Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-06-29
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMEHr.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
We publish below the recent message Of the
President to Congress. in relation to the Re
construction Amendment to the Constitution.
and also copy of the Amendment as passed
by both Houses Of Congress-
Contrary, rs i. would seem. to the plain in
tent Of the Constitution, and to the hitherto
uniform practice on the subject, tho amoud-
ment was not submitted to the President.
Article fifth of the Constitution lie in these
words:
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both
Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
amendments to this Constitution, or, on appli-
cation of the Legislatures of two thirds of the
several States. shall call Convention for pro-
posing amendments, which, in either cuse
shall be valid 10 all intents and purposes, ms
part OF this Constitution, when ratified by the
Legislatures of three fourths Of the several
States, or hY Conventions in three -fourths
thereof, as the Gne or the other mode of ratifi.
cation may be proposed by Congress.
And that oil measures, requiring the concur
rent action of both Houses of Congress, should
be presented for the approval of the President
is apparent FROM the 7th Section Of the 3rd
article of the Constitution, whicl, is as fol-
lows:
Erery order. resolution, or rotr, to which the
concurrence of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives may he necessary (czccpt on a cues.
ton of adjour,,1,cnt) shall be- Presented to the
President of the United States; and before the
same shall take effect, shall be approved by
him, or being disapproved by him, shall be re-
passed by two thirds of the Senate and House
OF Representatives. according to the rules aud
limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.
Practically the question may not be very
important one, as the two.thitds vote of each
House which is necessary to the passage of
these amendments could carry them over the
veto, yet the effect Of veto message, setting
forth the objections 10 proposed measure, is
not to be disregarded, and was no doubt duly
estimated by the trainers of the Constitution.
Iq become part of the Constitution, the
amendment must be ratified by the Legisla.
lures of three-fourths of the States. OF the
thrty.sx States which form the Union. twen.
ty seven must concur. Whether or not the
the twenty-five Northern States will ratify the
measure remains to be seen, but We cannot be.
lieve that any two Of The Southern States will
be found willing to make up ths desired ma.
ioriS.
ihe following is the message of the Presi-
dent in which he urges the very important fact
that the amendment is proposed by BODY in
which eleven States have no representation:
The President sent into Congress on the ODD
the following message iI relation to the recon
structlon smendinents to the Constitution:
To the Senate and House of Representations.
! submit to Congress report of the Secretary
OF State, to whom was referred the concurrent
resolution Of the 18Th instant respecting a sub
mia fo A. =
additional article to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. It 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
,Constituqon. Even in ordinary times any oues.
tion Of amending the Constitution must be Justly
regarded as Of paramount importance. This
Importance IL at the present time enhanced bv
the fact that the joint resolution was not sub
mitted by the two houses for the approval Of
the President, and that of the thirty six States
~nIch constitute the Union, eleven are excluded
from representation in either house of Congress-
although, with the single exception of Texas.
they have been entirely restored 10 all their
functions as States, in conformity with the organ
&c law of the land, and have appeared at tha
national capital by Senators, and have been re-
fused admission 20 the vacant seats Nor have
The sovereign people Of the nation been afforded
an opportunity Of expressing their views upon
the important questions which the amendment
involves. Grave doubts, therefore, NAV natural.
Y ana justly arise as 10 whether the action of
Congress is in harmony with the people, and
whether to such an issue they should be called
upon by Congress to decide respecting the rat
question as to the constitutional validity Of the
proceedings of Congress Upon the joint resolution
proposing thu amendment, or US to the merita
OF the article which It submits through tbe
Executive Department TO the Legislatures of the
states. deem it proper to observe that the
steps taken by tho Secretary ofState, as detailed
in the accompanying report, are to be- consider
ed as purely ministerial and in no sense what
ever committing the Executive to an approval
or recopmendation Of tho amendment to the
State Legislatures or to the people. On the
contrary, q proper appreciation of the letter
Snd spirit OF the Constitution, &c we'll ss of the
interests CT national order aud the harmony Of
the Union, and difference for an enlightened
Hepoblican Government, may at this time we'll
suggest doubt whether any amendment TO the
Conaisution ought to be proposed by Congress,
and pressed upon the Legislatures of the ssverai
STATES Tor hnal decision, until after the admission
o. o. sPeR loyal Senator'S snd Representatives Of
she nep-rsprsssnted States a. have been, or NAV
"e.san! ma,; oe, CHOSEN 10 conformity with the
consultation And laws af tho Upilas Statos
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ly posed BY Congress-.