The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-25

AeRhhhnNuFes .....
WASHINGTON, July o. The President this
afternoon transmitted the annexed message,
To the House of Representatives. The follow
ing Joint resolution, restoring Tennessee to her
relations to the Union, was last evening pre-
sented for my approval:- . .|'E7..
Whereas, In the year 1861 the Government ofthe
state OF Tennessee was seized upon and taken pos
session OF by persons IN hostility TO the United
States and the inha Oitants of said state In pursu.
nnce OF an act of Compress. declared to be in
state OF insurrectiOn against the United States;
And iokeTeos, The SAID State Government can
only beTestoIed to its former political relations
IN tne umon m. by the consent OF the law-mazing
And 'o1ereas, The people of the said State did,
on . the 2Sd day OF February, 1860 oy large
government whereby slavery abolished, and
all ordinances and laws of secession and debts con-
41n0 where0s, A State Government has been or
ganlzed under the sald Constitution, which has
ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the
United States abolishing slavery Also the amend.
ment proposed by the 1hirty-nlnth Congress- and
mas done other acts proclaiming and denoting 10y
Resotved etc, That the State of Tennessee is
hereby restored TO her former proper practical re
lations 10 the Union, and is again emitted 10 be
repre- ented by Senators and Representatives IN
Congress
The preamble simply consists of statements,
some oil which are assumed, while the resolution
is merely declaration OF opinion. It comprises
no legislation, nor does IL confer any power
which is binding upon the respective Houses,
the Executive, or the State. 1t does not admit
to their seats in Congress the Senators and Rep
resentatives from the State OF Tennessee; for
notwithstanding the passage of the resolution,
each House, in the exercise of the constitutional
right to judge for itself OF the election returns
and qualifications OF its members, may, at its
discretion, admit or continue to exclude them.
If Joint resolution of this character neces.
sary and binding as a condition precedent to the
admission of members of Congress, it would
happen, in the event of a veto by the Executive,
that Sci ators and Representatives could only be
Q6miffn6 N nv O fun.
thirds vote of each OF the two Houses
Among other reasons recited IN the preamble
for the declarations contained in the resolution,
rs the ratification, by the State Government OF
Tennessee, of the amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the United States abolishIng slavery,
and also the amendment proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress. IT, as is also declared in the
preamble, the said State Government can only
be restored to its former political relations in
the Union by the consent of the lawmaking
power Of the United States, it would really
seem to follow that the Joint resolution, which
at this late day has received the sanction of
Congress, should have been passed, approved,
and placed on the statute-books before any
amendment to the Contribution was submitted
to the Legislature of Tennessee for ratification.
Otherwise, the inference is plainly deducble
that while, in the opinion of Congress, the
people of State may be too strongly disloyal
to be entitled to representation, they may,
nevertheless, during the suspension OF their for
mer practical relations to the Union, have an
equally potent voice with other and loyal States
which so essentially depends the stability, pros
perity, and very existence OF the Union.
A brief reference to my annual message of the
4th of December last will show the steps taken
by the Executive tor the restoration of their
constitutional relations to the Union of the
States that had been affected by the Rebellion
Upon the cessation OF active hostilites Provl-
sional Governors were appointed, Conventions
called, Governors elected by the people, Legis-
latuIes assembled, and Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes chosen to the Congress of the United
States.
At the same time the Courts of the United
States were Ieopened, the blockade removed
the Custom Houses re.established, and postal
operations resumed. The amendment TO tine
Constitution abolishiug slavery forever within
the limits of the country, was also submitted to
the States and they were thus invited to, and
did, participate in ratification, thus exercising
the highest functions pertaining to State. In
addition, nearly all of these States, through
their Conventions and Legislatures, had adopted
and ratified the amendment to the Constltutlon'
whereby slavery was abolished, and all ordl-
nances and laws OF secession and debts con-
Iracted under the same were declared Vold., ;,
So far, then, the political existence OF the
States and their relations to the Federal Govern
ment had been fully and completely recognized
and acknowledged by the Executive department
OF the Government, and the completion OF the
work of restoration, which had progressed sc
favorably, was submitted to Congress, upon
which devolved all questions pertaining to the
admission to their seats OF the Senators ana Rep
resentaUives chosen from the States whose people
All these steps had been taken when, on the
4th day OF December, 1866, the Thirty-nlnth
! Congress assembled. Nearly eight months have
& elapsed since that time, and no other plan o
restoration having been proposed by Congress
, for the measures instituted by the Executive, l
is now declared in the Joint resolution submitted
for my approval that the State of Tennessee Il
hereby restored to her formal practical relation
to the Union, and is again entitled to be repre-
sented by Senators and Representatives in Con
gress.
Thus, after the lapse OF nearly eight months
II Congress proposes to pave the way to the al
H mission to representation of one of the clever
States whose people arrayed themselves in re
belliOn against the constitutional authority o
the Federal Government. Earnestly desiring Il
relieve every cause of further delay, whethe
the admission TO seats of loyal Senators an
Representatives from the State of Tennessee,
have, Notwithstanding the anomalous characte
of this proceeding. affixed my signature TO tn
resolution. My approval, however, is not TO
construed as an ackno wledgment of the right Q
Congress to pass laws preliminary to the admi
sion of duly qualified Representatives from an
OF the States. ~
Neither is it to be considered as committin
n me to all the statements made IN the preamble
some of which are, in my opinion, without four
n datiOp IN tact especially the assertion tnat tn
t State OF Tennessee has ratified the amendmeI
TO the Constitution of the United States propose
by the Thirty ninth Congress. No official motto
Of such ratification has been received by th
Executive, or filed in the Department OF STATE
ON the contrary, unofficial Information froI
most reliable sources induces the belief tht
the amendment has not yet been constitution
ally sanctioned by the Legislature OF Iennesse
The right of each House, under the Constitution
10 iudge of the election returns and quallhcatloI