The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-07-26
THE TENNESSEE QUESTION.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To tie Ho"se Of RepreseatuhUes:
The following joint resolution restoring Tennessee
TO he relations the Union, last evening pre-
scented for my approval
WHEREAS In the year 1851, the Government If the
State OF Tennessee seized upon and taken posses
sion Of by persons in hostility the United States,
and the inhabitants of said State, in pursuance of
tot Congress, declared be a state Of in
surrecton against the United Stats aud
WHEREAS, Said State Govern ment can only be res
former political relations the onion by
the consent OF the law making power Of the United
States; and
WHEREAS The people of said State did, on the 22i
dag OF February 1855, by large popular vote, adopt
anl ratfy a Constitution and Government, hereby
slavery islei, and all ordinances AMI laws of
secession, and debts contracted under the same
declared null and void; and
WHERE A., A State Government has been organized
under said Constitution which has ratified the amend
ncu u Constitution the Unit-d abolish
ing slavery, aul also the amendment proposed by the
Thirty uuth Congress, aud has done other acts,
claiming and dsuotiug loyalty: therefore he Il
Resolsed By he SHafe and H,ase Of REre.eHtgtsees
Of the Lnitd States in Congress assembled 1aat the State
Tennessee Is hereby restored her former pract
cal relations the Union, aui is again entitled u be
represented by Senators and Representatives IN Con
gress
The preamble consists simply Of statements; some
Of which assumed, white the resolution IS merely
nor does 1t confer any power winch Is binding upon
the respective Houses. the Executive the States
1t does not admit to their seats in Congress the Soma
and Representatives. from the State OF Tennessee
fer the passage of the resolutions each
House, in the exercise of the constitutional right to
nudge tor itself of the election returns and quaca
tons of its members, NAV, at its discretion. admit
theln continue to exclude them. Ii joint
luton of the character were necessary and binding as
condition precedent to the admission of members of
the Executive that senators and Representatives could
onty be admitted the halls OF Congress by two
thirds vote OF each Of the two Houses.
Among other rected in the preamble for the
declarations contained in the resoluti, Is the rati
cation by the state Government OF tennessee OF the
amendment to the Constitution of the United States
aboshing slavery, and ais" the amendm Mt proposed
by the thirty ninth Congress. It, as Is also declared
iii the preamble. the said State Governm only
be res t"ref its former political relations tie
Union bv the consent the law making power OF the
United States. it would really seem follow that the
joint resolution which, at this late day, has received
the sanction ot Congress, should have beea PASSED,
approved and placed IN the statute books before
amendment 10 the C"n>ttu ion was submitted to the
Legislatures of Tennessee for ratification; otherwise
inference is plainly deducible that while in the
opinion ot Congress the people OF State may be too
strongly disioyal 10 be entitled To representation.
they may nevertheless, during the suspension of that
former practical relation 20 the nation have equally
potent voice with other and loyal States in ropo-
stons amend the Constitution, upon which.
essentially. depend the stability rosperlty and very
existence of the nation.
a brief reference to nv annual message Of the 4th
of December last, will show tbs steps taken by the
Executive for the restoration to their institutional
relations oil the States that had been affected by the
rebellion.
Upon tie cessation of active hosttes, Provisional
Governors We're appointed conventions called. Gov
elected by the people Legislatures assembled
and Senators and Representatives chosen Con-
gress Of the United States. At the time the
Of the United States renpened, block
ade removed, the Custom Houses re-established and
postal opera lions Resumed. The amend n7ent l.. the
Constitution, abo!ishing slavery forever within the
limits of the country also submitted the States
and they thus invited to, and did articpate 10
st.. Il.
pertaining 70 STATE In aidit on nearly all 81 he
States through their Conventions and legislatures
had adopted and ratified constitutions of Government
Whereby slavery was a1'shed, ant all ordinances
and laws OF secession. and debts contracted under
same, declared null and v'ii. fsr, then. the
political existence Of the States and their relatons
tie Federal Government, bad been fully AMI com
pe-ev recoa uEei aud ackuow edgei by the Executive
De artmeut the Government. aud the completion of
tue work OF reconstruction which had progressed 50
iavorably submitted ts Congress, upon which
devolvet all questions pertaining ia the admission
their seats at the Senators and Representatives chosen
from the States whase peopie had engaged in tie
rebellion. All these steps bad been ,keu when, on
the 18th day Of bece mber, 1855, the Thirty ninth
Congress assembled.
Nearly eight months have elapsed since that time
aud no other Pau having been proposed bv Congress
the instituted hv the Executive II i now
declared the joint resolution submitted for nv ap-
prevail that tie State of Tennessee i hereby restored
TO her former practical relations to the Uuion and
again entitled IL I've represented b. Senators aud
Representatives IN Congress.
Inus, after the lapse OF nearly eight months. Con
gfS>> fEt'>tS u FtNe u tie or
the representatives of one o. the eleven States wis
sapie drravel themselves in REBEL against the con-
siitujcna( auth. Katy Ut tie Federal Governms ut.
Earnestly desiring tn relieve every of further
DELAY, whether real or Imaginary, the part af
Congress, the admission iovat Senators
aud Representatives, from the State OF Tennessee
nave. Notwithstanding the 8EaoGs character
proceedings, affixed nv Signature to the resolution.
Nv approval, however, Is net - be construed a.
ackuuyy led ulent u the right Of Congress t. pass
laws preliminary 10 the admission OF dajy qualified
represent from the States. Neither
10 Dc considered committing 10 all the state
ueBts m da IN the preamble o! which are, n
opinion without foundation IN fact, especially the
assertion that State ot Tennessee has ratef the
proposed by the Thirtv-rinth Congress Ne cticIsl
notice OF such ratification has baeu received by the
Executive, OF fled in the Department State. On
contrary u1etcIa i1foTHas ton. from reliable
sources, induces the belief That the amendment has
not been coustitutisnailv sanctioned BY the Legs
Iature Tennessee. The right OF each Rouse under
the Constitution. Judge Of the election aud
NV approval disapProvai Of the resolution couid
not IN the slightest degree increase diminish tie
authority IN this respect conferred upon the tso
branches OF Congress Ii conclusion. | cannot too
earnestly repeat nv recommendation for the admission
of Tennessee aud al other States fair AMI equal
partic patioz in the Natcua Legislature, when
present themselves IN the persons Of loyal Ssns
and RepreSer tatives who Gap4v With all the
aareuents CT the Constitution aEi the laws b. this
means harmonv and reconciliation will be effected
the practical relations ~ all fs states = the FEDERAL
C1n~ernulst blIshe, and the work n Testara
riod iuzuzurafed upea the term nation Of the war
/ successfully cumplsted- ANDREW JOHNSON.
vA,Ery7ToS D c. july -, 1883.