Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-15
Provisional Governor JOlAnson's

The following Is the portion or ProVis-
ional Governor, JohnsOn's message 70 the
Georgia, j legisIature which refers TO tne po1
lltical' relations Of the ateto the Govern
Onithe 1st Of February last the Congress
of the United States by Joint resoln luton,
nroposed 10 the Legislatures of the several
States of the Union an amendment TO the
Constitution of the United States declaring
that hereafter neither slavery nor lnvoluh-
tary servitude, except for crime, should eX-
ist Ia the United States, or In any place
subject to their jurisdiction; and that Con-
gress should have power to enforce tne pro-
posed article by appropriate legslation.-
A copy of the proposed amendment 10 ~
attached, and it is submitted to the conslu-
Grafton of the Legislature with the nope
and desire that it may be adopted and ratl-
fed. "A yery common objection Is made TO
II on the ground thatit may confer, by i'm
plication, on Congress the power oil re9u-
tating, generally, the internal policy OF the
State. Such a construction is believed to
be erroneous and unfounded and unwar-
ranted, either by the language employed or
the objects sought to be attained. ,....
The Constitution of the United States
confers, among other things, upon Congress
the power to regulate commerce with for
eign nations and among the States, to de-
clare war, to raise and support armies, and
TO provide for calling forth the militia. 1t Is
further provided, that Congress shall have
power to make all laws which shall be
necessary and proper to carry into eXecu-
ton these enumerated powers; but 1t has
never been eontended that, because Of such
authority, Congress was thereby invested
with the right to abolish State courts, to
prescribe the qualification of jurors, or to
declare who should exercise the right OF
Suffrage Moreover, this amendment is
strictly cumulative, and it Is not intended
byit, either to repeal or modify any OF the
existing provisions of the Constitution;
and, therefore, it will still be for the several
States to prescribe, each TOR itself, who
shall be electors for the most numerous
branch of their assemblies; and, as a c0n-
sequence, who shall be qualified electors for
members of Congress. r.ts.l suselfI.
., The Congress passing it, the different de-
partments of the Government, aud most Of
the Legislatures of the several States rati-
flying it, construe the amendment TO bC
nothing more or less than q declaration
against Involuntary seryitude, conferrinf
Herewith on Congress the restricted power
to carry that declaration into execution by
necessary and proper laws. Such is thu
natural import of the language employed
and such, doubtless, win be the construc
tion given it by the different department
Of the Government in all controversies tina
may hereafter arise, Under other circum
stances, proposition to ratify such al
amendment, would not be entertained b,
you. Although the ''cannon's roar and tn
trumpet's elangor are no longer heard,
society still moves on in its resistless way
and it is necessary that we should accom-
modate our, action to the inexorable de
Inands Of Inevitable, results, that the per
nanent welfare of our people may be SO
cured and our State restored to her forme
political rights and relations. .........
Georgia has, in good faith, abolished
slavery. She could not revive it if sh,
would; and the ratification of this amend
ment will make the people Of the Unitet
States, homogeneous will remove from
among us that cause of bitterness and sec
tional strife which has wasted our property
and deluged our land in blood. Further
more, by yielding to this requirement readi
ly, we shall submit most effectual argu'
ment, tending to open the halls of the Ma
tional Legislature, and the strongest pie:
that could be addressed to heclemency anC
magnanimity of the Government.
j. JOHNSON,
.,. Provisional Governor.