Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-08-03
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

Nor hate, nor hell can form a worsel
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Joint Resolution of Congress Signed.
The following message from the President
was received in the House Of Representatives
yesterday afternoon
10 the House Of Representatives
The following s.joint resolution restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union
was last evening presented for my approval !:
Whereas, in the year 1861, the Govern
ment Of the State Of Tennessee was seized
upon and taken possession Of by persons in
hostility to the United States, and the inhab-
itants Of said State, in pursuance Of an act of
Congress, were declared to be in state of
instruction against the United States and
whereas the said State government can only
be restored to its former political relations in
the Union by the consent of The law making
power of the United States and whereas the
people Of the said State did, on the 22d day
Of February, 1865, by a large popular vote,
adopt and ratify constitution and govern
ment whereby slavery was abolished and or
|dinarlces and laws of secession, and debts con-
tracted under the same, we're declared void
and whereas a State government has been or
ganized under said Constitution which has
ratified the amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States abolishing slavery, also
the amendment proposed by the Thirty ninth
Congress, and has done other acts proclaim
ing and denoting loyalty; therefore
Be 1t resolaed by the Senate and Hoa,se Of
Representatives Of the United States Of
America IN Congress assembled, That the
State Of Tennessee is hereby restored to her
former practical relations to the Union, and
is again entitled to be represented by Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress.
The preamble simply consists Of statements
some which are assumed, while the resolu-
ton is merely declaration of opinion It
comprises no legislation, nor does it confer
any power which is binding upon the respec-
tive Houses, the Executive, or the States
1t does not admit to their seats in Congress
the Senators and Representatives from the
State Of Tennessee; for Notwithstanding the
passage Of the resolution, each House, in the
exercise Of the constitutional right to judge
for itself of the elections, returns, and quail
fcations Of its members, may at its discre-
ton admit them or continue to exclude them
If joint resolution of this character were
necessary and binding as a condition prece-
dent to the admission of members of Con-
gress, it would happen, in the event Of a veto
| by the Executive, that Senators and Repre-
sentatives could only be admitted to the halls
Of legislation by a two thirds vote of each OF
the two Houses.
Among other reasons recited in the pre-
amble for the declarations contained in the
resolution is the ratification by the State gov
eminent of Tennessee of ''the amendment OF
the Constitution Of the United States abolish
ing slavery, and also the amendment pro-
posed by the Thirty ninth Congress- If, as
is also declared in the preamble, "said State
government can only be restored to its former
political relations in the Union by the con-
sent 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, approved, and placed on
statute books before any amendment to the
Constitution 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 a State
may be too strongly disloyal to be entitled
to representation, they may nevertheless, du-
ring the suspension Of their former proper
practical relations to the sUnion," have an
equally potent voice with other and Loyal
States in propositions to amend the Constltu-
ton, upon which 50 essentially depend the
stability, prosperity, and very existence Of
the nation.
| A brief reference to my annual message Of
| the 4th of December last will show the steps
taken by the Executive for the restoration to
their constitutional relations to the Union of
the States that had been affected by the re-
bellion. Upon the cessation Of active hostil-
tiles Provisional Governors were appointed
conventions called, and Governors elected by
the people, Legislatures assembled, and Sen
ators and Representatives chosen to the Con-
gress Of the United States. At the same
time the courts of the United States were re-
opened, the blockade removed. the custom
houses re-established, and postal relations re-
sumed.
The amendment to the Constitution abol-
ishing slavery forever within the limits Of
the country was also submitted to the States,
and thew were thus invited to and did partic-
ipate in its ratifcation--thus exercising the
highest functions pertaining to State. In
addition, nearly all of these States, through
their conventions and Legislatures, had adop-
ted and ratified constitutions !" Of govern
ments whereby slavery was abolished, and
all ordinances and laws Of secession and debts
II i !