The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-23
are very active in the neighborhood of Mata

mOf8S.
| Quite number of nominations Of Post
masters which have accumulated before the
Senate Post Office Committee were to-day
indefinitely postponed, which is equivalent to
a defeat. It is stated the Republican,
in Congress are waiting to here from Ten
nessee before fixing day for adjournment.
Should convention in that State ratify the
amendment the Senators and Representatives
will be admitted at once, and q desire to dc
this prompts the delay.
As already stated the Government is pre-.
pairing to proceed against delinquent and de
faulting Postmasters in lately rebelious
States. The total amount of this class oi
indebtedness is about 100000, of which
$10O, 900 has been paid on demand, and near.
ly the same amount put in process of collec-
ton. The general defense set upon such
Postmasters is that they should be credited
with the stamps which they turned over to
the Confederate Government. Itis generally
believed that nearly the whole amount would
be collected. The Government will hare the
advantage of q very stringent attachment Law
passed in view of such indebtness.
Message OF President johnson In regard
t. the Proposed constitutional Anend-
ment.
WASHINGTON, June Il.
The President to-day sent the following
message to the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
| submit to Congress report Of the Secre-
tary of State, to whom was referred the con-
current resolution Of the 18th instant, respect
| ing submission to the Legislatures of the
several States off an additional appeal to the
courts of the United States. 1t will be seen
IA <b hat ho 0c
had, on the 10th inst, transmitted to the
Governors of the several States, for rati6ca-
tipn, copies Of the Joint Resolution passed on
the 18th inst, proposing an amendment to
the Constitution. Even in ordinary times
this question of amending the Constitution
must be regarded as Of paramount impor-
tance. This Importance is at the present
time experienced 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 y-six States which con-
sttute the Union, eleven have been excirIed
from their Representatives in either House Of
Congress; although, with the single exception
Of two, all have been restored to their func
ticns as States in conformity with the organic
law of the land, and have appeared at the
National Capital by their Senators and Rep
resentatives, whs have applied for and been
refused admission to the vacant seats; nor
have the sovereign people Of the Nation been
offered an opportunity Of expressing their
views on the important questions which the
amendment suggests Doubts, therefore,
naturally and justly arise, as to whether the
action of Congress is in harmony with the
sentiments 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. AS
to the constitutional validity of the proceed
ings of Congress upon the joint resolution ap-
proving the amendment, or as to the merits OF
eeutive department, to the legislatures Of the
States, | deem it proper TO observe that
the steps taken by the Secretary of State, as
related in the accompanying report, are TO be
considered as purely ministerial, and 10 no
sense whatever committing tae Executive to
an approval of the recommendation to the
State legislatures or to the people of the coun
try. A proper appreciation OF the letter and
spirit of the constitution, as we'll as the inter
est of national harmony and union, and de-
fence for an enlightened pubic judgment,
may at this tune well suggest doubt whether
any amendment to the constitution ought to
be proposed by Congress aud passed to the
legislatures of the several States for final dis
cussion until after the admission OF such SEN
ators and Representatives of the now unrep-
resented States as are now or hereafter may
be chosen in conformity with the constitution
and laws of the United States,
(Signed) ANDREW JonssoS.