Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-08-03
REsT0RATI8H OF TEHaEssEE-MEssAHE OF TEE
PRESIDENT.

GuaHC6 OA al dGb VI OOugL6Sss WG16 Uo-
clared to be in a state of iRsurrection
against the United States; and
WHEREAS, 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 and
WHEREAS, The people of said State
did, on the 22d Of February, 1865, by a
large popular vote, adopt and ratify
Constitution of Government, republican
in form, and not inconsistent with the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, whereby slavery was abolished,
and the ordinances and laws Of secession,
and debts contracted under the same,
were declared void and
WHEREAS, A State Government has
been organized, and the Legislature of
said State has ratified the amendment to
the Constitution of the United States
abolishing slavery, and also the amend
ment provided by the Thirty-ninth Con
gress, and has doue other acts proclaim
ing their loyalty; therefore, be 1t
ResOlUed by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States of
AmeTjcG, IN Congress assembled, That the
State of Tennessee is hereby restored to
her former proper political relation to the
Union, and Is again fitted to be represent
ed by Senators and Representatives In
Congress"
The preamble consists simply of state
ments, some of which are assumed
While the resolution is merely a decla-
ration Of opinion, it comprises no legisla-
ton, nor does it confer any power which
is binding upon the respective Houses,
the Executive, or the States. 1t 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 its Constitutional rights
to Judge for itself the election returns and
qualifications of its members, may at its
discretion admit or refuse to admit them.
IF a Joint resolution of this character
were necessary, as being condition pre-
eedent to the admission of members OF
Congress, 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 a two thirds
vote of each of the Two Houses.
Among other reasons reclted IN the
preamble for the declaration contained 10
the resolution, is the ratification by the
State Government of Tennessee of the
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States abolishing slavery, and al
SO the amendment proposed by the TEir-
ty-ninth Congress. II, as is also declar
e
meut can only be restored to Its former
political relations in the Union by the
consent of the laW-ma king power of the
United States, it would really seem to
follow that the joint resolution which al
this late day has received the sanction OF
Congress should have been passed, approx
ed and applied to the statute books be-
fore any amendment to the Constitution
was submitted to the Legislature of Ten
- e EheLo 81 Ho,o
inference is plainly deducible that while
in the opinion Of Congress the people OF
State may be too strongly dIsiOyal to be
entitled to representation, they may nev-
ertheless during the suspension of their
| former practical relations to the Union
have an equally potent voice with other
and loyal States In propositions to amend
the Constitution, upon which so essen
TALLY depends the stability, prosperity
and very existence ofthe nation.
A brief reference to my annual message
of the 4Gh of December last will show the
steps taken by the Executive for the res
toration to their Constitutional relations
of the States that have been affected by
the rebellion. Upon the cessation of fac.
tive hostiEties Provisional Governors
were appointed, Conventions called, Gov
| ernors elected by the people, Legislatures
| assembled and Senators and Representa-.
| tive chosen to the Congress Of the United
| Stotes, at the same time the Courts OF the
| United States were re- opened, the block
ade removed, the Custom Houses re-es-
| tablished and postal operations resumed
| The amendment to the Constitution abol-
| ishiDg slavery forever within the limits
/ of the country was also submitted to the
! States, and they were thus invited to par
| ticipate in a ratification, thus exercising
| the highest functions pertaining to a
State In addition nearly all OF these
| States, through their Conventions and
| Legislatures, had adopted and ratified the
/ Constitution of the Government whereby
| slavery was abolished, and all ordinances
and laws of secession were declared null
and void. So far, then, the political ex-
istence of the States and their relations
/ to the Federal Government had been
| freely and completely recognized and ac-
/ knoWledged by the Executive Department
! of the Government, and the completion
| of the work of restoration, which had
! progressed so favorably, was submitted
| to Congress, upon which deVolved all the
| questions pertaining to the admission to
/ their seats of the Senators and Represen-
tatives chosen from the States where the
people had engaged in the rebellion.
All these steps had been taken, when,
on the 18th day of December, 1865, the
Both Congress assembled. Nearly eight
months have elapsed since that time, and
no other plan having been proposed by
! Congress for the measures instituted by
| the Executive, it is now declared in the
joint resolution submitted for my APPROX
al, that the State of Tennessee Is hereby
restored to her former practical relations
to the Union, and Is again entitled to be
represented by Senators and Representa-
tiYes in Congress. Thus after the lapse
| of nearly eight months, Congress proposes
to pave the way to the admission OF the
Representatives of the eleven States
whose people arrayed themselves in re-
beIliOn against the Constitutional author
ity of the Federal Government.
Earnestly desiring to remove every
cause to further delay, ethereal or lmag-
mary, on the part of Congress to the ad-
mission to seats Of loyal Senators and
i Representatives from the State Of Ten
nessee, l have Notwithstanding the anon.
alOus character of this proceeding. affixed
my signature to the resolution. My ap,
proval, however, is not to be construed
as an acknowledgment of the right OF
Congress to pass laws preliminary to the
admission of duly qualified Repre-
sentatives from any Of the States, neither
is it to be considered as committing me
to all the statements made IN the pream-
BILE, some of which are in my opinion,
without foundation in fact, especially the
J., assertion that the State of Tennessee has
ratified the amendment of the Oonstltu'
tion of the United States, proposed by
the 39th Congress. No official notice Oi
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