The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-27


The following message from President
johnson was read in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes Tuesday:
The following Joint resolution. restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union,
was last evening presented for my approval:
WHEREAS, In the year 1851, the Govern
meut Of the State of Tennessee was seized
upon and taken possession of by persons in
hostility to the United States, and the inhab-
itants of said State, In pursuance d an act
Of Congress, were declared to be in state
of instruction against the United States
and
WHEREAS, Said State Government can only
be restored to its former political relations in
the Union by the consent of the law making
power Of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The people OF said State did, on
the I'D day of February. 1865, by a large
popular vote, adopt and ratify Constitution
and Government whereby slavery was abol>
ished, and all ordinances and laws of seces
sion, and debts contracted under the same,
were declared null and void; and
WHEREAS. A State Government has been
organized under SAID Constitution, which has
ratified the amendment to the Constitution
OF the United States abolishing slavery, and
elso the amendment proposed By the Thirty
Ninth Congress. and has done other acts
proclaiming and denoting loyalty; therefore,
be II
Rcsolre3, By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States IN Con
gress assembled, That the State of Tennessee
Is hereby restored to her former practical re-
lations TO the Union, and i again entitled to
be represented by Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress.
The preamble consists simply of statements,
some of which are assumed, while the reso-
luton is merely declaration OF opinion. 1t
comprises nc legislation. nor does If confer
any power which IS binding upon the respec-
tive houses, tie Executive or the Stages 1t
does not admit to their seats in Congress the
Senators and Representatives from the State
of Tennessee, for, notwithstanding the pass
age Of the resolution, each House, in the eg-
ercise of the constitutional right to Judge for
itself of the election returns and qualihca-
tons Of its members, may, at its discretion,
admit hem or continue to exclude them. 1T
Joint resolution of the character were nee
essary and binding as a condition precedent
to the admission OF members of Congress, 1t
would happen in the event OF a veto by the
Executive that Senators and Representatives
could only be admitted TO the Halls of Con-
gress by twothirds vote of each of the two
Houses.
anfole for the declaration contained in the
resolution, is the ratification by the State
Government OF Iennessee of the amendment
TO the Constitution OF the United States abol-
ishing slavery, and also the amendment pro-
posed by the Thir,y-ninth Congress. If, as
Is also declared in the preamble, said State
Government can only be restored TO its for
me- political relations in the Union by the
consent OF the law making power Of the
+ =. I He, 10 ftll
that the Joint resolution which at this late day
has received the sanction of Congress, should
have been passed, approved, and placed IN
the statute book before any amendment TO
the Consultation was submitted to the Legs
lature of Tennessee for ratification. The in.
ference is plainly deducible that, while in the
opinion OF Congress the people of State
may be toe strongly dieloyal TO be entitled to
representation, they may, neverthe less, dur
ing the suspension of their former practical
relations to the Union, have an equally pc.
tent voice with other and loyal States IN a
proposition to amend the Constitution upon
which so essentially depends the stability,
prosperity and very existence of the nation.
brief reference to my annual message OF
the 4th of December last, will show the steps
taken by the Executive for the restoration to
their constitutional relations of the States
that had been affected BY the rebellion. Up
on the cessation of actual hostilities. Provis
ional Governors were appointed, conventions
called. Governors elected by the people
Legislatures assembled, and Senators and
Representatives chosen TO the Congress OF the
United States. AT the same time the Courts
of the United States were reopened, tht
blockade removed, the Custom House re
established, and postal operations resumed
The amendment 10 the Constitution, abolish
ing slavery forever within the limits of thu
country, was also submitted 10 the States
and they were thus invited to and did partici
pate in ratification, thus exercising thu
highest functions pertaining to q State. IL
addition, nearly all of these States, through
their Constitutions and Legislatures, hae
adopted and ratified Constitutions Of govern
ment whereby slavery was abolished, and al
ordinances and laws of secession, and debt
cxktracted under the same, were declared
<Hull and void.
So far, then. the political existence of TIL
States, and their relations to the Fedora
Government, had been fully and completed
recognized and acknowledged by the Execu
tive Department Of the Government, and tn
completion of the work of restoration, whic
had progressed so favorably, was submitte
to Congress. upon which devolved all ques
ton pertaining to the admission to their seat
Of the Senators and Representatives chose
from the States whose people naa engaged Il
the rebellion. All these steps had bee
taken. when, on the4th day Of December
1865, the Thirty-ninth Congress assembled
Nearly eight months have elapsed since the
time, and no other plan having been Pre-
posed by Congress for the measures institute
by the Executive, it is now declared IN tn
joint resolution submitted for my approva
that the State of Tennessee is hereby restore
TO her former practical relations to the Unior
and are again entitled to be represented b
Senators and Representatives in Congress
Thus, after the lapse Of nearly eigh months
Congress proposes to pave the way to ii
admission Of the representatives of one
the eleven States whose oplearrayed then
selves in rebellion against the constitution,
authority Of the Federal Government.
Earnestly desiring TO remove every eau,
OF further delay. whether real or imaginar
on the part of Congress, to the admission
seats of LOYAL Senators and Representative