The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-06-23
TET,EGRAPHIC NEWS.

| lul1lOlV1A~
| Erop, the President-He Dis.
'-..,,. .ny Endorsement of the Pro
| ..d Coustitutionai Amendment
He Thinks the Constitution shonld
NOT be Changed While Eleven States
,re Denied Representation.
WASHINGTON, June 22.-The President
today sent the following message to the
Senate and House of Representatives:
Isubmit to Congress the report OF the
Secretary of State, to whom was referred
the concurrent resolution of the 18th
inst, respecting submission to the
Legislatures of the States, OF an addi-
tional article to the Constitution OF the
United States 1t will be seen from the
report that the Secretary of State had
on the 10th inst, transmitted to the
Governors of the several States, certified
copies Of the joint resolution passed on
the. 18th, proposing an amendment
to the Constitution Even in ordinary
times, a question of amending the Con.
stitution must be Justly regarded as OF
paramount Importance the Importance
is at the present time enhanced by the
fact that the Joint resolution was not
submitted by the tive Houses for the
approval of the President, and that
of the thirty.six States which CON
stitute the Union, eleven are exclud-
ed from representation in either
House of Congress; although, with
the single exception Of Texas,
they have been entirely restored to all
their foundations as States in conformity
with the organic lanw, and have ap-
peared at the National Capital by SEN
ators and representatives, who have ap-
piled for and been refused admission to
the vacant seats Nor have the Sover.
eign people of the Nation been offered
an opportunity of expressing their
views upon the important question
which the amendment involves Grave
doubts may naturally and justly arise as
to whether the action of Congress is in
harmony with the sentiment of the peo-
pie, and whether legislatures elected
without reference to such an issue should
be called upon by Congress to decide re.
specting the ratification of the proposed
amendment Waving the question as
to the constitutional validity Of the pro.
ceedngs of Congress upon the joint res.
olution proposing the amendment, or, as
to the merits of the article which it sub
rnits through the Executive department
to the Legislatures of the States, deem
it proper to observe that steps taken by
the Secretary of State, as detailed in the
accompanying report, are to be con-
sidered as purely ministerial and in
no sense committing the Executive to
an approval of the recommendation OF
the amendment to the State legislatures,
and to the people of the country. Aprop.
er appreciation of the letter a1d spirit
of the constitution, as we'll as OF the
interests of national order and harmony,
and Difference for an enlightened pub
lie judgement may at this time well sug-
gest doubt whether any amendment to
the constitution ought to be proposed
by Congress, and pressed on the legisla.
lures of the several States for final
decision, until after the admission OF
such senators and reprepresentatlves OF
the unrepresented States as have, or
as may hereafter be chosen in coAformi-
" with the constitution and laws of the
United States.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. c., June %, 1866.
Appended to the above message is a
communication from the Secretary of
State, addressed to the President, in
which he reports that on the 10th lust,
the Hon, Amos Cobb, of the committee
of the House of Representatives. on en-
rolled bills, brought to this department.
and deposited therein, an enrolled reso-
luton of the two Houses Of Congress,
which was thereupon received by the
Secretary Of State and deposited among
the rolls of the department., copy
of which is hereunto annexed;
thereupon the Secretary Of State
ON the 10th inst, in conformity with the
proceedings which wero adopted by him
in 1866, in regard to the proposed.
and afterward adopted Constitutional
amendment of the United Stetes, con-
cerning the prohibition of slavery,
transmitted certified copies Of the an
nexed resolution to the Governors of the
several States, with certificate and cir.
cular letter A copy of both of the
communications is hereunto annexed,
signed.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
w OuuO lVi iSNO' ,
His Excellency, the Governor OF the
State Of -
SIR: | have the honor to transmit an
attested copy of resolution of Congress
proposing to the Legislatures OF the sew
eral States fourth article to the Constl-
tuition of the United States. The decl-
sions of the several Legislatures upon
the subject are required by law to be
communicated to this department, An
acknowledgement of the receipt of this
communication is requested by your
Excellency's obedient servant,
(Signed) WIN. ii. SEWARD
The accompanying papers are the Ger,
tifcates of true copy of the concurrent
resolution proposed as an amendment to
the Constitution and the Secretary OF
States circular addressed to the Cover
nors of the respective States.
From New Orleun..
Nryy OpJFAN .June Ql-The cotton