Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-22
THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTR.
TUITION. -


The President sent into Congress to-day the
following message and accompanying papers
in relation to the Reconstruction Amendment
to the Constitution 80. sc
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
1 submit to Congress a 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
States Of an additional article to the Constitu.
ton of the United States.
1t will be seen from this report, that the Sec.
Rotary Of State had, on the 10th instant trans.
mitted to the Governors Of the several States
certified copies Of the joint resolution, passed
on the 18th instant, proposing an amendment
to the Constitution.
Even in ordinary times, any question OF
amending the Constitution must be iustly re-
garded as Of paramount Importance. This i'm
portanoeis, at the present time, enhanced by the
fact that the joint resolution was not submitted
by the two Houses for the approval of the Pres.
ident, and that of the thirty six States which
constitute the Union. eleven are excluded from
representation in either House OF Congress
although with the single exception of Texas
they have teen entirely restored to ali their
functions as states, in conformity with the or
ganie law OF the land, and have appeared
at the National Capital by Senators and
Representatives, who have applied for. and
have been refused admission to the vacant
seats.
Nor have the sovereign people Of the nation
been afforded an opportunity of expressing
their views upon the important question
which the amendment involves Grave doubts
therefore may 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
Waving the question as to the constitution
al validity Of the proceedings OF Congress upon
tho Joint resolution proposing the amendment,
or as to the merits of the article which In suh
mits through the Executive Department to the
Legislatures of the States, deem il proper to
observe that the steps 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 Executive to an approy.
al or recommendation Of the amend
to the people. On the contrary a proper an
probation of the letter and spirit OF the Con
stitutIOD, as well as of the interests of national
order harmony and union, and a due defer.
ence for an enlightened public Judgment NAV
at this time, well suggest a doubt whether any
amendment TO the Constitution ought to be
proposed by Congress and pressed upon the
Legislatures OF the several States for final de-
cisIon until after the admission OF such loyal
Senators and Representatives of the now un-
represented States as have been or may here
after be chosen, in conformity with the Con.
stiiution and laws OF the United States.
ANDREW JOHNSON
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 20, 1866.
To the President The Secretary of State IN
whom was referred the concurrent resolution
of the two Houses OF Congress of the 18th
instant, in the following words :-sThat the
President OF The United States be requested to
transmit forthwith TO the Executives Of the
several States Of the United States comics of
the article of amendment proposed by Con.
gress to the State Legislatures to amend the
Constitution Of the United States, passed june
13 1866, respecting citizenship the basis of rep
dity OF the public debt of the United States, etc.
to the end that the said States may proceed to
act upon the said article Of amendment and
that he request the Executive Of each State that
may ratify said amendment 10 transmit to the
Secretary Of State certified copy Of such rati.
fieation"-has the honor to submit the following
report, namely That on the 10th instant the
Hon. Amasa Cobb. Of the COMMITTEES of the
House Of Representatives on Enrolled Bills
brought 10 this Department and deposited
therein an enrolled resolution Of the two
Houses OF Congress, which was thereupon re.
ceived by the Secretary of State and deposited
among the rolls Of the Department, q COPY of
Rotary of State. upon the 10th INST, in confor.
mitywith the proceeding which was adopted by
him in 1865 in regard TO the then proposed and
afterwards adopted Congressional amendment
OF the Constitution of the United States con.
corning the prohibition Of slavery, transmitted
certified copies OF the annexed resolution to
the Governors Of the several States together
with certificate and circular letter A copy
Of both OF these communications is hereunto
annexed. Respectfully submitted,
..L ~. = WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. June 20, 1866.