Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-08-01
THE ADMISSION OF TENNESSEE.

THE ADMISSION OF TENNESSEE.
The Speaker laid before tie House mes
sage from the President in relation to the
joint resolution declaring the State of Ten
nessee restored to her former proper practi-
cal relations TO the Union
Presidents Message.
| TO tie House Of Representatives. The
| following resolution restoring Tennessee to
her relations to the Union was last evening
! presented for my approval:
! Whereas, In the year 1851 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
habltants OF said State, In pursuance of an
act Of Congress, were declared to be in a
state OF lnsurrection against the United
! States; and
WhereaS, Said State Government can on
| ~ be restored to its former political relations
in the Union by the consent Of the law ma
king power Of the United States; and
HhereoS, The people Of said State did,
on the 22d day OF February, 1865, by a
| large popular vote adopt and ratify Con
stitution and Government whereby slavery
was abolished and all ordinances and laws
same, were declared null and void; and
WheredS, A State Government has been
organized under said Constitution, which
has ratified the amendment TO the Consti-
tuition of the United States abolishing sla-
very, and also the amendment proposed by
the AAAiA Congress- AID has done other
acts proclaiming and denoting loyalty; there
fore be it
Resoiced By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentdfIUes of the United States IN Congress
assembled, That the State Of Tennessee is
hereby restored to her former practical re-
lations to the Union, and is again entitled
to be represented by Senator's and Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress"
The preamble simply consists of state
ments, some of which are assumed, while
the resolution is merely declaration of
opinion. 1t comprises no legislation, 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 Repre-
sentatives from the State Of Tennessee. for,
Notwithstanding the passage Of the resolu
ton each House. in the exercise ef-the con-
stitutional right to judge for itself of the
election returns and qualifications of its
members, may, at its discretion, admit them
or continue 10 exclude them.
IF Joint resolution of the character were
necessary and binding as a 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 reclted in the pre-
amble for the declarations contained In the |
resolutions the ratification by the State Gov
ernment Of Tennessee of the amendment to
the Constitution of the United States abol-
ishing slavery, and also the amendments
proposed by the XXXIXth Congress.
If, as is also declared in the preamble,
said s. ate 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 ioiut resolution, which at
this late day has received the sanction of
Congress, should have been passed, appro-
we'd and placed in the statute books before
any amendment to the Constitution was sub
mitted to the Legislature OF tennessee for
Otherwise the inference Is
plainly deducble that while in the opinion
of Congress the people OF a State may be
too strongly disloyal to be entitled to repre-
sentation, they may, nevertheless, during
the suspension of their former practical re-
lations to the Union have az equally potent
voice with other and loyal States in proper
ton TO amend the Constitution On which so
essentially depend the stability. prosperity
and very existence of the nation.
\ 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 effected by the Rebellion.
Upon the cessation of active hostilities,
Provisional Governors were appointed, con-
ventions called, Governors elected by the
people, 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 re-
opened, the blockade removed, the Custom
Houses re-established. and postal operations
resumed The amendment to the Constitu-
ton abolishing slavery forever within the
limits of the country was also Submittsd to
the States, and they were thus invited to
and did participate in ratification, thus
exercising the highest functions pertaining
to State. In addition, nearly all of these
States through their Conventions and Legis-
latures had adopted and ratified Constitu-
tions of Government Whereby Slavery was
abolished and all ordinances and laws o. Sc
cession and debts contracted under the same
were declared null and void
So far then the political existence of the
States and their relations to the Federal
Government had been fully and completely
and acknowledged by the Execu,
tive Department of the Government, and
the completion of the work of restoration
which had progressed so fayorably was sub,
mitted to Congress, upon which devoived all n