Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1866-08-02

The following message was received by the
House Of Representatives yesterday from the
President. ss.sszzs-=s--Si-sas
TO the House Of Repfeseasatiees The following
joint resolution restoring Tennessee 10 her rela-
tlons to the Umioh' was last evening presented
| for 10Y approval ans14fl% sG0f%iI
Whereas in the year 1861 the government of the
Stateo Ut Tennessee was seized upon and taken
possession Of by persons IN hostility to the United
states, aHd the Inhabitants of said State, in pur-
snance OF an act Of Congress, were declared 70 be
in stats ofipsprrecton against the United States
ana whereas the said Stale government can only
be restored TO its former political relations in the
| Union by the consent vt the lazy. making power
of the United States; and whereas the people OF
the said State did, on the 22d day of February,
1863, by large popular vote, adopt amp ratiiy a
constitution and government whereby slavery
was abolished, and the ordinances and laws of
| secession, and debts contracted under tue same
were declared null and void; and whereas q State
| government has been organized under said cons
stitutiou, which has ratified the amendment TO
| the constitution ofthe United States abJlishing
slavery, and also the amendment proposed by the
Thirly-ninth Congress, and has done other acts
| prociaiming and denoting loyalty; therefore,
BE Resolved ty The Se,iats ana House Of R,7rS-
ssrtaisss of 0ie United States IN Congress ASSEM-
6ted, That the State of Tennessee Is hereby re-
stored to her former proper practical relations to
the Union, and is again entitled to be represented
| bp Senators and Representatives in Congress.
| The preamble simply consists of statements,
some of which are assumed while the resolution
is merely declaration of opinion. 1t comprises
no legislation, nor does 1t confer any power Which
Is binding upon the respective houses, the Execu-
tive, or the States, 1t does not admit to their
seats Ia Congress the Senators and Representa-
tives from the State of TennesseeI for, notwith-
standing the passage of the resolution, each house
N the exercise Of the constitutional RICH ito judge
Tor itself OF the elections, returns aud qua1fca-
tions OF Its memt ers, may at its discretion admit
/ them, or continue 10 exclude them, If q Joint
resolution of this character were necessary and
binding as condition precedent to the admission
OF members of Congress, it would happen, in the
event of veto by the Executive that Senators
and Representatives, could only be admitted to
the halls of legislation by two-thirds vote of
each OF the two houses.
Among other reasons recited in the preamble
TOR the declarations contained in the resolution ia
the ratification, by the State government of Ten
hessee, of 'the amendment TO the Constitution
OF the United States abolishing slavery, and also
| the amendment proposed by the Thirty-ninth
Congress: II, as il also declared in the pream-
| BILE, said State government can only be restore
to its former political relations in the Union by
tue consent OF the law making power of the Uni
TED States" IL would really seem to follow that
| the joint resolution which at this late day has
received the sanction of Congress, should have
peen passed, approved, and placed on the statute
looks before any amendment to the constitution
was submitted 10 the Legislature of Tennessee for
ratification. Otherwise, the inference is plainly
deducible that while, in the opinion of Congress,
the people OF a State may be too strongly disloy-
al to be entitled TO Representation, they may.
nevertheless, during the suspension Of their
former proper practical relations to the Union"
nave an equally potent vsice with other and 10y
al States in proposition to amend the constitu-
ton, upon which SO essentially depend the sta
bility, prosperity and very existence Of the ma
| ton. iT a'''' ti''9 ~
A brief reference to my annual message OF the
Atm OF December last, will show the steps taken
by the Executive for the restoration to their con-
sttutional relations to the Union of the States
that had been affected by the rebellion. Upon
the cessation of active hostlities, provisional gov
ernors were appointed, conventions called, and
| governors elected by the people, legislatures a.
sembed, and Senators aud Representatives cho-
sen to the Congress of the United States. Az The
same time the courts of the United States were
| reopened, the blockade removed, the CUSTOM
houses re-estabished and postal relations rcs,In,-
| ed. - p. fa, ffI
The amendment to the constitution in abolish
ing slavery forever within the limits of the conn
try was also submitted to the States, and thew
were thus invited, and did participate in its rati
ncauon-thus exercising the highest functions
pertaining TO state; in addition, nearly all of
| these States through their conventions and leoi,
| latures had adopted and ratified constitutions O
government, whereby slavery was abolished. and
all ordinances and laws of secession and debts
contracted under the sumo were declared void !"
so far, then, then tue political existence of the
States and their relations to the Federal govern
ment had been fully and completely recognized
and acknowledged by the Executive Department
| OF the government and the completion of the
work of restoration, which had progressed SO fa-
yorabiy was submitted to Congress, upon which
devolved all questions pertaining to the admis-
son 10 their seats OF the Senators and Represen-
| tatives chosen from the States whose people had
engaged in the rebellion.
All these steps had been taken when, on the 4th
day of December, 1865, the 3sth Congress assem-
bled. Nearly eight months have elapsed since
that time, and no other plan of restoration bay-
ing been proposed by Congress for the measures
| instituted by the Executive, it is now declared.
in the joint resolution submitted for my approval
THAT the State of Tennessee is hereby restored to
her former proper practical relations to the Union
and is again entitled to be represented by Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress-" Thus a f
ter the lapse of nearly eight months, Congress
proposes to pave the way to the admission and
TO the representation of one of the eleven States
whose people arayed themselves in rebellion A.
gainst the constituted authority of the federal
government. rs II
Earnestly desiring TO remove every caus,l of
further delay whether real or imaginary, on the
part vi long resS, 10 Inc ADMISSION to seats of low
al Senators and Represep tatives from the State of
Tennessee, ] have, notwithstanding the anoma-
ious character of the proceedings, affixed my sig
nature to the resolution. My approval, howey-
or, Is not to be construed asian acknowledgement
OF the right of Congress to pass laws prelimina-
ry 70 the admission of duly qualified Representa-
tives from any of the States. Neither isit to be
constte red as committing me to all the statements
in the preamble--some Of which are, in my opin-
ion, without foundation, in fact especially, the
rtion that the State of Tennessee has ratified
the amendment TO- the constitution Of the
United States proposed by the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress. No official notice of
such ratification has been received by the Execu-
tive, or filled in the Department of State; on the
contrary, unofficial information from most relat
bic sources induces the belief that the amendment
has not yet been constitutionally sanctioned by
the Legislature of Tennessee. The right of each
house, under the constitution, to Judge of the
elections returns and qualifications of its owl
members, is undoubted and my approval or dis
approval of the resolution could not, in the
slightest degree increase or diminish the author
ity In this respect conferred upon the two branch
es of Congress. IF, 20 b7n'' ~. &'of b,