDREW JOHNSON.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

THE PRESIDENT TO GOVERNOR HUMPHREYS OF MISSISSIPPI.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 1865.

B. G. HUMPHREYS, Governor elect, Jackson, Miss. :

The troops will be withdrawn from Mississippi when, in the opinion of the government, peace and order and the civil authority 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 authority. There can be no other or greater assurance given than has heretofore been on the part of the President or Government. There is no concession required on the part of the people of Mississippi or the legislature, other than a loyal compliance with the laws and Constitution of the United States, and the adoption of such measures giving protection to all freedmen or freemen in person and property, without regard to color, as will entitle them to resume all their constitutional relations in the Federal Union.

The people of Mississippi may feel well assured that there is no disposition, arbitrarily, on the part of the Government to dictate what action should be had; but, on the contrary, to simply and kindly advise a policy that is believed will result in restoring all the relations which should exist between the States comprising the Federal Union.

It is hoped that they will appreciate and feel the suggestions herein made, for they are offered in that spirit which should pervade the bosom of all those who desire peace and harmony and a thorough restoration of the Union.

There must be confidence between the Government and the States, and 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 away.

ANDREW JOHNSON,

President of the United States.