The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-06-28
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
kae does not think Favorably of the
Constitutional Amendment.

Constitutional Amendment.
WASHINGTON, June o.
The President to day sent the following
message to the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives
submit to Congress report of the Sec
rotary of State, to whom was referred the
concurrent resolution of the 18th instant,
respecting a submission to the Legislatures
of the States of all additional article to the
Constitution of the United States. 1t will
be seen from this report that the Secretary
of State had, on the 10Th instant transmitted
to the Governors of the several States cert.
fled copies of the joint resolu ton passed on
the 18th. proposing an amendment to the
Constitution.
Even i'll ordinary times a question OF
amending the Constitution must be justly
regarded as one of paramount Importance.
This Importance is at the present time en-
HANGED by the fact that the joint resolution
was not submitted by the two houses for
the approval of the president, and that of
the thirty-six States which constitute the
Union, II are excluded from representation
in either house of Congress, although, with
the single exception of Texas, they have
been restored to all their functions as States,
in conformity with the organic laws of the
land; and have appeared at the national
capital by Senators and Representatives
who have applied for and been refused ad-
mission to the vacant seats Nor have the
sovereign people of the nation been afforded
an opportunity Of expressing their views
on the important questions which the
amendment involves.
Grave doubts, therefore, may naturally
and justly arise as to whether the action of
Congress is in harmony with the sentiments
of the people, and whether State Legisla-
lures. elected without reference to such an
issue, should be called upon by Congress to
decide respecting the ratification of the pro-
posed amendment.
Waving the question as to the constitu
tional validity of the proceedings of Con-
gress upon the joint resolution proposing
the amendment, or as to the merits Of the
article which it submits through the Execu
tive Department TO the Legislatures of the
States, deem it proper to observe that the
steps taken by the Secretary of State, as de-
tailed in the accompanying report are to be
considered as purely ministerial, and in no
sense whatever committing the Executive
to an approval of the recommendation of
the amendment to the State Legislatures or
the people. On the contrary, a proper ap-
probation of the letter and spirit of the Con-
as well as the interest of national
order, harmony and Union, and Difference
for an enlightened public judgment, may at
this time well suggest doubt whether any
to the Constitution ought to be
proposed by Congress, and pressed on the
Legislatures of the several States for final
decision, until after the admission of such
Senators and Representatives of the now
unrepresented States as are now or hereafter
may be chosen, in conformity with the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, June %, 1866.
Appended to the above message is a COM
munication from the Secretary of State, a6
dressed to the President, in which he reports
that, on the 10th inst, the Hon Amasa
Cobb, of the committee of the House on en-
rolled bills, brought to this Department, and
deposited therein, an enrolled resolution of
the two houses of Congress, which was
thereupon received by the Secretary ofState,
and deposited among the rolls of the De
partment, copy of which is hereunto an
nexed Thereupon the Secretary of State,
on the 10th inst, in conformity with the
proceeding which was adopted by him in
1865 in regard to the then proposed, and
afterwards adopted, Constitutional amend
ment of the United States, concerning the
prohibition of slavery, transmitted certified
copies of the annexed resolution to the Gov
errors ofthe several States, together with
certificate and circular letter. A copy of
both of these communications is hereunto
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,