The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-06-27
The Constitutional Amendment.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO
CONGRESS. 81
HIS APPROVAL WITHHELD.

HIS APPROVAL WITHHELD.
The President sent into Congress yester-
day the following message and accompany
ing papers in relation to the reconstruction
amendment to the Constitution:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
submit to Congress report of the Sec
rotary of State, to whom was referred the
concurrent resolution of the 18th instant,
respecting submission to the Legislatures
of the States of an additional article to the
Constitution of the United States.
1t will be seen from this report that the
Secretary of State had, on the 10th instant,
transmitted to the Governors of the several
States certified copies of the joint resolution
passed on the 18th instant, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution
When in ordinary times any question of
amending the Constitution must be justly
regarded as of paramount importance. This
Importance is at the present time enhanced
by the fact that the joint resolution was not
submitted by the two Houses for the appro
val OF the President, and that of the thirty
six States which constitute the Union, eleven
are excluded from representation in either
House OF Congress, although, with the sin
gle exception of Texas, they have been en-
tirely restored to all their functions as States
in conformity with the organic law of the
land, and have appeared at the national
capital by Senafy ssand representatives, who
have applied for, and have been refused ad-
mission to the vacant seats.
Nor have the sovereign people of the nation
been afforded an opportunity of express
ing their views upon the Important question
which the amendment involves Grave doubts
therefore may naturally and justly arise
as to whether the action of Congress is in
harmony with the sentiments of the people,
and whether State Legislatures, elected with
out reference tosuch an issue, should be called
upon by Congress to decide respecting the
ratification of the proposed amendment
Waving the quertion as to the constitutio-
nal validity of the proceedings of Congress
upon the joint resolution proposing the
amendment, or as to the merits of the article
which it submits through the Executive
Department to the Legislatures ofthe States,
I deem it proper to observe that the steps
taken by the Secretary of State, as detailed
in the accompanying report, are to be consid-
cred as purely ministerial, and in no sense
whatever committing the Executive to an APP
| proval of the recommendation OF the amend
ment to the State Legislatures or to the people
| On the contrary, proper appreciation OF the
letter and spirit of the Constitution, as well
as Of theinterests of national order, an enlight-
md public Judgment may, at this time, vel
| suggest doubt whether any amendment!
| to the Constitution ought to be proposed by
| Congress and pressed upon the Legislature
of the several States for final decision unit
after the admission of such loyal Senators anc
Representatives of the now unrepresented
States as have been ormay hereafter be chosen
in conformity with the Constitution an(
laws of the United States.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, D. c. June %, 1866.
To the President:
The secretary OF State, to whom was refer
red the concurrent resolution of the two
houses of Congress of the 18th inst, in the
following words That the President o
the United States be requested to TRANSMIT
forthwith to the Executives of the severa
States of the United States copies of the ar
ticle of amendment proposed by Congress te
the State Legislatures to amend the Consti
tuition of the United States, passed June Is
1866, respecting citizenship, the basis of re
presentation, disqualification for Office, ant
validity of the public debt of the Unitct
States, &C., to the end that the said State
may proceed to act upon the said article o
amendment, and that he request the Execu
tive Of each State that may ratify said amend
ment to transmit to the Secretary of Stat
certified copy of such ratification" has tn
honor to submit the following report, name
ly: That on the 18th instant the Hon. Amo
Cobb, of the Committee of the House of Rep
resentatives on Enrolled Bills, brought t.
this department and deposited therein III
enrolled resolution of the two houses of Con
gress, which was thereupon received by tn
Secretary of State and deposited among th
rolls of the department, a copy of which
hereunto annexed Thereupon the Secretar
of State, upon the 18th instant, in conform
ty with the proceeding which was adopte
by him in 1865 in regard to the then propo
sed and afterwards adopted congressions
amendment of the Constitution of the Unite
States concerning the prohibition of slavery
transmitted certified copies of the annexe
resolution to the Governors of the sewers
States, together with a certificate and circr
lar letter. A copy of both of these comm,
nications is hereunto annexed.
Respectful submitted,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE June 20, 1867.
81 |