Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-06-27
Message Of President Johnson.


The President sent into Congress to day
the following Message in relation to the Re
construction Amendment to the Constitution:
To the Senate ant House IF Representatives.:
submit to Congress a report OF the Sec
rc,acv of State. To whom was reierrel the
concurrent resolution of the 18th instant, re-
spcctiug the submission to the Legislatures
of the States of an additional article 20 the
Constitution ofthe 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 ccrtifi ID copies Of the lint resolution
passed on the l3:h instant proposing an
a:nendm ent to the Constitution. Even in or
dinary times any question of amending the
Constitution must be Justly regarded as OF
paramount importance. This Importance is
at the present time enchanced by the fact
that she Joint resolution was not submitted
by the two Houses Cor the approval OF the
President, and that Of the thirty-siX States
composing the Union, eleven are excluded
from representation in either House OF Com
erpss, although with the single exception OF
Trxes they have been entirely restored to all
their functions as States, in conformity With
the original law Of the land, and have appear
ed at the National Capital by Senators, and
have been refused admission to the vacant
seats Nor have sovereign people of the ma
ton been afforded an opportunity of express
ing their views upon the important question
whichthe amendment involves. Grave doubts,
therefore, may naturally and justly arise as
to whether the action OF Congress Is IN har-
mony with the sentiments of the people, and
Wheeler in such an issue the Legislatures OF
the States should be called upon now by Con
greas to decide respecting the ratification OF
the proposed amendment.
Waving the question as to the constitution
al validity of the proceedings of Congress
upon the joint resolution proposing the amend
,ment. or as to the merits of the article which
it submits through the Executive Department
to the Legislatures of the several States, l
deem it proper to observe that the steps Ia
ken b. the Secretary of State, as detailed in
the accompanying report, are to be consider
ed as purely ministerial, and in no sense what
ever committing the Executive to an approx
al or n recommendation of the amendment
to the State Legislatures, or to tae people,
On the contrary, a proper appreciation OF the
letter and spirit of the Constitution as well as
of the interests of National order, harmony
and union, and due Difference for an enligh
tened public Judgment, may at this time we'll
suggest doubt whether any amendment to
the Constitution ought to be proposed by
Congress and passed to the Legislatures OF
the several States for final decision until after
the admission of such loyal Senators and Re-
representatives. of the now unrepresented States
as have been, OF may he reafter be, chosen in
conformity with the Constitution and laws Of
the United States.
June %, 1866. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Accompanying the message of the Presi-
dent was the report of the Secretary Of State
announcing that he had, in conformity with
the proceedings which had been adopted BY
him, in the year 1865, in regard TO the pro
posed, and afterwards adopted, Congressional
Amendments Of the Constitution of the United
States concerning the prohibition of slavery,
transmitted to the Governors of the several
States certified copies of the joint resolutions,
together with certificate and Circular letter.
WASHINGTON, June %, 1896.
The Presidents message to Congress in
opposition to the constitutional amendment
fell like thunderbolt amongst the Radicals.
1t is the boldest step he has yet taken, and
precludes all hope Of his reconciliation with
the Radicals.
The President has also transmitted to Con-
gress dispatch from Mr.. Biglow, our Minis
ter at Paris, to Mr.. Seward, saying that the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs has given
the most solemn assurances of Napoleon's
fidelity to his pledge to withdraw the French
troops from Mexico. This is regarded here
as sealing the fate of the Mexican Empire.
WASHINGTON, June %.
A joint resolution was passed in the Senate
providing for an official history of therebel-
lion, and authorizing the Secretary of War 10
appoint some competent person to write it al
8 salsry cot exceeding $2,500 yer year.
The Tax bill was considered, and various
amendments offered and adopted.
Mr. Morgan delivered an eulogy on Repre-.
sentative Humphreys, deceased, after which
the Senate adjourned.
10 the House, Mr.. Washburne presented
letter from the Secretary of the Treasury on
the subject of the apprehended Introduction
of rfndsrpest, by means Of imported bones.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. Darling, of New York, and others ad-
dressed the House in speeches of condolence
on the death Of Hon, James Humphreys, Of
New York.
The customary resolutions of respect were
adopted, and the Honse then adjourned.
a. 49, a.