Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-23
.J&le9r:apbit.
FROM WASHINGTON :
NeSHage from the PresIdent-Is
Opposed 10 the Constitutional
Amendment.

| lsuOmlt TO Congress report of the Sec
retary of State, to whom was referred the
! concurrent resolution of the 18th inst, re-
1 specting 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 lGCh inst
transmitted to the Governors OF the several
States certified copies of the Joint
resolution passed on the 18th, pr0pos-
Ing an amendment to the Constitution.
Even in ordinary times a question OF
amending the Constitution must be justly
regarded rs of paramount importance.
| This Importance is ut the present time en-
hanced by the fact that the Joint resolution
was not submitted by the two Houses for
The approval of the President, and that of
the thirty six States which constitute the
| Union, eleven are excluded from represen-
tation in either House of Congress, although,
with the single exception of Texas. they
have been entirely restored to all their func-
tions az Statesin conformity with the organ
ic law of the land, and have appeared at the
national capital by Senators and Represen-
tatives who have applied for and been re-
FUSED admission to the vacant seats; nor have
the sovereign people of the nation been offer
ed All opportunity ofeXpIessing their views
upon the important question which the
amendment Involves. Grave doubts, there
fore, may naturally and justly arise as to
whether the action of Congress is in har-
mony with the sentiment of the people,
and whether State Legislatures, elected
without reference to such an issue,
should be called upon by Congress
to decide respecting the ratification
of the proposed amendment. Waving
the question as to the Constitutional
validity of the proceedings of Congress
upon the joint resolution, proposing the
amendment or as to the merits of the ar
ticle which 1t submits through the Execu-
tive Department. to the Legislatures of the
States, deem it proper to observe that the
steps taken by the Secretary OF State, as de-
tailed In the accompanying report, are to
be considered as purely ministerial, and In
no sense whatever committing the Execu-
tive to an approval of the recommendation
of the amendment to the State Legisla-
lures, or to the people. On the contrary,
proper appreciation Of the letter
and spirit of the Constitution, as
well as of the interest of National order,
harmony and union. and difference for an
enlightened public judgment may, at this
time, well suggest doubt whether any
amendment to the Constitution ought to be
| pAOPOoN" ny N'llRlGSS anu DICSSbu uDOU UIlp
| Legislatures of the several States for final
decision, until after the admission of such
Senators and Representatives of the nom
represented States as have been, or may
hereafter be, chosen in conformity with
the Constitution and laws of the United
States.
[Signed] ANDREW JOHNSON.
| WASHINGTON, ID. G., June %, 1866.
Appended to the above message is com.
munication from the Secretary of State, ad-
dressed to the President, in which he re-
ports that on the 10th inst, then Hon
Amasa Cobb, of the committee of the House
of Representatives on Enrolled Bills,
brought to this Department and deposited
therein an enrolled resolution of the two
Houses of Congress, which was thereupon
received by the Secretary of State and de-
posted among the rolls of the Department
a copy of which is hereunto annexed
Thereupon the Secretary of State on the
10th inst. in conformity with the proceed.
ing which was adopted by him In 1865 In
regard to the then proposed and afterwards
adopted congressional amendment OF the
Constitution, concerning the prohibition
of slavery, transmitted certified copies Of
the annexed resolution to the Governors Of
the several States, together with certiti.
cate and circular letter. A copy of both o.
these communications is hereunto annexed
| DEPARTMENT on STATE,I
WASHINGTON, June 16, 1866.
Tohis ErcellencH the Governor Of the State o.
SIR-I have the honor to transmit an at.
tested copy of a resolution of Congress
proposing to the Legislatures of the several
States fourteenth article to the Constitu-
tion of the United States. The decisions OF
the several Legislatures upon the subject
are required by law 20 be communicated tn
| this Department. An acknowledgment OF
| the receipt of this communication is re-
quested by
Your Excellency's ob't serv't,
| lSlgnedI VIM. III. SEWARD.
The accompanying papers are the certifi-
Gates OF true copy of the concurrent res.
| olution proposing an amendment to the
Constitution, and the Secretary's note OF
| circular addressed to the Governors of the
respective States.
The Tariff Bill.
The Ways and Means committee arc
holding daily sessions, and hope to COM
plete the tariff bill by Saturday. They are
said to have agreed on recommending an
vi ulJl DCI CCnIs Ill Jll6 uuJN OIL
imported cigars, wines and liquors, and
will probably add eleven and half cents
per pound to the present tax on import
ed wool. An equal tariff on all imported
woOlen fabrics would in this case be also
necessary. The. question of giving sixty
or ninety days notice tor the proposed tar
iff bill Is being discussed. The general
tariff of 1S43 went into execution from and
after the day of its passage. All special
tariff bills, except that of July 1861 also
went into operation, though some of them
were quite general In their character, and
that of April, 1854, was entirely so. Since
the commencement of the war, all proyi-
sons affecting our importations have taken
effect from the day of their passage, ex-
ceptlng that of July, 1862, of which very
short notice was given.
SchencIx's Army Bill.
Mr.. Schenck's army bill which passed
the House to-day by vote of ~ to Al, will
undoubtedly be killed in the Senate. Many
of its provisions were hastily passed over
on this supposition, and the Indifference
manifested to it is caused by the feeling that
the House is supposed to have had knowl-
edge of the forthcoming action of the
Senate.
The Memphis Riots.
Mr.. Washburne, Of tthe Congressional
committee to investigate the Memphis riots,
in private conversation reports that de-
plorably bad condition of things exists In
Memphis. The temper and feeling of the
people is as bad, If noC worse, than at any
time previous to the outbreak of the re-
bellion. He believes that nothing but
stringent military government will pre-
serve the peace in that district for years to
come. The committe examined one hund-
red and seventy Witnessed whose tpstimo-