Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-26

The Presidents Message ON she
Joint Resolution ResdOring Ten
neasee 10 the Union.
WAsHINGroN, July A.-The President
tbs safternoon transmitted the annexed mes
sage:
To the House Of Representatives:
The following Joint resolution, restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union,
was, last evening, presented for my appro-
val: -.
"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
state of Instruction against the United
States; and
WHEREAs, Said Sta'e Government can
only be restored to Its former political rela-
tions 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 22l day OF February. 1865, by large
popular vote, adopt and ratify q Conslltu-
tion 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 Or
ganized under said Constitution, which has
ratified the amendment to the Constitution
of the United States abOlishing slavery, ana
also the amendment proposed by the Ihir-
ty-ninth Congress, and has done other acts
proclaiming and denoting loyalty; there
fore, be 1t
"Resolusd, by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United STATES IN
Congress assembled, That the State OF Ten
nessee Is hereby restored to her former
practical relations to the Union, and is
again entitled to be represented by Sena-
tors and Representatives In Congress"
The preamble consists simply 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-
tion, each House, in the exercise OF The con-
stitutional right to Judge for itself of the
election returns and qualifications OF It's
members, may, at It's discretion, admit
them or continue to exclude them.
ia Joint resolution OF the character were
necessary and binding as condition pre-
cedent to the admission ofmembers OF Con-
gress it would happen in the event OF We
TO by the Executive that Senator'S and KEEP
resentatives could only be admitted to the
halls of Congress by two-thirds vote OF
each of the two Houses.
hn raafta6 In the o.
amble or the declarations contained In the
resolution is the ratification by the State
Government of Tennessee of the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States abolishing slavery, and also the
amendment proposed by the Thirty-ninth
Congress. IT. as Is also declared In the pre-
amble, said State Government can only be
restored to its former political relations In
the Union by the consent Of the law-mak-
ing power of the United States, 1t
would really seem to follow that
the Joint resolution which, at this late
day has received the sanction of Congress,
should have been passed, approved and
placed on the statute books before any
amendment to the Constitution was sub
iflitted to the Legislature of Tennessee for
ratification, otherwise the inference Is plain
ly deducible that, while in the opinion OF
Congress the people of 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 an equally potent
voice with other and loyal States In propo-
sitions to amend the Constitution, upon
which so essentially depend the stability,
prosperity, and very existence OF the ma
tiOn,
AIbrief reference to my annual message
of the 4th of December last will show the
steps taken by the Executive for the resto-
ration to their constitutional relations of
the States that had been affected by the re-
bellion, upon the cessation OF active hos
tilities. Provisional Governors were ap-
pointed, Conventions called, Governors
elected by the people, Legislatures assem-
bled, and Senators and Representatives
chosen to the Congress Of the United States.
At the same time the Courts of the United
States were reOpened, the blockade remov-
ed, the custom house re-established, and
postal operations resumed. The amend
ment to the Constitution abolishing slavery
forever within the limits of the country
was also submitted to the States, and they
were thus invited to and did participate in
a ratification, thus exercising the highest
functions pertaining to State. In addl-
tion, nearly all of these States, through
their Conventions and Legislatures, had
adopted and ratified Constitutions of gov
ernment whereby slavery was abolished
and all ordinances and laws OF secession,
and debts contracted under the same, were
declared null and void.
So far, then, the political existence Of the
States and their relation to the Fc ieral
Government had been fully and completely
recognized and acknowledged by the Ex-
ecutive Department of the Government
and the completion Of the work of restora-
ton, which had progressed so favorably,
was submitted to Congress, upon which
devolved all questions pertaining to the ad-
mission to their seats OAthe Senators and
Representatives chosen from the States
whose people had engaged in the rebellion.
All these steps had been taken when, on
the 4th day of December, 1856, the Thirty
ninth Congress assembled. Nearly eight
months have elapsed since that time, aud
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 approval
that ''the State OF Tennessee Is hereby re-
stored to her former practical relations to
the Union, and again entitled to be repre-
sented by Senators and Representatives In
Congress"
Thus, after the lapse Of nearly eight
months, Congress proposes to pave the way
to the admission Of the representatives of
one of the eleven States, whose people ar
rayed themselves in rebellion against the
Federal Government. Earnestly desiring
to remove every cause Of further delay,
whether real or Imaginary, on the part Of
Congress, TO the admission to seats OF loyal
Senators and Representatives from the
c..to - nsounacaao hova nofxuith ata nd