Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-25
THE ADMISSION OF TENNESSEE.

| 10 the HO1tSe or lLePTeSststtSsSoe-
The following 'ioint resolution restoring
| Tennessee to her relations to the Union" was
last evening presented for my approval:
.Whereas, in the year 1861, the government
| of the State of Tennessee was seized upon and
| taken possession of by persons in hostility to
the q. S. and the inhabitants Of said State, IN
pursuance of an act OF Congress, were declared
TO be 10 state of instruction against the Y.
S. and whereas said State government can only
be restored to it's former political relations IN
the Union by the consent OF the laW-maklng
power of the q. S. and whereas the people OF
said State did, on the 22d of February, 1865,
by a large popular vote, adopt and ratlty
constitution of government, whereby slavery
was abolished, and the 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 amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States
abolishiug slavery, also the amendment pro-
posed by the Thirty ninth Congress; and has
done other acts proclaimiDg and denoting loyal
ty: Therefore, be it
ResolUea &C., That the State of Tennessee
is hereby restored to her former proper practl--
cal relations to the Union, and is again entitled
to be represented by Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress.
The preamble simply consists Of statements,
some of which are assumed, while the resolu
ton is merely a declaration of opinion. 1t
comprises 10 legislation, nor does 1t confer any
power which is binding upon the respective
Houses, the Executive, or the States. 1t docs
not admit to their seats in Congress the Sena-
tors and Representatives from the State of
Tennessee; for Notwithstanding the passage of
the resolution, each House in the exercise Of
the constitutional right to judge toritself Of the
elections, returns, and qualifications Of its
members, may, at its discretion, admit them,
or continue to exclude them. If a joint reso-
luton Of this character were necessary and
binding as condition precedent to the admis-
sion Of members Of Congress, it would happen,
ID the event Of veto by the Executive, that
Senators and Representatives could only be
admitted to the halls Of legislation by two
thirds vote of each of the two Houses.
Among other reasons recltedin the preamble
forthe declarations contained in the resolution,
is the ratification, by the State government OF
Tennessee, Of the amendment to the Consti
tuition OF the United States abolishing slavery,
and also the amendment proposed by the
ed in the preamble, said State government
can only be restored 10 its former political
relations in the Union by the consent of the
law making power of the United States" it
would really seem to to!lw that the joint resolu-
ton which at this late day has received the
sanction OF Congress should have been passed,
approved. and placed on the statute books be-
fore any amendment to the Constitution was
submitted to the Legislature Of Tennessee for
ratification Otherwise, the Inference is plain
ly deducible, that while, 10 the opinion of Con-
gfess, the people Of State may be TOO strong
ly disoyal to be entitled to representation, they
may nevertheless, during the suspension of
their former proper practical relations to the
Union" have an equally potent voice with
other and loyal States in propositions to amend
the Constitution, upon which SO essentially
depend the stability, prosperity, and every ex-
istencc of the nation.
4 brief reference to my annual message of
the 4th of December last will show the steps
taken by tie Executive for the restoration to
their constitutional relations to the Union of
the States that had been affected by the rebel
lion. Upon the cessation of active hostities
Provisional Governors were appointed, Con-
ventions called, and Governors elected by the
people, Legislatures assembled, and Senator's
and Representatives chosen to the Congress of
the United States. At the same time the courts
of the United States were reopened, the block
ade removed, the custom-houses e-established,
and postal relations resumed.
The amendment to the Constitution abolish
ing slavery forever within the limits of the
country was also submitted to the States and
they were thus invited to, and did participate
in, its ratiication-thus exercising the highest
functions pertaining to State. In addition,
nearly all of these States, through their Con
ventions and Legislatures, had adopted and
ratified constitutions ''ot government, whereby
slavery was abolished, and all ordinances and
laws of secession and debts contracted under
the same we're declared void
So far, then, the political existence Of the
States and their relations to the Federal Gov
ernment had been fully and completely recog-
nized and acknowledged by the Executive
Department Of the Government, and the com,
pleticn of the work Of restoration which had
progressed so favorabIy, was submitted to Con-
gress, upon which devolved all questions per-
tanning to the admission to their seats Of the
Senators and Representatives chosen from the
States whose people had been engaged in the
rebellion.
All these steps had been taken, when, on the
18th Of December, 1865, the Thirty ninth Con-
gress assembled. Nearly eight months have
elapsed since that time; and no other plan Of
reStOratlOn having Oeen proposed Dy congress
for the measures instituted by the Executive,
it is now declared in the joint resolution sub,
mitted for my approval, that the State Of
Tennessee is hereby restored to her former
proper practical relations to the Union, and is
again entitled to be represented by Senators
and Representatives in Congress. " Thus, after
the lapse Of nearly eight months, Congress
proposes to pave the way to the admission and
to the representation of one of the eleven States
whose people arrayed themselves in rebellion
against the constituted authority Of 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 legal Senators and Representatives from the
State Of Tennessee, | have, notwithstanding
the anomalous character Of the proceedings,
afix my signature 10 the resolution. My APP
Is i