The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-23
EVENING DISPATCHES.

MON that ID IL not I'm Accordance
with the Letter and Spirit of the
Constitution and Harmony of the
Nation 10 Press Amendments to the
Constitution while Eleven States are
Unrcpres"nted.
WASHINGTON, June 22.-Thc President
sent into Congress to-day the following
message in relation to the reconstruction
amendment to the Constitution:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives,:
| submit to Congress a report OF the
Secretary of State, to whom was referred
the concurrent resolution of the 18th In
| slant respecting a submission to the LegiS-
laturcs of the respective States of an addi-
tional article to the Constitution Of the
| United States. 1t will be seen from the
report that the Secretary of State had, on
the 10th instant, transmitted to the Go
vcrnors 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 justly
regarded as of paramount Importance
This Importance is at the present time en-
hanccd by the fact that the Joint reSolu-
tion was not submitted by the two Houses
for the approval of the President, and that
| Of the thirty-siX States which constitute
the Union eleven are excluded from repre-
Scutation in either House OF Congress,
although, with the 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
appcarcd at the National Capital by Scna-
tors and Representatives, who have APP
piled for, and have been refused admission
10 the vacant seats. Nor have the sovc-
reign people of the nation been afforded
an opportunity of expressing their views
upon the important question which the
amendment involves. Grave doubts there
fore naturally and justly arise as to whr-
Their the action of Congress is in harmony
with the sentiments of the people
and whether at all the State Legislatures,
| elected without reference to such an issue,
| should be called upon by Congress to de-
| eide respecting the ratification OF the pro-
| posed amendment. Waving the question
AS to the constitutional validity OF the
proceedings Of Congress upon the Joln'
resolution proposing the amendment, or as
to the merits of the article which 1t sub
mits through the Executive Department &c
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 what
ever committing the Executive to any APP
proval or a recommendation of the amend,
ment to the State Legislatures or to the
people. On the contrary, proper apprc.
citation of the letter and spirit of the Con
stitution, as well as of the interests of tho
national order, harmony, and union, and a
due Difference for an enlightened public
Judgment, may at this time well sug
gest doubt whether any amendment Il
the Constitution ought to be proposed by
and pressed upon the Legislatures of tn,
States for final decision until after the al
mission of such loyal senators and repre-
scntatives of the now unrcprescntcd State
as have been, or may hereafter be, chosen
in conformity with the Constitution ant
laws of the United States.
tSDREW JOHNSON