Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-28
Message of the President to Con-
gress.

The President, on Friday, sent the
following message to the Senate and
House OF Representatives
submit TO Congress a report of the
Secretary of State, TO whom was re-
ierred the concurrent resolution of the
18th inst, respecting submission to
the legislatures OF the states, of an ad-
ditional article TO the constitution of
the United States. 1t will be seen from
this report that the Secretary of State
had, on the 10th inst, transmitted to
the Governors of the several States GER
titled copies of the joint resolutions
passed on the 18th inst, proposing an
amendment TO the constitution, Even
in ordinary times question of amend
ing the constitution must be justly re-
garded as of paramount Importance.
This Importance is at the present time
enhanced by the fact that the joint res
olution is not submitted by the two
houses for the approval of the Preident,
and that, OF the thirty-siX States which
constitute the Union, eleven are eXClu-
ded from representation in either of the
houses of Congress, although, with the
single exception of Texas they have
been entirely restored to all their funct-
ions as States with the organic law Of
the land, and have appeared at the ma
tonal capital by senators and repre-
sentatives. who have applied for, and
have been refused admission to vacant
seats. Nor have the sovereign people
of the nation been afforded an Oppor-
tunity of expressing their views upon
! the important questions which this
amendment involves. Grave doubts
may therefore naturally and justly arise
as to whether the action of Congress is
in harmony with the sentiment OF the
people, and whether state Legislatures,
elected without reference to such an
issue, should be called upon by Congress
to decide respecting the ratification OF
the proposed amendment.
Waving the question as to the con-
stitutional validity of the proceedings
of Congress upon the joint resolution
proposing the amendment, or as to the
merits of the article which it submits
through the executive department, to
the legislatures of the States, | deem il
proper to observe the steps taken by the
Secretary of State, as detailed in the ac-
companying report, are to be considered
as purely ministerial, and in no sense
whatever committing the executive tC
an approval or recommendation of the
amendment to the State legislatures
or to the people. On the contrary, {
proper appreciation of the letter ant
spirit Of the constitution, as well as o
the interests of national order harmony
and union, and of Difference for an en-
lightened public judgement, many a
this time well suggest a doubt whethe
any amendment to the constitution
ought to be proposed by Congress, ant
pressed upon the legislatures of tn
several States for final decision, unit
after the admission of such loyal sen
ators and representatives of the now un
represented States as have been, or a
may hereafter be chosen, in conformit
with the constitution and laws OF tn
United States.
, ANDREW JOHNSON.
The accompanying report of Sectetar
Seward merely certifies that the amenC
ment was officially received from Coz
gress, and by him officially transmitte
, to the governors of the several State