New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-02
The message Of the Presldent.

the Of Representatives. n
The following Joint resolution restoring Ten.
nessee to her relations to the Union last
evening presented for my approval
WHEREAS In the year 1851 the government of
the State of Tennessee was seized upon and taken
possession Of by persons in hostility to the United
States, and the inhabitants of said State, in pur-
suance OF an act of Congress, were declared TO be
in a state OF lnsurrectlon against the Unlteo
States; and, whereas, said State government can
only be restored to its former political relations In
the Union by the consent of the law-maklng
power of the United States; and, whereas, the
people Of said State did, on the I'D day of Feb.
ruary, 1865, by a large popular vote adopt and
ratify constitution and government, whereby
slavery was abolished, and all ordinances and laws
Of secession, and debts contracted under the same
were declared null and void; and, whereas, state
| government has been organized under SAID CON
s1itution which has ratified the amendment 70 the
Constitution OF the United States abollshing slavery
| and also the amendment proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress- and has done other acts proclaim
ing and denoting loyalty therefore, be it
| ReSOEUed, by the Senate and House Of Repre-
se1tdtjUes Of the United States, IN Congress as
Sens5ed, That the State Of Tennessee is hereby re-
stored to her former potcairelations to the Union
and is again entitled to be represented by Senators
/ and Representatives in Congress. /
The preamble consists Of staten ents, some Of |
/ which are assumed, while theresoluton is merely
a declaration of opinion. 1t comprises no legisia-
ton, nor does it confer any power which is bind
ing upon the respective Houses, the executive or
the States 1t does not admit to their seats IN Con
gress the Senators aud Representatives from the
State Of Tennessee, for notwithstanding the pas
sage of the resolution, each House, in the exercise
Of the constitutional right to judge oritseh OF the
election returns and qualifications OF Its members,
may, at its discretion, admit them or continue 10
exclude them. If Joint resolution OF the charac-
ter were necessary and binding as condition pre-
cedent to the admission of members of Congress it
would happen, in the event of veto by the exc
! cutiye, that Senators and Representatives could
only be admitted to the halls Of Congress by two
7 thirds vote Of each of the two Houses.
| Among other reasons recited in the preamble
F0rth Tho dnp larati
the ratification by the state government OF Ten
nessee of the amendment to the Constitution OF the
\ United States abolishing slavery, and also the
l. amendment proposed by the Thirty Congress.
IT, as is also declared in tho preamble, SAID state
% government can only be restored to its former
political relations in the Union by the consent OF
!. the law-nakiug power Of the United states, 10
would really seem to follow that the joint resou-
u tion which at this late day has received the sane
u ton of Congress, should have been passed, ap-
4 proved and placed in the statute book before any
Id amendment to the Constitution was submitted to
"a the legislature of Tennessee for ratification; other
wise the inference is plainly deducibie that while,
q in the opinion of Congress, the people Of state
may be too strongly dlsloyal to be entitled to re-
" presentation, they may nevertheless during the
S suspension of their former practical relations to
q the Union have equally potent voice with other
~ and loyal States in propositions to amend the Con-
re- stituti0n, upon which SO essentially depend the
= stability, prosperity and very existence OF the
" nation.
I'd A brief reference to my annual message of the
'h 4th Of December last will show the steps taken by
the executive for the restoration to their Consti-
tutional relations of the States that had been al
20 fected by the rebellion.
OF Upon the cessation Of active hostlities proVis'
uo iaRal governors were appointed, conventions
- cRed, governors elected by the people, Legisa-
ny lures assembled and Senators and Representatives
y chosen to the Congress of the United States. Al
oG the same time the courts of the United States
ch were reopened the blockade removed, the custom
, house re-established, and postal operations re
'eo sumed. The amendment to the Constitution
within the mitS of tl(
Ia country was also submitted to the States, ant
oi they were thus invited to and did participate in
w ratification, thus exercising the highest function
~ ~ pertaining to a State In addition nearly all o
3 these States through their conventions and Legs
~ ~ latures, had adopted and ratified Constitutions
ia "a government whereby slavery was abolished, an
~ all ordinances and laws OF secession and debt
o contracted under the same were declared null an
isn VOID.
SO far then the political existence of the State
alu and their relations to the federal government ba
aus been fully and completely recognized and AZ
~ ~ knowledged by the Executive department of tn
sY government, and the completion of the work {
nu restoration, which had progressed SO fayorabll
IN I'M was submitted to Congress, upon which deVolve
0o all questions pertaining to the admission to the
seats of the Senators aud Representatives chose
from the States whose people had engaged in Il
- rebellion. -.
. All these steps had been taken, when, on the A
o. day of December, 1865, the thrty-ninth CoDgre
D+b assembled. Nearly eight months have elapst
utn % since that time, and no other plan having bee
te proposed by Congress for the measures institute
zen zen by the Executive, it is declared in the jui
'ef resolution submitted for my approval " that Il
State of Tennessee is hereby restored to her form
coi practical relations to the Union, and is again e
" - titled to be represented by Senators and Repr
tnsV sentatves in Congress- Thus after the lapse
o,, nearly eight months, Congress proposes to pa
me the way to the admission Of the representatives
~ ~ | one of the eleven States whose people array
Keep themselves in rebellion against the constitution
authority of the federal government. Earnest
desiring to relieve every case of further della
JHSJ yyhh real imAnIDlry, the part OF CL
gress, to the admission to seats of loyal Senate
~ ~ and Representatives from the state OF Tenness'
" VI ] have Notwithstanding the anomalous charac
"OA0 of this proceeding, affixed my signature to the
,,,o, solution.
upon Nv approval, however is not to be construed
l 'H4S an acknowledgment of the right OF Congress
~. pass laws preliminary to the admission OF dl
lti'iS qualified representatives from any OF
IN States. Neither is it to be considered as conn
4h ting me to all the statements made in the pEes
I'e ble some Of which are, in my opinion, with
some foundation in fact-espectay the assertion t
- | ato the State of Tennessee has ratified the ane
g t pe ment to the Constitution of the United states
e1'ct posed by the Thirty-nint Congress. No Off
oi Vi notice of such ratification has been received
. II; the Executive, or fled in the department OF 81
Il Ii,n S On the contrary unofficial information from
P"@, P, most reliable sources induces the belief that
BouG amendment has not yet been constitution
~, Vi sanctioned by the legislature of Tennessee.
tseU @ right Of each House, under the Constitution,
IL Judge of the election returns and qnaihcatl0h
ny tne its own members is undoubted, and my apl
- .t' .t val or disapprOval Of the resolution coqla
~ ~ Inc in the slightest degree increase diminish
S Sihn as authority in this respect conferred upo5
him. W. ~ ~ NV rrcommpndaiio
% % e4e the admission Of Tennessee and all other ST
sale to fair and equal participation in the nat
ou-t.o legislature when they present themselves in
y persons of loyal senators and representatives.
should can comply with all the requirements of the
rant stitution and the laws. By this means harI
tnlnA and reconciliation will be effected the prae
topped reons ot a and the wok of restor
"a very ]S men mon the termination of the war
youth ta.us sIi9 Ji9sco compIete6 ANyREw JOHNS
ostume eTSo, W. binSgtoS SirS D. O., July "A, 1866
man of NICE LITTLE DWELLING FOR SALE We
though NV nortv WIN vyould like " berome the posf
y am5 as of nice little house, where he could indu
the be- Glove in cottage tF his hearts content, tc
see Cor the advertisement Published in another CO