The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-23
From, xvaslainston.

from NaShhsASeons
WASHINGTON, juno 22.-The Senate was
engaged in the consideration Of the tax,
bill. -
The House devoted its; entire session to
the discussion of the Indian appropriation
bill
The President sent .into Congress, to-
day. the following message in relation ta
the reconstruction amendments 10 the Con.
stitution:
To The Senate and HOmxeuf Representatives.:
submitsto Congress 4 report of the Sc
concurrent resolution of the 18th instant
respecting n submission to the Legisla-
lures OF the States OF all additional article
to the Constitution Of the United States. It
will be seen from this report that the Sc
cretary Of State had, on the 10th instant.
transmitted to the Governors Of the sevc,
ral States certified copies or the joint rcso-
luton passed on the 18th instant, propos-
ing an amendment to the Constitution.
Even in ordinary times any question OF
amending the Constitution must be Justly
regarded rs OF paramount Importance.
This Importance is III ti.ae present time en-
HANGED BY the fact that the Joint rcsolu-
ton WAS not submitted by the two honses
Tor the approval OF the President, and that
OF the thirty-slX states which constitute
sentation in either house of Congress =
although, with the single exception of
Texas they have been entirely restored 20
all their functions as States, in conformity
with the organic law Of the land, and ha We
appeared at the national capital by Scna-
tors, and have been refused admission 10
the vacant seats. Nor have The sovereign
people OF the nation becn afforded All op-
portunity of expressing their views upon
tsle important questions which the amend
ment involves. Grave doubts, therefore
may naturally and justly arise as to whether
the action Of Congress is in harmony with
the people, and whether to such an issue
they should be called upon by Congress to
decide respecting the ratification of the
present amendment, giving the question
as to the constitutional validity Of the pro-
ceedlngs OF Congress upon the Joint rcso-
luton proposing the amendment, OF as to
the merits of the article which it submits
through the Executive Department to the
Legislatures OF the States. deem it pro-
Per 10 observe that the steps taken by the
Secretary of State, as detailed in the ac-
companylng report, are to he considered az
purely ministerial, and in no sense what
ever committing the Executive to an ap-
proyai or q recommendation of the amend
inent to the State Legislatures or to the
people. on the contrary, proper appre-
ciatlon OF the letter and spirit OF the Con
stitution, as we'll as or the interests of
national order and the harmony of the
Union, and Difference for an enlightened
Republican Government, may at this time
we'll suggest doubt whether any amend
ment to the Constitution ought to be pro-
posed by Congress, and pressed upon the
Legislatures of the several States for final
decisash, until after the admission of such
loyal Senators and Representatives of the
non-represented States as have been. or
may hereafter be, chosen in conformity
with the Constitution and laws or the
United States.
tSigned,) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Accompanying the message Of the Pre-
dent Is the report OF the Secretary of State.
announcing that he had, in conformity
with the proceeding which had been adopt
Cd by him in 1865, in regard to the proposed
and afterwards adopted Congressional
amendment OF the Constitution Of tho
United States concerning the prohibition
nf slavery, transmitted certified copies Of
the joint resolution to the Governors of
the several States. together with a circular
letter.