The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-02
Presidents Message on the Tennessee Joint
Resolution,

Resolution.
The following joint resolution restoring Ten.
nessee to her relations to the Union was last ev-
ening presented by approval:
WHEREAS, In the year 1861 the goveroment of
the STATE OF tennessee was seized upon and ia
Ken possession of by persons in hostility 20 the
United States, and the inhabitants of said State
IN pursuance Of an act of Congress, were declar-
ed TO be IN state of ineurrection 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-makng power
OF the United States and
WHEREAS, The people of said State did on
the 22d day of FEBRUARY 1865, by large popu-
lar vote, adopt and ratefy constitution and
Government whereby slavery was abolished,
and all ordinances and laws of secession and
debts contracted under the same were declared
null aid void and
WHEREAS, A State Government has been orr
gained under said constitution, which has rat.
lied the amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States aboiishing slavery, and also the
amendment proposed by the Thirty ninth Con-
gress and has done other acts proclamng and
denoting loyalty; therefore, be it
ReSot0ed, By the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States in Congress az
sembled, That the State Of Tennessee is hereby
restored to her former practical relations to the
Union and is again entitled to be represented by
Senators and Representatives in Congress
The premable consists simply OF statements,
some of which are assumed, while the resolution
is merely declaration of opinion. 1t comprises
no legislation, does it confer any power
which is binding upon the respective Houses,
the Executive or the States. Ii does not admit
to their seats in Congress the Senators and Rep
resenta;iYes 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 them or continue to exclude
them. If joint resolution of the character were
necessary and binding as a condition precedent
to the admission of the members of Congress, it
woald happen in the event of veto by The Elk
ecutive that Senators and Representatives could
only be admitted TO the Halls of Congress by
two-thirds vote of each Of the two Houses.
Among other reasons recited in a preamble for
the declaration contained in the solution, is
the ratification by the State Government of Ten
nessee of the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States abolishng slavery and also the
amendment proposed by the Thirty-ninth Com
gress. If, as is also declared i'll the preamble
said State Government can only be restored to
its former political relations in the Union, by
the consent ofthe law making power of the Uni
ted States, it would really seem to follow tn the
joint resolution which at this late day has re-
ceived the sanction of Congress, should have
been passed, approved, aud placed in the stat
ute book before any amendment to the Constit u
ton submitted to the Legislature of Tennes-
see for ratification. The inference is plainly de-
ducibie that while in the opinion of Congress
the people of State may be too strongly dis
loyal to be entitled to representation they may
nevertheless, during the suspension OF their ior-
mer practical relations to the Union, have an
equR;sy petent voice with other and loyal States
in the proposition to amend the Constitution up
on which SO essentially depend the stability,
prosperity end very existence of the nation.
A brief reference to my annual message ofthe
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. Upon the cessa-
ton of actual hostlities Provisional 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 re-opened,
the blockade removed the Custom Hou ses re-
established, and postal operations resumed. The
amendment to the Constitution, abolishing sla-
very forever within the limits of the country,
was also submitted to the States and they were
thus invited to and did participate in a rstiica,
ton, thus exercising the highest functions per-
tanning to State. In addition nearly all of these
States, through their constitutions and Legis
lures, had adopted and ratified constitutions of
Government whereby slavery was abolished and
all ordinances and laws of secession, and debt
contracted under the same, were declaed null
and void.
So far, then, the political exi'tenc eof the
States, and their relations 10 The Federal Govern
ment, had been fully and completely recognized
AID acknowledged by the Executive Depart
ment of the Government and the completion of
the work of restoration, which had progressed so
favorably, was submitted to Congress, upon
which devolved all questions pertaining to The
admission to their seats of the Senators and Rep
resentatives chosen from the State, whose people
had engaged in the rebellion. All these steps had
been taken, when ON the 4th day of December,
1865, the Thirty ninth Congress assembled. Near
ly eight months have elapsed since that time
and no other plan having been proposed by
Congress for the measures instituted by the Ex-
ecutive, it lie now declared in the joint resolu>
ton submitted lor my approval that the State
of Tennessee is hereby restored to her former
practical relations to the Union, and is again en-
titled to be represented by Senators and Repre-
sen:atives in Congress. Thus, after the lapse Of
nearly eight months, Congress proposes to pave
the way 10 the admission of representatives Of
one OF the eleven States whose people arrayed
themselves in rebellion against the constitution
al authority of the Federal Government.
Earnestly desiring to relieve every cause Of
further delay, whether real or imaginary, on the
part of Congress, to the admission to seats of
loyal. Senators and Representative from the
State OF Tennessee, have, Notwithstanding The
anomalous character of this proceeding, affixed
my signature to the resolution. Ny approval
however, is not to be construed as an acknowl
edgement of the right of Congress to pass laws
preliminary to the admission of duly qualified
Representatives from any of the s tates, neither
is it TO be considered as committingme to az the
statements made in the preamble, some of which
are in my oppnion without foundation in fact
especially the assertion that the State of Tennes-
see has ratified the amendment to the Consttu-
ton of the United States proposed by the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress. No official notice of such
ratification has been received by the Execu-
rive or filed in the Department of States, On
the contrary, unofficial information from most re-
liable sources induces the belief that the amend
ment has not yet been constitutionaIly sane
toned by the Legislature of Tennessee. The
| right Of each House under the Constitution to
Judge of the election returns and qualifications
of its own members is undoubted, and my ap-
prevail or disapproval of the resolution could
not in the slightest degree increase or diminish
the authority in this spect conferred upon the
two branches of Congress.
| In conclusion, l cannot too earnestly repeat