The Portland daily press., 1866-06-23
by TELEGRAPH.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning, June %. 1896.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Message from the President
BONDS CAPTURED AT NEW
ORLEANS.

WASHINGTON. June e.
Messrs. Grinnell and Rosseau have returned
to this city.
The death of Representative Humphrey will
be announced in the House tomorrow.
The President to-day sent the following
message to the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
I" 1 submit to Congress report of the Sec
retary OF State to whom was referred the con-
current resolution of the 18th inst, respecting
submission to the Legislatures of the States
of an additional article to the Constitution OF
the United States. 1t will be seen from this
report that the Secretary of State had, on the
18th inst, transmitted to the Governors of the
several States certified copies OF the Joint res
olution passed on the 18th inst, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution, Even in ,Ar-
dinary times, question of amending the
Constitution must be justly regarded as OF
paramount 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 oil thet hirty-six States which constitute
the Union, eleven are excluded from represen-
tation in either house of Congress, although
with the single exception Of Texas, they have
been entirely restored to all their functions as
States in conformity with the organic law of
the land, and have appeared at the National
Capitol by senators and representatives, who
have applied for and have been refused admis-
sion to the vacant seats, nor have the sover-
eign people of the Nation been afforded an
opportunity of expressing their views upon
the important questions which the amendment
involves. Grave doubts, therefore, NAV natu-
rally 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 reference to such an issue.
should be called upon by Congress to decide
respecting the ratification of the proposed
amendment waiving 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 ar
ticle whicn it submits through the Executive
Department to the Legislatures of the States,
deem it proper to observe the steps taken by
the Secretary of State, as detailed in the ac-
companying report, are to be considered as
purely ministerial, and in no sense whatever
committing the Executive to an approval or
Recommendation of the amendment to the
State Legislatures, or to take the people, on
the contrary, proper appreciation of the let
ter and spirit of the constitution, as well as of
the interest of nationol order, harmony and
union. and of a Difference for an enlightened
public judgment may, at this time, well sug-
gest a doubt whether any amendment
to the constitution ought to be proposed
by Congress and pressed upon the Legisla-
lures of the several States for final decision
until after the admission of such loyal Sena
tors and Representatives of the now unrepre-
sented States as have been or as may be here
alter chosen in conformity with the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, d, c., June 3d. 1865.
accompanying the message is a letter from
Secretary Seward, stating he has sent a copy
OF the proposed amendment to the Executives
of the several States
The bonds captured by Gen. Sheridan at
New Orleans, have been transferred by the
Treasury Department to the parties owning
them. They amount to S4,000O00.
The Treasury Department has Confederate
notes representing 100000. They will be de-
stroyed.