The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-25

A
WASHINGTON, June 22.-The Pres
ident to-day, sent the following mes
sage to the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives:
" | submit to Congress a report of
the Secretary of State, to whom was
referred the concurrent resolution of
the 18th inst, respecting a submission
to the Legislatures of the States Of
an additional articleto the Constitu-
ton of the United States. 1t will
be seen from this report that the Sec
rotary of State had, on the 10th inst,
transmitted to the Governors of the
several States certified copies of the
joint resolution passed ON the 18th,
proposing an amendment to the Con-
| stitution. L
Even in ordinary times ques-
ton of amending the Constitution
must be justly regarded as Of para
mount Importance This importance
is at the present time enhanced by the
fact that the joint resolution was not
submitted by the two houses for the
approval of the President and that of
the thirty-six States which compose
the Union, eleven are excluded from
representation in either House of Con-
gress; although, with the exception
of Texas, they have beenBentirely re-
stored to all their functions as States,
in conformity with the organic law Of
tlbafrohai Capitol, by Senator'S and
Representative who have applied for
and been refused admission to the va
-CdnG seats. Nor have the sovereign
people of the nation been afforded an
opportunity of expressing their views
upon the important questions which
the amendment involves. Grave
doubts, therefore, may naturally and
justly arise as to whether the action
of Congress is in harmony with the
sentiment of the people, and whether
State Legislatures, elected without
such an issue, should be called upon
by Congress to decide respecting the
ratification of the proposed amend
ment -e
Waving the question as to the
constitutional validity of the proceed
Ings OF Congress upon the joint reso-
luton proposing the amendment, or
as the merits of the article which it
submits through the Executive De-.
partment to the Legislatures Of the
States, deem it proper to observe
that the steps taken by the Secretary
Of State, as detailed in the accom-
panylng report, are to be considered
Is purely ministerial and in no sense
whatever committing the Executive
o an approval or recommendation of |
he amendment to the State Legisla-
ures or to the people On the con
rary, proper appreciation of the
etter and spirit Of the Constitution,
s well as the interests of national
rider, harmony and union, and a de-
erence for an enlightened public
Judgment, may at this time well sug-
est doubt whether any amendment !
the Constitution ought to be pro !
osed by Congress and pressed on the :
of the several States for
nal decision, until after the admis-
ion OF such Senators and Represen-
itlves OF the now unrepresented Z
le. Constitution and laws of the
nIted States.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, D. G., June %"
Appended to the above message is
communication from the Secretary :
State, addressed to the President
which he reports that & on the 18th
st., Hon. Amasa Cobb, of the Com NJ
ttee of the House of Representa-
es on Enrolled Bills, brought to T.
IS department and deposited therein J.
enrolled resolution of the two NC NC
buses of Congress, which was there RE-
on received by the Secretary of
tie and deposited among the rolls IA.
the Department, copy of which ~
1ereunto annexed" uni
TIh1ere1pon, the Secretary of State is 1
the 10th INST in conformity with s Aii
proceeding which was adopted bv I
IN 1888, in regard to the then nro, by by
ed and afterwards adopted Con 'D'
'sional Amendment of the Consti-
on OF the United States concerning J1
prohibition Of slavery, transmitted Mo-
lied copies of the annexed resoin- :.
to the Governors of the several -
es, together with certificate and =
sular letter. A copy of both these Of OF
mun1cations is hereunto annexed TO nat at