The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-08-03

reiolulion, each House. in the exercise o
the Constitutional right to Judge for itsel
Of the election returns and quali6cstiep,
Of its members, may at its discretion
admit them or continue 10 exclude them
II joint resolution Of this character
were necessary and binding as q condition
precedent to The admission Of members
Of Congress, il would happen, in the event
OF a veto by the Executive. that Senators
and Representatives could only De admit
ted TO the halls of Congress by two
thirds vote Of each Of the two Houses
Among Other rcaions iecited in the pre-
amble for the deolaIaiion contained in the
resolution is The ratification by the State
Government Of Tennessee Of the amend
ment to The Constitution Of The United
States abolisliug slavery, and also the
amendment proposed by The Jhirty.ninth
Congress. II, as is also declared in the
preamble. said State Government can
only be restored 70 lis former %poliiica! re.
l%alions in the Union b. The consent Of the
law making power Of The United states,
it would really seem 10 follow that the
j,int resolution which al this late day has
received the sanction Of Congress should
have been passed. approved and placed on
the statute books before any amendment
TO the Constitution was submitted to tho
Legislature OF Tennessee for ratification.
otherwise.the inference. is plainly dedncta.
Bile that, while in .he opinion OF Congress
the people Of a State may be 10 strongly
disloyal to be entitled TO Representation,
may, nevertheless, during The sus
pension Of their former practical relations
TO the Uuion, Lave an equally potent
voice with other and loyal Staies 10 prop
.osi.ions to admend the Constitution, upon
which SO essentially depend the stability,
prosperity aud very existence Of the na,
ton. A brief reference 10 my inaugural
message ofD,cember 4, 1865, will sho
the steps taken by the Executive for the
restoration TO their constitutional relations
Of the States that had been affected by The
rebellion.
Upon the cessation Of active hostiiiiies
Provisional Governors were appointed,
Conventions called, Governors elected by
the people, Legislatures assembled, and
and Representatives chosen to
tho Congress Of the United SIatcs. At
lie same time the Courts Of the United
were reopcned, the blockade re-
moved. the custom.house re. established, /
and postal operations resumed. Tho
amendment 10 the Constitution, abolishing
forever within the limits Of the
country, WAS also submitted 10 tho States,
and Il oy were thus invited TO ard did
participate in a ratification, thus ,xereis-
ing the highest functions pertaining 10 q
In addition. nearly all Of taese
through their Conventions and
Legislatures. had adopted and ratified
constitutions OF government whereby
was abolished, and all ordinances
and laws Of secession. aud debts contrac
ed under the same, we're declared null
and void:
So lar. then. the political existence Of
he States. and their relations 10 The Fed.
eral Government, had been fully and
completely recognized and acknowledged
by the Executive Department Of the Gov
errmert, and the completion Of the work
Of restoration. which had progressed so
layorablV, was submitted to Congress,
upon which devo!ved all questions per-
tanning 10 the admt zion to their seats OF
the Senators and Representatives chosen
rom the States whose people lad engaged
in the reb ellion. All these steps had
been taken when, on the fourth day OF
December, 1865. the XXXlXth Congress
Nearly eight months have
since that time. and no other plan
been proposed by Congress for
the measures instituted by the Executive,
it is now declared in the joint resolution
submitted for my approval, that the State
Of Tennessee is hereby restored to her
former practical relations to the Uhion,
AMI again entitled to be represented by
Senators and Representatives in Congress:
Thus, after the lapse Of nearly Ugh;
months, Congress proposes TO pave the
way to the admission Of the representa-
lives Of one Of The eleven States shose
people arrayed themselves ia rebellion