The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1866-06-30
Message from lhe President

m lhe 22d tho fllovipg mts,le in
relation ~ fhe Recon- iusilnh Amend
menl ~ NE Constitution
rN'F ssa ~ HaU n FgnYm'hti
submit herewith ~ Cungrelt q
report NJ ihc Secretary NJ State, ~
vfom WIS rforri the concurrent
resolution If tie lRlh ini, u,lr
log % submission ~ the Legislature
of the States of M additional article
10 tie Constitution Of the United
~tntca. II will bc aeol from thin
report that the Secretary Of State
had, on the 10Th Inst, transmitted 10
the Governors of the sevcml Suites
certified copies Of The Joint lic.ulu-
lions which pissed on The 18Th inst,
proposing nm amendment 10 the Con
stitution Even in ordinary times
any question ol amending the Consti
tuition must iu.tly be regarded as Of
paramount Importance. This I'M
portaneo is at the present time en-
HANGED by The fact that the Joint
Resolution was not submitted by the
two Houses for the approval Of the
President OF the thirty-aix States
which constitute the Union, eleven
Of which are excluded from reprcscn-
tation in either House Of Congress
although, with the single exception
of Texas, they have been fully re-
stored to all their functions as States
in conformity with the organized
laws Of the land, and have appeared
at the United State. capitol as Scna-
tors and Representatives, who have
applied for and been refused admis-
sion 10 the vacant seats. Nor have
the sovereign people OF the nation
been afforded an opportunity of cx-
pressing their views upon the import
ant question the amendment involves.
Grave doubts therefore naturally and
Justly arise Us to whether the action
of Congress is in harmony with the
sentiments Of the people, and whcth-
,r the State Legislatures, elected
without reference to such nm 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 Con-
grcss upon the joint resolution pro-
posing the amendment, or rs To the
merit of the article il submits through
the Executive appointments TO the
Legislatures OF the States, | deem il
proper to observe that the steps taken
by the Secretary of State as detailed
in the accompanying report, are 10
be considered as purely ministerial
and in no sense whatever committing
the Executive TO an approval OF
Recommendation of the amendment
to the State Legislature or the people.
On the contrary, approaching the let
ter and the spirit of the Constitution
rs well as the interest of national
order, harmony, and union, and with
due Difference for an enlightened pub.
lie Judgment. ! may at this tim,
suggest a doubt rs to whether any
amendment to- the Constitution ought
TO be proposed by Congress, an
pressed upon the Legislatures of III,
several States for final decision, until
after the admission OF such Iowa
Senators aud Representatives of III,
now mrcprcscntcd States as have
been or may hereafter be chosen IL
conformity with the Constitution and
the law. Of the United States.
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
Accompanying the message WI.
the report OF the SECRETARY of State.
announcing that he had, in couCor.
nifty with the proceedings which had
been adopted in regard To the pro-
posed, aud afterwards adopted. Con.
grcssional amendment to the Cons,i.
tuition. concerning the prohibition oil
slavery, and the transmission OF Ger.
titled copies of the joint RESOLUTION
to the Governors of the several
States together with a certificate and
circular letter. had been complied
with.