Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-26
The Presidents Protest Against
the Constitutional Amendment.


Contrary to the direction Of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, Congress re-
fused TO submit TO the President the recent
proposed Amendment to the Constitution
for his consideration. Well they knew
that he would feel constrained, in the dis
charge of his duty to the whole people, to
hold it up to reprobation through veto.
They knew that as an honest man, with his
understanding of the Constitution, and with
his knowledge as to what was necessary to
weld the North and the South together in
indssoluble ties, he could not do otherwise
than veto it. They, therefore, to avoid the
crushing effects of veto, determined in
caucus to pass this amendment without
debate, by two-thirds majority, and then
direct It to be sent to the Governors of the
respective States to be by them laid before
the Legislatures of their respective States
for ratification. 1t was thought that this
duty would be performed by the State
Department, and would thereby prevent
an opportunity falling into the Presidents.
way which he could use to pronounce his
opposition to the Amendment. What at
this time they most particularly desired
was his silence, that they should be enabled
to play upon the credulous and make them
believe that the President acquiesced in
this proposed Amendment. 1t was adroit
management that carried the amendment
through Congress. In caucus it was agreed
upon, the proceedings of which body
touching it have not been givento the pub
lie. THAD. STEVENS, the leader of the Re-
publican party that antagonizes the Presi-
dent, when it reached the House for Its ac-
ton, for the purpose of cheating the public
into the belief that 1t was an amendment
that did not respond to the requirements OF
Radicalism, after the consumption OF the
brief space of time he allowed for the
discussion of the question, put on an air OF
sorrow and spoke in despOndent tone, be-
cause, as he hypocritically alleged, he could
not get all he wanted. His ready acquies-
cence, and his imperious orders that at
given hour the amendment should be pass
ed, of itself should have been regarded as
conclusive that it contemplated all that the
Radicals sought to clutch, even had not the
Radical press that assailed the President
day after day, and spoke of "my policy |"
with continuous sneers, with eagerness
caught up the proposed Amendment as sat-
isfactory to them. OF course, the STOOL
pigeon press hailed it with delight. The
Republican State Convention, wherein the
Rad Gals dominated, with affected magma
nimity, rendered the Conservatives and the
soldiers the Amendment as the platform on
which they would be graciously allowed to
support their candidates.
All would not answer, however. The
President is determined that there shall be
no swindling in this matter. In his annual
message to Congress last tDecember-a mes
sage that was received with acclamation by
the great mass of the people everywhere
the President told Congress and the people,
that the Southern States had complied with
all the demands that could reasonably be
made of them, preparatory to their resum-
ing their right of representation. They
had torn slavery up by the roots; they had
repealed their secession ordinances; they
had repudiated the rebel debt, and had Civ
en- unmistakable evidences that never more
would they undertake to fight their way
out of the Union. And right along, since
the 4th of December, 1866, without qualifi-
cation or reservation, the President has in
sisted that the eleven States now denied
their representation are absolutely entitled
to representation. To suppose, therefore,
that he would give his assent to amend
ments or to laws, the hidden or obvious de-
sign of which was to affect preiudicially
the non-represented States, is to indulge in
gross injustice to him.
1t was probably not expected by the
Revolutionists in Congress, that Secretary
SEWARD would officially communicate to
the President his action in relation to the
Constitutional Amendment. That action
Secretary SEWARD did communicate to the
President, and the President rightfully
made it the text for a most crushing pro-
test against the Amendment. "Even In
ordinary times" says the President "a
question of amending the Constitution
must be Justly regarded as of paramount
Importance" That is, it is a matter Of
such grave importance that 1t should not
be attempted in the absence of any OF the
States. Well does he say, that "a proper
appreciation of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution, as well as the interests of
national order, harmony and union, and
Difference for an enlightened public Judg-
ment, may at this time suggest a doubt
whether any amendment to the Constitu-
ton ought to be proposed by Congress
and passed to the Legislatures Of the sew
eral States for final decision, until after the
admission of such Senators and Represen-
tatives of the unrepresented States as have
been or may hereafter be chosen, in con-
formity with the Constitution and laws of
the United States"
What will the Poor Fellows DO ?
The Federal office-holders in OhiO-the
Marshals, U. s. Assessors, U. s. Collectors
and their innumerable deputies, with good
fat salaries and easy work, and the great
army of POstmasters-cannot give to the
T;olot norninated hv the Republican State