The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-07-26
re Mn E g . EE.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE i
CONGRESS 0ut-GeneraledI | |
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESsAGE'
The President this morning trans
mitted the annexed message, namely:
To the House of Representatives;
The following joint resolution restor-
ing Tennessee to her relations to the
Union was last evening presented for my
approval:
WHEREAS, In the year 1861, the Gov
ornment If the State of Tennessee was
seized mon and taken possession OF by
narsons in hostility to the United States,
apud the inhabitants of said State, in
pursuance of an act OF Congress, were
declared to be in state OF insurrection
against the United States, and whereas
said State Government can only be re-
stored to its former political relations IN
the Union by the consent OF the law.
making power of the United States; ana
whereas, the people of said State, did,
on the 22d day of February, 1865, by
large popular vote, adopt and ratlfy a
constitution and government whereby
slavery was abolished and all ordinances
and laws of secession and debts contract.
ed under the same were declared null and
void; and whereas, State government
has been organized under said cOnstitu-
ton, which has ratified the amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
abolishing slavery, and also the amend
ment proposed by the Thirty-ninth Con
gress, and has done other acts proclaim
ing and declaring loyalty; therefore, /.
BE it resolved By the Senate and House OF
REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States IN Con-
qress assembled, That the State of Ten
nessee is hereby restored to her former
practical relations to the Union, and Is
again entitled to be represented by Sen
ators and Representatives in Congress,
The preamble consists simply in state
ments, some of which are assumed,
while the resolution is merely declara-
ton of opinion. 1t comprises no leglsla-
ton, nor does it confer any power which
is binding upon the respective Houses,
the Executive, OF the States. 1t does
not admit to their seats in Congress the
Senator's and Representatives from the
State of Tennessee, for, notwithstand-
ing the passage of the resolution, each
House, in the exercise of the constitu-
tional 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 pending as condition
precedent to the admission of members
of Congress it would happen in the
event of veto by the Executive, that
Senators and Representatives could only
be admitted to the halls of Congress by
a two-thirds vote of each of the two
Houses.
Among other reasons read in the pre-
amble for the declarations contained in
the resolution is the ratification by the
State government of Tennessee OF the
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States. abolishing slavery, and
also the amendment proposed by the
Thirty ninth Congress. IT, as 10 Nlso de.
clared in the preamble, said State Gov
eminent can only be restored to its for
mer political relations in the Union, by
the consent of the law.making 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. ap.
proved and placed in the statute books
before any amendment to the Constltu-
ton was submitted to the Legislature OF
Tennessee for ratification; otherwise the
inference is plainly deducible that while,
in the opinion of Congress, the people OF
State may be too strongly dislOyal to
be eptitled to representation, they may
nevertheless, during the suspension OF
their former political relations to the
Union, have an equally potent voice
with other and loyal States in PROPOSE
tions to amend the Constitution, upon
which so essentially depends the stabit
ity, prosperity and very existence of the
nation.
A brief reference to my annual message
of the 4th of December last, will show
tho steps taken by the EXecutiyr for the
restoration to their constitutional rela
tons of the States that have bee AFT, ct
ed by the rebellion, Upon the cessation
of active hostilities, provisional Govern
ors were appointed, convention, called
Governors elected by the people, l"gisla-
lures assembled, and Senators AID Rep
chosen to Congress Of The
United States. AT the same time the
courts of the United States were reopen.
ou- tLo DlOChduc IcuONSu, luS buS'Ou
Houses re-established, aud postal opera
lions resumed. The Amendment to the
Constitution abolishing slavery forever
within the limits of the countr,, was |
also submitted to the States AMI they |
were thus invited to, and did partici- |
pate in a ratification, thus eX rcising |
he highest functions pertaining 10 a |
State. In addition, nearly all OF these
States, through their conventions and |
legislatures, had adopted and ratified
Of governmcnt whereby |
lavery was abolished, and all laws of
ectssion, and debts contracted under
he same, were declared null ami void
80 far, then, the political existence of
he States and their relations to the
federal Government had been fully and
completely recognized and ackuowl-
'dged by the Executive Department
II the Government, and The COM
)letion of the work o. res
.oratien, which has pregress d SO
avorably, was submitted TO CONGRESS.
lpon which devolved all question, per
aiming to the admission to their SEATS of
he Senators and Representative chosen
rom the States whose people lad en-.
gagged in the rebellion. All these stems
had been taken when, on the fourth dav
If December, 1865, the Thirty-ninth CO..
5ress assembled. Nearly eight nor -,
laNe elapsed since That time, ap i no !
,ther plan having been propc .eS ht
Congress for the measures insti'. ntsd nv
he Executive, it isSow decls' red in the