The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-27
The President ON the Amendment.

dents receut message that has yet
reached lis, is onein the New York
World, from which we make the fol-
lowing extract:
1t would appear from the Presi-
dents message (a1though that is not a
point on which he greatly insists)
that he does not regard the omission
to submit the amendment for his ap-
proval as regular. The preceding
amendment bears Mr. Lincolns sig
nature; and there is no reason why a
courtesy (if it be nothing more than
courtesy which was shown by Con
gress to his predecessor, should be
withheld from him. But the zeal of
Congress to have the amendment
submitted Immediately to the States
overshot the mark, and has called out
the formal expression of disapproba-
ton, which their discourtesy to the
President sought to evade They did
not give the President an opportunity
to veto the amendment; but he has
proved to them that he would have
vetoed it, if the opportunity had
been given him The message sent
in yesterday has all the effect which
q veto could have had, which is, to
throw the whole weight of the Ex-
ecutive influence against the ratifica-
ton Of the amendment. and to assure
the non-ratifying States of his moral
and official support.
This message decides the fate of
the amendment. Not that it will in
the slightest degree retard it's ratifi-
cation by the radical Legislatures, lit
will rather give increased prompti-
tude to their action.) but it insures
its certain rejection by States enough
to prevent its becoming u part of the
Constitution. AS an amendment to
the Constitution, it is as much an
abortion as if it had been defeated in
Congress. 1t is destined, no doubt,
to make n great figure In the cleo
lican party; but President Johnson
has etfectually stripped it of all the
dignity which belongs to a change in
the fundamental law.
The Presidents message raises a
doubt as to whether this amendment
would be part Of the Constitution,
even If tLree-fourthS of the States
should ratify it. If an amendment
submitted by less than two-thirtls of
both Houses of Congress, should be
! ratified by the States, it would, never
theiess, be n nullity. This nobody
will dispute. But it makes no diff
ference IN substance, however it may
| III form, whether members entitled to
h.l Il 10
tlonally excluded, or are present and
| oppose the amendment If the
twenty-five excluded Southern Sena-
tors had been present, it is certain
the amendment could not have
passed As they We're unconstitu-
tionally excluded, the amendment
would probably be void, even if it
could be ratified This question,
however, is not likely to become i'm
portant, as more than one-fourth of
the States Will refuse to r:ltify.
The President insists, with inst
emphasis, on the fact that the sove-
reign people OF the United States
have had no opportunity to express
their views ON this amendment.
Neither the Congress which have
passed it, nor the Legislatures which
are to be called together, with inde-
cent haste, to ratify it, We're elected
with the remotest reference to such
question. The preamble of the
Constitution declares that eve, the
People of the United States. ordain
and establish this Constitution. :"
B"t the people have not, in the pre-
sent case, even been consulted
Instead of the mature deliberation
Which should attend so important Il
change, it is rushed through with hot
haste. by u sort of ''Snap judgment, :"
III order that the people may have no
opportunity to choose State Leeisla-
tnres with reference to this question.
The steady and resolute courage
with which President Johnson stands
by his convictions, is noble proof
of his strength OF character and his
immovablc fidelity to the Constitu-
ton.
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. The
IriLT"e says the many friends of
William Lloyd Garrison viii be panied
to learn tha. the injury which befcll
HIM last winter is more serious than
was ut first unprecedented, and is likely
not only t" disable him for long
time, but to retard considerably the
execution Of the great work he has
undertaken on slavery and its aboli-