Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-07-04
President Johnson Disapproves the Course
Of Congress.
" L. fnh., prn-iInrnt Z


WASHINGTON, June 22.-The President
to-day sent the following message TO the
Senate and House OF Representatives
L submit To Congress q report of the Sec
retary Ol State, 10 whom mas referred the
concurrent resolution OF the 18th. respect
ing submission 10 the Legislatures OF the
States ot an additional article 10 the COnstI-
tuIIon ot the Unit u States. Ii viii be
seen from tins re. 0rt that the Secretary oI
State had, on the 10th inst, transmitted 10
the Governors oI the several States certified
copies OF the JOINT resolution passed on the
Ism, proposing an amendment 10 the Con
StItuiIun. Even IN ordinary times ques-
ton of amending the Constitution must be
justly regarded as OF paramount Importance.
Ibis importance Is Ut the present time en-
hanced ICY the TACT that the joint resolution
was not submitted by the Two Houses Tor
the approval OF the President, and that OF
the tnir,y-sIx States which constitute the
Union, eleven are excluded from repTe~eu-
JatiOn IN either House vi Con- grrsS, although,
with the single exception of 1exaS, they
have been entirely restored TO all their tuuc-
uons as States IN conformity with the or
gaHlzed law of the land, and have appeared
Ut the y N1tlonal Capitol 10y Senators and
Representatives, who haye applied for, and
been refused, admission TO the vacant seats :;
nor have the sovereign people OF the nation
been afforded all opportunity OF expressing
their views upon the Important questions
which the amendment involves. Grave
doubts, therefore, may naturally and justly
arise, as 10 whether the action Of Congi ess
Is III harmony with the sentiments OF the
people, and whether State Legislatures, elect
Ell without reference 10 such an Issue, should
no call ipA hx { nup II
ing the ratification of the proposed amend
ment.
Waving the question as to the constitu-
tiOnal validity OF the proceedings to Con-
greSs upon the joint resolution prOp0sin z
the amendment, or as to the merits OF the
article which 1t submits through the Execu
tive Department to the Legislatures OF the
States, L deem II proper to observe, that
the steps taken by the Secretary of State as
detailed III the accompanying report, are To
he considered purely ministerial, and in no
sense whatever committing the Executive
To an APPROVAL or recommendation OF the
amendment TO the State Legislatures or
to the people. On the contrary, a proper
appreciation Of the letter and spirit Of the
Constitution, as well as Of the interest OF
national order, harmony aud Union, and a
deterence for an enlightened public iadg-
]
whether any amendment TO the Constitu-
| tion ought to be proposed by Congress and
pressed on the Legislatures of the several
States for final decision until after the ad-
mission or such Senators and Representa-
tiYes of the unrepresenJed States as have
been or as may hereafter be chosen in con-
| tormity with the Constitution and laws oi
the United States.
(Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, June -, 1866.
| Appended to the above message is a com
munication from the Secretary of State,
addressed to the President. in which he re-
ports that on the 10th inst, the Hon.
! AmaSa Cobb, of the committee of the House
OF Representatives on enrolled bills. brought
| TO this Department and deposited therein
an enrolled resolution Of the two Houses
| Of Congress, which was therefore received
| by the Secretary of State and deposited
among the rolls of the Department, a copy
of which is hereunto annexed. Thereupou
/ the Secretary of State on the 10th inst.
in conformity with the proceeding which
was adopted by him in 1868, in regard to
| the then proposed, and afterward adopted
! Congressional amendment Of the Constitu.
tion of the United States concerning the
prohibition Of slavery transmitted certified
| copies oi the annexed resolution 10 the Gov.
/ ernors Of the States, together with certifi-
cate and circular letter. i copy Of both ot
| these communications l. hereuatO annexed
lSigned) WILLIAM FL. SEWARD
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WAsHJNGTnN, June l6. 1856.
To HIS Eceejteacy, the Gove,mOr Of til,
f<Tf0 ,1T