Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-26
The Admission Of Tennessee.
Message Of The President.
The Free Basis ReSto-
ration.
Andrew Johnson For the Union With
cut Conditions.

Andrew Johnson For the Union With /
cut Conditions.
WASHINGTON, July 24.-The President |
this afternoon transmitted the annexed /
message TO the House of Representatives:
The following joint resolution, restoring !
Tennessee to her relations to the United |
States, was, last evening, presented fer my
approval.
WHEREAS, In the year 1861 the Govern
ment Of the State of Tennessee was seized
upon, and taken possession of, by persons in |
hostility to the United States, and the in
habitants Of said State, in pursuance of an
act of Congress, were declared to be In in
surrection to the United States; and,
WHEREAS, As said State Government
can only be restored to its former political
relations in the Union by consent Of the
law-making power Ofthe United States; and,
WHEREAS, The people of said State did,
on the 22d day Of February, 1865, by
large popular vote, adopt and ratify a con-
stitution and government whereby slavery
was abolished and ordinances and laws Of
secession, and debts contracted under the
same were declared null and void; ard
WHEREAS A State government has been
organized under said constitution, which
has ratified the amendment to the Constitu-
ton Of the United States abOlishing slavery,
and also the amendment proposed by the
39th Congress, and has done other acts pro-
claiming and denoting loyalty; there fore
be it
ResolUe8, BIZ the Senate aud House Of Reprc-
sentatipes Of the United Sdtes an Congress as
Il . E4ot
restored to her former practical relations to
the Union, and is again entitled to be repre-
sented by Senators and Representatives in
Congress.
The preamble consists simply of state
ments, some ofwhich are assumed, while the
resolution is merely declaration of opinion.
| 1t congresses no legislation nor does it con-
fer any power which is binding on the re-
spective houses the Executive or the Scates.
It does not admit TO their seats in Congress
the Senators and Representatives from the
State Of Tennessee, for Notwithstanding the
passage of the resolution, each house, in the
| exercise of the constitutional right to Judge
| for itself of the election returns and aualifi-
cations Of its members, may, at its discretion,
admit them or continue to exclude them.
! If joint resolution of this character we're
| necessary and binding as condition prece-
dent to the admission of members of Con-
gress, it would happen, in the event of
veto by the Executive, that Senators and
Representatives could only be admitted to
| the halls of Congress by two-thirds vote Of
| each Of the two houses.
| Among other reasons melted in the pre-
| amble for the declarations contained in the
resolution is the ratification by the State
| Government of Tennessee of the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States abolishing slavery; and also the
| amendment proposed by the 39th Congress.
If it is also declared in the preamble said
State government can only be restored to
its former political relations in the Union
| by the consent Of the law-making power of
| the United States, it would really seem to
| follow that the joint resolution, which at
| this late day has received the sanction of
/ Congress, should have been passed, approx
| ed and placed on the statute books before
and amendment to the Constitution was sub
mitted TO the Legislature of Tennessee for
ratification. Otherwise, the inference is
/ plainly deduceable that, while in the opin-
ion of Congress the people of a State may
| be too strongly disloyal to be entitled torep-
resentation, they may nevertheless during
the suspension of their former practical re-
lations to the Union, have an equally potent
voice with other loyal States in propositions
to amend the Constitution, upon which so
essentially depend the stability, prosperity
and very existence Of a nation.
| A brief reference to my Annual Message
| of the 4th of December, will show the steps
taken by the Executive for the restoration
to their constitutional relations of the States
| that had been affected by the rebellion upon
| the cessation Of active hostillties. Provis-
| ional Governors were appointed, Conven-
| tious called, Governors elected by the peo-
| pie, Legislatures assembled, and Senators
| and Representatives chosen to the Congress
| of the United States. At the same time the
| courts Of the United States were reaopened,
| the blockade removed, the Custom House
re-established and postal operations re-
sumed.
| The amendment to the Constitution abol-
| ishing slavery forever within the limits of
| the country was also submitted to the States
| and they were thus invited to and did par
| ticipated n ratification, thus exercising
| the highest functions pertaing to the State
| In addition, nearly all of these States,
/ through their Conventions and Legislatures
/ had adopted and ratified a Constitution of
| Government whereby slavery was abolished
| and all ordinances of secession and debts
| contracted under the same were declared
null and void.
So far then the political existence of the
/ State and their relations to the Federal Gov
eminent had been fully and completely re-
organized and acknowledged by the Execu-
/ tive Department of the Government, and
the completion of the work of restoration,
which had progressed so favorably, was sub
mitted to Congress, upon which devolved all
questions pertaining to admission to their
seats of the Senators and Representatives
chosen from the State whose people had en-
gagged in the rebellion.
All these steps had been taken when on
the 4th day of December, 1865, the 39th
| Congress assembled. Nearly eight months
have elapsed since that time, and no. other
| plan has been proposed by Congress for the
/ measure instituted by the Executive. 1t is
now declared in the joint resolution submit
| ted for my approval that the State of Ten
nessee is hereby restored to her former po-
| litical relations TO the Union, and entitled to
| be represented by Senators and Representa-
\ tives in Congress.
Thus after the lapse of nearly eight
months, Congress proposes to pave the way
/ 10 the admission of the Representatives OF
one Of the eleven States whose people array
| ed themselves against the constitutional au-
shortly of the Federal Government.
Earnestly desiring to relieve every cause
Of further delay, whether real or imaginary,
on the part of Congress, to the admission to
| seats of loval Senators and Representatives
| from Tennessee, l have notwithstanding the
/ anomalous character of this proceeding
| affixed my signature to the resolution. My
approval is not to be construed as an ac-
| acknowledgement of the right Of Congress TO
pass laws preliminary to the admission Of
| duly qualified Representatives from any Of
/ the States; neither is it to be considered as
| committing me to all statements made in the
| preamble. Some are, in my opinion, with
out foundation in especially the asser-
ton that the State Of Tennessee has ratified
the amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth
| Congress No official notice Of such ratiti-
cation has been received by the Executive
or fled in the Department of State. On the
contrary, unofficial Information from the
most reliable sources induces the belief that
the amendment has not yet been constltu-
/ L IL u 1t "a