Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Sent TO Congress.


WASHINGTON, June 22.-The President
to-day sent the following message to Con-
gress:
] submit to Congress report of the Sec
rotary of State to whom was referred the
concurrent resolution of 18th inst, respect
ing submission to the Legislatures of the
Statesas an additional article to the Consti-
tuition of the United States. 1t will be seen
from this report that the Secretary Of State
had on the 10th inst, transmitted to the
Governors of the several States, certified
copies of the joint resolutions passed on the
18th, proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution. Even in ordinary times a ques-
ton of amending Constitutions was Justly
regarded as of prominent importance. This
importance is at the present time enhanced
by the fact that the Joint resolutions was not
submitted by the two Houses for the appro-
val of the Presidentand that of the Sc States
which constituted the Union, III are exclu-
ded from representation in aith Hyuse, gl-
though with the exception of Texas have
been restored to all their functions as
States conformity with the organic
law of the land, and have appeared at the
National capital as Senators and Represen-
tives who have applied for and been refused
admission TO the vacant seats. Nor have
the sovereign people of the nation been af-
forded an opportunity of expressing their
views upon the important question which
the amendment involves. Grave doubts,
therefore, may naturally arise as to whether
the action of Congress Is in harmony with
the sentiment of the people; and whether
State Legislatures elected without reference
to such an issue should be called upon by
Congress, TO decide respecting the ratifica-
ton of the proposed amendment. Waving
the question as to the constitutional validity
of the proceedings Of Congress upon the
joint resolution proposing the amendment,
or as to the merits of the article which it sub
mits, through the Executive Department, to
the Legislatures of the States, | deem
it proper to observe that the views
taken by the Secretary of State, as
detailed in the accompanying report, are
to be considered as purely ministerial, and
in no sense whatever committing the Exc
cutive to an approval or recommendation of
amendment to State Legislatures, or TO the
people; on the contrary proper apprecia-
ton of the letter and spirit of the Constitu-
ton, as well as Of the interest Of national
order, harmony and union, and Difference
for our enlightened public Judgment, may at
this time well suggest a doubt whether any
amendment to the Constitution ought to be
proposed by Congress and pressed on the
legislatures of the several States, for final
decision, until after the admission of such
Senators and Representatives of the now re-
presentated States as have been or as may
hereafter choose in conformity with the Con-
stitutiOn and laws Of the United States.
4 10
Appended to the above message is a COM
munication from the Secretary Of State, adj
dressed to the President, in which he re-
ports that on the 10Th inst. the Hon. AdAsA
COBB, Of the committee of the House Of Rep
resentatives on enclosed bills, brought to the
Department and deposited therein an en-
rolled resolution Of the two houses Of Con-
gress, which was thereupon received by the
Secretary Of State and deposited among the
rolls of the Department, a copy Of which is
hereunto annexed with the proceedings
which was adopted by him in 1865 in re-
gard to (then proposed and afterward
adopted by Congress) an amendment Of the
Constitution Of the United States concerning
the prohibition Of slavery. / transmitted
certified copies Of the annexed resolution 10
the Governors Of the several States
DEPARTMENT or STATE, WASHINGTON,
June llth, lS66-To His Excellency, the
Governor Of --: SIR have the honor
to submit a certified copy Of resolution Of
Congress, proposing 10 the Legislatures Of
the several States 14tb Article to the Con-
stitution Of the United States. The decision
Of several Legislatures upon the subject IS
requiredl by law to be communicated 10 this
Department. An acknowledgment Of the
receipt of the communication is requested
by your Excellency's obedient servant.
TSigned1 WIN. II. SEWARD.
The accompanying papers are the certih-
Gates Of true copy Of the concurrent reso-
luton proposing an amendment 10 the Con-
stitution, and the Sec=etarys note or circu-
Tar added, to the Governors Of the respective
Sta ties.