Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-25
SpectaiDIspatches.
RECEIVED UP TO O'CLOCK, A M.
Special Dispatches to the WsaterH Press.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WAsHIsGFoN, July 24-The President
this p. m, transmitted the annexed mess
| age, namely;
/ To Gse House Of Representatives.
The following Joint Resolution restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union,
was last evening presented for my aP-
| proval,
WHEREAS, In the year of 1861, the Gov
/ ernment of the State of Tennessee was
seized upon and taken possession of by
persons in hostility to the United States,
and the inhabitants of said State lin pursu-
ance of an act of Congress were declared to
be in a state of insurreetion against the
United States, and,
50 WHEREAS, Said State Government can
only be restOred'tO its former political re-
lations in the Union by the consent of the
law making power Of the United States,
and.
g WHEREAs, The people of said State did
on the 22d day of February, 1865, by large
popular vote adopt and ~atify constitution
and government wherein slavery was
abolished and all ordinances and laws of
secession and debts contracted under the
same were declared null and void; and
''WHEEEAs, A State government has been
organized under said constitution which has
ratified the amendment to the Constitution
of the United States abOlishing slavery, and
also the amendment proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and has done other acts
preclaiming its loyalty; therefore, be it
:. ResoLUed By the Senate and House of Rep
rssentGtiUes of the Uaited States of America,
in C6Hgress assembled, That the State of
Tennessee is hereby restored. to her former
practical relation to the Union, and is again
entitled to be represented by Represent
atives and Senators in Congress"
The preamble consists simply Of state
ments, some Of which are assumed, while
the resolution is merely a declaration Of
opinion. Il comprises no legislation, nor
does it confer any power which is pending
upon the respective Houses, the Executive,
or the State. 1t loes not admit to their
seats in Congress the senators and repre-
sentatiyes from the State Of Tennessee, for
Notwithstanding tho passage of the resolu-
ton, each House, in the exercise of the con
lstitational right to Judge for itself Of the
election returns aud qualifications Of its
members, may, at its discretion, admit or
refuse to admit them. If a Joint 1880
luton of this character were necessary as a
condition precedent 10 the admission of
members of Congress, it would happen, in
the event Of veto by the Executive that
senators and Representative could only be
admitted to Congress by two-thirds vote of
each Of the two Houses. Among other rea-
sons recited in tho preamble for the declara-
ti0n contained in the resolution, is the rati-
fcatiOn by the State Government OF Ten
nessee OF the amendment to the Constitu-
tiOn of the United States aholishing slavery,
and also the amendment proposed by the
Thirty-ninth Congress. If as it was also
declared in the preamble, that said State
Government can only be restored to its for
mer political relations in the Union by the
consent of the law making power Of the
United States, it would really seem to fol-
low that the joint resolution, which at this
late day has received the sanction Of Con
gress should have been passed, approved
and applied to the statute books before any
amendment to the Constitution was submit
ted to the Legislature Of Tennessee for rati-