The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-26
PRESIDENTS VETO MESSAGE.

4 WAsHINGToN, July i24-Then President,
this afternoon, transmitted the annexed
message, nanely: o. bRHfa.aA .'pt2la ea~t -
To the House Of Representatives. i.tl@
The'following Joint resolution, restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union,
was last evening presented for my appro-
val:
~, WHEREAS, in the yearllS6l, 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
inhabitants of said State, in pursuance of
an act of Con greSs. were declared to be in a
state of inSurrectiOn against the United
States; and % fs5saaetb t.E 90 - stte
- WHEREAS, Said State Government can
only be restored to it's former political re-
lations in the Union by the consent of the
law making power of the United states :
81 WHEREAS; ;)The people of said State did,
on the 22d day of February, 1865, by a large
popular vote, adopt and ratify 'ConsG-
tuition and Government, whereby slavery
was abolished and all ordinances and
laws of secession, and debts contracted
under the same, were declared null and
void; and
WHEREAS, A State Government has
been. organized under said Constitution,
which has ratified the amendment to the
Constitution of the United states abolish
ing slavery, and also the amendment pro-
posed by the Thirty y-ninth Congress, and
has done other acts, prOclafming and de-
noting loyalty; therefore be it
Res0lred, BIZ the Senate and House Of Rep
TesefatatiCeS OF the United States iI6. Congress-
assembled, That the State OF Tennessee is
lations to the Union, and is again entitled
to be represented by Senators and Repre-
sentativeS in Congress.
The preamble consists simply of state
ments; some of which are assumed, while
the resolution is merely a declaration of
opinion. 1t comprises no legislation, nor
does II 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 Repre-
SentatlyeS from the State of Tennessee, for,
Notwithstanding the passage of the resOlu-
ton, each House, in the exercise of the
constitutional right to judge for itself of the
electlon returns and qualifications of its
| II embers, may, at its discretion, admit
them, or continue to exclude them. If a
joint resolution of the character were me-
ceSSary and binding as condition pre-
cedent to the admission of members of
| Congress, 1T would happen in the event OF
a avetogbysthe Executfve that Senators and
Representatives, could only be admitted to
the hall of Congress by two-thirds vote
of each OF the two Houses
Among other reasons reeited in the pre-
the resolution, is the ratification by the
State Government of Tennessee of the
| amendment to the Constitution of the
/ limited states aboiiShing slavery. and also
| the AmendnlanL LpEoposedb by the 39th Com
gresS II, as is also declared in the pream-
| Bile, the 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 re-
! ceived the sanction of Congress, should
have been passed, approved and placed on
the statute books before an amendment to
| the Constitution was submitted to the
| Legislature of Tennessee for ratification
| otherwise the inference is plainly deduct
| BILE that while in the opinion of Congress
| the people of a State may be too strongly
! disloyal to be entitled to representation,
they may, aevertheless, during q suspen-