Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-24
EXTRA.



MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
The following message was received BY the
House this afternoon from the President:
To the Hosse Of Representative The follow
ing s.joint resolution restoring Tennessee to her
relations TO the Union" was last evening pre-
sented Tor my approval:
whereas, in the year 1851. the government OF
the State Of Tennessee was seized upon ana
Gnss sss .Ss Ss Os ,.,s
Sease, In Purseaaeso Of IN actof Congress. were
declared to be in state Of instruction axainst
srnwsns Us S.a 49, sne ,ns 80 ~. San gov
htical relations In the Union BIZ the consent OF
tne aw making power Of the United States and
whereas the people Of said STATE did, on the 9sa
DAY OF February, 1855. By a large popular vote.
adopt and ratfy constitution Of government,
whereby slavery was abolished, and all ordi-
nances and laws OF secession, and debts con-
tracted under the same, were declared void: ana
whereas State government has been organ
lied under said constitution, which has ratified
the amendment TO the Constitution OF the Una
ted States abolshing slavery, also the amend
ment proposed by the Thirty ninth Congress
and has done other acu proclaiming and demo.
ting loyalty. Therefore, be 1t
Rssoired by the Senate and House of Representa
tires Of the United States Of Americd an conOress
assembled, That the State Of Tennessee Is hereby
restored TO her former proper practical rela-
tons TO the Union, and is again entitled to be
represented by Senators and Representatives
in Congress.
The preamble simply consists of statements
some OF which are assumed, W nile the resolu
ton is merely a declaration of opinion 4,
comprises no legislation, nor does il confer aay
power which Is binding upon the respective
Houses, the Executive, or the States. II does
not admit to their seats in Congress the Sena
tors and Representatives from the State Of Ten
nessee; for, Notwithstanding the passage of the
resolution in fha
constitutional right to judge for itself
OF the elections, returns and qualifications of
its embers, may, at its discretion, admit them
or continuete exclude them II Joint resolu-
ton OF this character were necessary and bind
ing as condition precedent TO the admission
OF members OF Congress, Il would happen. in
the event of a veto by the Executive, that SEN
ators and Representatives could only be ad-
mitted TO the halls of legislation by a two
thirds vote Of each OF the two Houses
Among other reasons recited in the preann HE
for the declarations contained In the resolution
IS the ratification, by the State government of
Tennessee, Of the amendment to the Consti-
tuition OF the United States abolishiue slavery
and also the amendment proposed by the
Thirty ninth Congress" II as lie also de-
ciared in the preamble, said State govern
mept can only be restored TO its former politi-
cal relations in the Union by the consent OF
the law making power OF the United STATES"
II would really seem 70 follow that the Joint
resolution which at this late day has received
the sanction of Congress, should have been
passed, approved, and placed on the statute
books before any amendment to the Constitu-
ton was submitted to the Legislature of Ten
nessee for ratification. Otherwise, the infer
ence is plainly deducible that while in the
opinion OF Congress, the people OF a State may
be too strongly disloyal TO be entitled 20 re-
presentation, they may nevertheless during
the suspension of their ssformer proper pratt.
cal relations to the Union" have an equally
potent voice with other and loyal States in
propositions to amend the Constitution, upon
which so essentially depend the stability
prosperity, and very existence of the nation
a briei reference to my annual message of
the 4th of December last will show the stems
taken by the Executive for the restoration 20
their Constitutional relations to the Union OF
the States that had been effected by the rebel
lion. Upon the cessation Of active hostilities
Provisional Governors were appointed, Con-
yentions called and Governors elected by the
people, Legislatures assembled and Senators
and Senators and Representatives chosen 20
the Congress of the United States. Atthe same
time the Courts Of the United States Were re-
houses re-established and postal relations re-
sumed.
The amendment TO the Constitu ton abolish
ing slavery forever within the limits OF the
country was also submitted to the States and
they were thus invited to, and did participate
IN Its ratihcation-thus exercising the highest
functions pertaining to State. In addition,
nearly all Of these States, through their con-
ventions and legislatures, had adopted and
ratified constitutions ''of government whereby
slavery was abolished, and all ordinances and
the same We're declared void"
So far, then. the political existence of the
States and their relations to the Federal Gov
eminent had been fully and completely re-
cognized and acknowledged by the Executive
Department Of the Government and the COM
pletion of the work Of restoration, which had
progressed so favoraby, was submitted TO
Congress, upon which devolved all questions
pertaining TO the admission to their seats of the
Senators and Representatives chosen from the
States whose people had engaged in the re-
bellIon.
All these steps had been taken, when, IN the
ath day OF December, 1865. the seth Congress
since that time; and no other plan Of restora-
ton having been proposed by Congress for
its measures instituted by the Executive, IL is
now declared, in the joint resolution SUBJ
mitted for my approval ssthat the State
of Tennessee is hereby restored to her former
proper practical relations to the Union. and is
and Representatives in Congress-" Thus, after
the lapse Of nearly eight months, Congress pro-
poses to pave the way TO the admission and TO
representation OF one of the eleven States
whose people arrayed themselves in rebe lion
against the constituted authority OF the Fede-
raj Government.
further delay, whether real or imaginary, on
the part Of Congress, TO the admission TO seats
Of loyal Senators and Representatives from
,Se n0, y tn
proceedings, affixed my signature to the
resolution. My approval, however, is not
to be construed as an acknowledgment of
the right of Congress TO pass laws
preliminary to the admission Of duly qualified
Representatives from any Of the States. Neither
is 1t TO be considered as eommitting-me TO all
the statements made in the preamble-some OF
which are, in my opinion. without fou ndation,
in fact, especially, the assertion that the State
of Tennessee has ratified the amendment to the
Constitution OF the United States proposed by
the Thirty Ninth Congress. No official notice
OF such ratification has been received by the
Executive. or filed in the Department OF State;
h. a0xntro (8AfuI tn< g.
most reliable sources induces the belief
that the amendment has not yet been
Constitutionally sanctioned by the Leg
islature Of Tennessee. The right Of each
House, under the Constitution. TO Judge
Of the elections, returns, and qualifications Of
its own members, IL undoubted, and my APP
prevail or disapproval Of the resolution could
not, in the slightest degree, increase or dimin-
ish the authority In this respect conferred upon
the two branches OF Congress.
In con clusion, cannot TOO earnestly repeat
my accommodation for the admission Of Ten
nessee, and all other States, to a fair and equal
participation In national legislation, when
hav nm eal ives m f.f