The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-23
message of the presIdent.

WASHINGTON, June 22-The Presi-
dent to-day sent the following message
to the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
submit to Congress report of the
Secretary of State, to whom was re-
ferred the concurrent resolution of the
18th inst, respecting a submission to
the legislatures of the States of an adj
ditional article to the Constitution of
the United States. 1t will be seen from
this report that the Secretary OF State
had, on the 10th inst, transmitted to
the Governors of the several States GER
titled copies of the joint resolution
passed on the 18th, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution. Even
in ordinary times question of amend
ing the Constitution must be justly re-
garded as of paramount impor-
lance. The importance is at the
present time enhanced by the fact
| that the joint resolution was
not submitted by the two Houses Tor
the approval of the President; and that
of the thirty-six States which consI-
tute the Union, eleven are excluded
from representation in either House OF
| Congress, although, with the single eX-
ception of Texas, they have been en-
| tirely restored to all their functions as
States in conformity with the organic
law of the land, and have appeared at
the National Capital by Senators and
Representatives, who have applied for,
and been refused, admission to the va
cant seats. Nor have the sovereign
people of the nation been afforded an
opportunity of expressing their views
upon the important question which
the amendment involves. Crave
doubts, therefore, may naturally
and justly arise as to whether
the action of Congress is in har-
mony with the sentiment of the
people, and whether Legislators elected
without reference to such an issue
should be called upon by Congress to
decide respecting the ratification of the
proposed amendment; wayering the
question as to the constitutional valid
ity of the proceedings of Congress upon
the joint resolution proposing the
amendment, or rs to the merits of the
article which it submits through the
Executive Department to the Legisla-
ture of the State, deem it proper TO
observe that the steps taken by the Sec
rotary of State as detailed inthe accom-
panying report, are to be confd-
cred as purely ministerial, and in no
sense committing the executive to
an approval of the recommendation of
the amendment to the State Legisla-
lures aud to the people of the country.
A proper appreciation of the letter and
spirit of the Constitution, as well as of
the interest of national order and har-
mony and a Difference for an enlight-
j
well suggest as a doubt whether any
amendment to the Constitution ought
to be proposed by Congress and pressed
on the Legislatures of the several States
for final decision, until after the admis-
sion of such Senators and Representa-
tives of the represented States as have
been, or as may hereafter be chosen, in
conformity with the Constitution and
laws of the United States
(Sigued.) ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June ID, 1866
Appended to the above message is
communication from the Secretary of
State, addressed to the President, in
which he reports that on the 10th inst,
the Hon, Amasa Cobb, of the Commit
tee of the House of Representatives on
Enrolled Bills, brought to this Depart
ment and deposited therein, an enroll
ed resolution of the two Houses OF Con;
gress, which was thereupon received
by the Secretary of State and deposited
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
proceeding which was adopted by him
in 1865 in regard to the proposed and af-
terward adopted congressional amend
ment oftheUnited States, concerning the
prohibition of slavery, transmitted GER
tilted copies of the annexed resolution
to the Governors of the several States,
together with certificate and circular
letter. A copy of both of the commu--
nications is hereunto annexed and
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHING
TON, June IL, 1S66.-Io His E.rcetLency
the Governor of the State Of, SIR:
have the honor to transmit an attested
copy of n resolution of Congress pro-
posing to the legislatures of the sew
eral States fourth article to the
Constitution of the United States, the
decisions of the several legislatures
upon the subject are required by law to
be communicated to this department.
An acknowledgment of the receipt of
this communication is requested by
your Excellency's obedient servant.
[Signedl WIN. 81. SEWARD.