Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-06-28
Tho Constitutional Amendments.

In the House Of Representatives Friday, the
Speaker laid before the House the following
message Of the President, which was read aud
referred to the Committee on Reconstruction;
To The Senate aud House Of Representatives.:
submit to Congress a report of the Secreta-
~ of State. to whom was referred the concur
rent resolution of the 18th instant, respecting
a submission 70 the Legislatures of the States
of an additional article TO the Constitution Of
the United States 1t viii I've seen from this
report that the Secretary of State had, on me
10th instant, transmitted to the Governors of
the Several States certified copies of the joint
resolution passed a the 18th instant proposing
an amendEer a the Constitution.
Eve, IN ordinary times, any question OF
amending the Constitution must be Justly re-
garded rs Of paramountimPortance. Tins I'M
portance. at the present time, IS enhanced 10y
the fact that the Joint resolution was not sub
mitted by the two Houses for the approval OF
the President; and that Of the thirty-six States
which constitute the Union, eleven are excluded
from representation in either House Of Con-
press. although, with the single exception OF
Texas. they have been entirely restored to all
their functions as States in conformity with the
organized law of the land, and have appeared
at the National Capital by Senators and Rep
resentatiyes, who have applied for and have
been refused admission 10 the vacant seats; nor
have sovereign peopeof the nation been Afford
ed an opportunity Of expressing their views
upon the important question which the amend
ment involves, grave doubts, therefore, natur-
ally and Justly arise as to whether the action
of Congress is in harmony with the sentiments
of the people, and whether State Legislatures
elected without reference tosuch an issueshould
be- called upon by Congress TO decide respecting
the ratification of the proposed amendment
Waving the question as 10 the Constitutional
validity of the proceedings OF Congress upon
the Joint resolution proposing the amendment
or as 20 the merits of the article which 1t sub
mitS through the Executive department. 70 the
Legislatures of the States, | deem it proper to
observe that the steps taken by the Secretary
of State as detailed in the accompanying re-
uort. are to be considered as purely ministerial,
nd in no sense whatever committing the Ex-
oo,,+j,.a 20 an approval or a recommendation of
tbe ameno;ncpt to the State Legislatures or to
the neonle On The contrary, proper appre-
citation of the letter AID spirit OF the ConS'itu-
ton, as well as of the IL teTeStS OF the hatloh@i
order, harmony and union, al due difference.
for an enlightened public judgment ""s ~ 'l's
time suggest a doubt whether any ans ''"t''Tu
10 the Constitution ought to be proposed os
Congress and pressed upon the Legislatures OF
the States for final decision until after the adj
mission Of such loyal Senators and Representa-
tives Of the now unrepresented States as have
been or may hereafter be chosen in conformity
with the Constitution and laws of the United
States
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Accompanying the message of the President
is the report of the Secretary of Stateannouuc-
ing that he had, in conformity with the pro-
ceeding which had been adopted by him, in
1865. in regard 10 these proposed and after
wards adopted Congressional amendments to
the Constitution of the United States concern
ing the prohibition of slavery, transmitted GER
tilted copies Of the Joint resolution to the Gov
erDors of the several States together with a