The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-04
Message from the President.
WAsHINoTos, June %.

Tho President sent mo Compress TO
day the following message in relation to
the Reconstruction amendment to the
Consrruinn
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tiVes.
| submit to Congress. a repor, Of tn.
Secretary of State, 10 whom WIS referred
the concurrent resolution OF the 18Th inst -.
respecringa y submission TO the L-gisiaturss
"f the State OF An additional srt,cie to IT, e
Consultation of tfs United S,atss.
IL will be seen, from this report, IN 1
The Secretary of Sale had, on the l6 h
inst, transmitted 10 tho Governors of the
several States certified cope. OF the JOINT
resolution passed on ia. 18th inst, pro
posing amendments to The Constitution.
Even In ordinary times any question of
amending the Constitute q must 10 tu.tIv
regarded ~ OF paramount importancs.-
lhis Importance ut the present time is
enhanced hv tho fact that the INT rsso'
'ulron WAS not submitted to in. Two
tlous.s for the approval of The Pr-siaeot
md that Of rhs thirty AK States which
constitute the Union, eleven "i whom are
excluded from rSpr~ssnta'ios in either
House of Congress-. although. with the
single exception Of Texas, thev have bser
entirely restored 20 a!l their functions ~
States. IN conformity with the organ zsd
is~ Of the land, and h>,. appeared n,
the Nnuon.i Capitol hv S-n.,nrs Ind
Representatives.. who have applied for
and beer refused admission to tk- vacant
seats. Nor have the sovrr-ign people Of
the nation bssn afforded IN opportunity
Of expressing tneir views upon the I'm
portast question which the amendment
involves. Grave doubts therefore, natural
ly and justly arise a. to ~hsth-r the
action Of Congress is in harmony with the
ssn.in,.nu Of the people, aud whether
Stale Legislatures, elected without :efer
sncs to such Nm issu. sh"u d BE- called
upon by Congress to dscids respecting the
ratification OF the proposed amsndmen'.
Waving the question rs 10 the consti
tutional validity Of the prcc-sdings OF
Congress upon the joint rss"Iu'ion pro-
posing tho an-ndt dtnen,. or A. TO the
through the Executive Department 10 the
Legislatures Of tho States. I Dom IL pro.
per 10 observe that the n-ps taken bv
the Secretary Of State. as detsiisJ in the
accompanying report. are TO be consider
ed as purely immal.rial, snd in no sense
whatever committing tho Executive 10 An
approval or . recommendations Of the
amendment to the State ! seislsturss or
to the peop'e On the contr.ry, q proper
appreciation Of the letter and bpirit Of the
Constitu,ion, Ss we'll ~ of the interest Of
the nations: order. harmony AID union.
and a due Difference for su enlightened
public judgment may, st this time. well
suggest y doubt wbs,hsr any amsndr rnsnt
to tn. Constitution ought to 10 proposed
hv Congress and pr.sssd upon the Lsg,.,
latnrts Of tho Siaies for final decision
un'iI nhH tho admission Of such Iovsl
Senators and Representatives Of he now
States ~ have been or msy
bs choasn in conformity with
the Constitution and laws If N. Usitsd
States. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Accompanying the Moss q. Of the
President is the report Of ths Secretary Of
State, announcing that bs had, in con
fnrmity with the proceeding WITCH b al
bssn adopted hy him in 1865 in regard
to tho proposed and she,~srds adapted
Congressional amendment Of the Con.
stitution Of tn. United S'afss CONCERNING
the prohibition Of slavery. transmitted
certified copies Of the joint resolutions to
the Governors Of tho several Sta,as. 10
gsthsr with a certificate and circular lot.
Isr