The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-06-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
Action of tie President upon the
Constitutional Amendments = a |
Protest. Aes,inst the someif |

| 4
WI "a fwAsAsNaroN. JUNE %. u
The President to-dsy sent the following
message TO the Senate ana House OF Repre-
submit TO Congress report Of the Seen
retnry of State 10 whom was referred the
concurrent resolution of the 18th inst. re-
spcctIng a submission 10 the Legislatures
Of the States Of an additional article TO the
Constitution Of the United States,
10 Will be seen from this report that the
Secretary of State had, on ule 10th instant.
transmitted to the Governors of the several
States certified copies of the joint resolu-
tion passed on the 18th, proposing an
amendment 10 the Constitution. Even In
ordinary times question Of amending the
Constitution must be Justly regarded as OF
paramount Importance. This importance
nc the present time Is enhanced by the fact
that the joint resolution was not submitted
by the two ilOnses for the approval OF the
President, and that of the thirty-six States
which constitute the Union, eleven are cx-
cludcd from representation In either House
0f Congress, although with the single ex-
ception of Texas they have been entirely
restored to all their functions as States ih
conformity with the organic law of the
land, and have appeared at the National
Capitol by Senators aud Representatives,
who have applied for aud been refused adj
Nor have the sovereign people of the ma
ton been afforded an opportunity of eX-
pressing their views upon the important
questions which the amendment involves.
Grave doubts, therefore, may naturally and
justly arise as to whether the action Of Con-
gress Is inharmony with the sentiments OF
the people. and whether state Legislatures
elected without reference TO such an issue,
should be called upon by Congress 10 decide
respecting the ratification of the proposed
amendment. Waving the question rs to the
constitutional validity of the proceedings
of Congress upon the joint resolution pro-
posing the amendment, or as TO the merits
Of the article which 1t submits through the
Executive Department to the Legislatures
OF the States, i deem IL proper 20 observe
that the steps taken by the Secretary of
State, NJ detailed IN the accompanying re-
port, are to be considered as purely minis
terial, and in no sense whatever committing
the Executive to an approval or recommen-
dation of the amendment TO the State Leg
islatures or to the people.
On the contrary, proper appreciation of
the letter and spirit of the Constitution, as
wei MS of the interest of National order,
harmony and union, and u diflldence for asl
enlightened public Judgment, may at this
time well suggest doubt whether any
amendment to the Constitution ought 10 be
proposed by Congress aud pressed on the
Legislatures of the several States for final
decision until after the admission of such
Senators and Representatives of the now
unrepresented States ms have been or as
may hereafter be chosen IN conformity with
the Constitution and laws of the United
States.
(Signedl rf ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June y, 1866.
Appended TO the above message is a COM
municatiOn from the Secretary of State,
Il. al