The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-08-02
TENNESSEE.
Message from the PresideDt-The Joint
Resolution Signed.

eu message, uamely'
To the House OF Represcntatiues:-
The following joint resolution restoring
Tennessee to her relations to the Union
was last evening presented Tor my ap-
proval: "Whereas, in the year 1861 the
Government of the State of Tennessee
was seized upon and taken possession
of by persons in hostility to the United
States and the inhabitants of said State,
in pursuance to an act of Congress, were
declared to be in state Of insurrection
against the United States; and whereas,
said State government can only be restor-
ed to its former political relations in the
Union by the consent of the law making
power of the United States and where
as, the people of said State did, on the
22nd day of February, 1865, by large
popular vote, adopted to ratify constitu-
tion and government whereby slavery was
abolished and all ordinances and laws Of
secession, and debts contracted under the
same, were declared null and void; and
whereas, a State Government has been
organized under said constitution, which
has ratified the amendment to the consti-
tuition of the United States abolishing
slavery and also the amendment propos-
ed by the Thirty ninth Congress, and has
done other acts proclaiming and declar-
ing loyalty, therefore, be it
Resozced, BY the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States,
in congress assembled, That the State Of
Tennessee is hereby restored to her for
70 ha M
is again entitled to be represented by
Senators and Representatives in Con
Sress."
The preamble consists simply of state
ments, some of which are assumed, while
the resolution is merely declaration Of
opinion. 1t comprises no legislation, nor
does it confer any power which is bind
ing upon the respective Houses, the Ex-
ecutive, or the States. 1t does not admit
to their soats in Congress, the Senators
and Representatives from the State OF
Tennessee, for, Notwithstanding the pas
sage Of the resolution, each House, in the.
exercise OF the constitutional right to
Judge for itself Of the election returns and
qualifications Of its members, may, at its
discretion, admit them or continue to ex-
clude them. If a joint resolution of the
character were necessary, and pending as
precedent to the admission of members
of Congress, it would happen in the event
OF veto by the Executive, that Senators
and Representative could only be ad
mittcd to the halls of Congress by 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 abolshing slavery, and al
so, the amendment proposed by the Thir-
ty-ninth Congress. If, as is also declared
in the preamble, said State Government
cal relations in the Union by the consent
of the law making power of the Uuited
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 the statute books before any
amendment to the Constitution was sub
mitted 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 enti
tied to representation, they may never
theless, during the suspension of their
former practical relations to the Union.
have an equally potent voice with other
and loyal States in proposition to amend
the Constitution upon which so essential
ly depend the stability, prosperity and
very existence of the nation.
a brief reference to my annual mes
sage of the 4th of December last, will
show the steps taken by the Executive
for the restoration to their constitutional
relations of the States that had been af-
fecte1 by the rebellion. Upon tie ces-
sation Of active hostilities, provisional
governors were appointed, conventions
called, governors elected by the people,
legislatures assembled, and Senators aud
Representatives chosen to the Congress
of the United States. At the
same time the Courts of the United
States were re opened, the blockade re-
moved, the Custom Houses established,
and postal operations resumed. The
amendment to the Constitution abolish
ing slavery forever within the limits of the
United States, was also submitted to the
States, and they were thus invited to, and
did, participate in ratification, thus ex-
ercising the highest functions pertaining
to State. In addition, nearly all of
these States, through their Conventions
aud Legislatures, had adopted aud rati-
fed constitutions of government whereby
slavery was abolished and all ordinances
and laws of secession, and debts con trac.
ted under the same, were declared null
and void. So far, then, the political ex-
istcnce of the States and their relations
to the Federal Government had been full
ly and completely recognized and ac-
l. IoI hut h a.