Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-06-27
MESSAGE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT.

AMENDMENT.
The President on Friday sent the fol-
lowing message to the Senate and House.
He states broadly that he does not approve
of the amendment, and gives as one rea'
son, that eleven states were not allowed 70
vote on the resolution. We wonder why
be don't resign, inasmuch as these same
eleven states did not vote at his election
II submit to Congress report Of the
Secretary of State, to whom was referred
the concurrent resolution of the 18th inst.
respecting submission of the Legislatures
of the states of an additional article to
the Constitution of the U. S. 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 resolution passed
on the 18th inst, proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution. Even in ordi'
nary times a question of amending the
Constitution must be regarded as Of i'm
portance. This Importance is at the pres,
ent time, enhanced by the fact that the
Joint resolution was not submitted by the
two Houses for the approval of the Presi'
dent, and that of the thirty-six states
which constituted the Union, eleven are
excluded from representation in either
House of Congress, although, with the
single exception of Texas. they have been
entirely restored in all thoir functions as
as states in conformity with the organic
law of the.land. and have appeared at the
National Capitol by Senator'S and Repre-
sentatives who have applied for and been
refused admission to the vacant seats. Nor
have the sovereign people of the nation
been afforded an opportunity of express
sing their views upon the important qucs-
tions which the amendment involves.
Great doubts, therefore, may very nat
urally 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 refer.
ence to such an issue, should be called
be called upon by Congress to decide re.
specting the ratification of the proposed
amendment. .
Waving the question as to the Consti-
tutional validity of the proceedings Of
Congress upon the joint resolution propo-
sing the amendment or as ito the merits
of the article which it submits through
the Executive Department to the Legisla-
lures of the States, deem it proper to
observe that the steps taken by the Score
tary of State as detailed in the accom-.
paning report, are to be considered as
purely ministerial, and in no sense what
ever committing the Executive to an ap.
proval of recommendation Of the amend.
ment to the State Legislature or to the
people. On the contrary a proper ap
probation of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution, as we'll as of the interest Of
national order, harmony and union. and
of difference to an enlightened public
judgement, may at this time well sugges
a doubt whether any amendrnen to thu
Constitution ought to be proposed by Con
gress and passed upon by the Legislature
Of the several States for final decision uu
til after the admission of such loyal Sen
ators and Representatives of the now un
II presented States as have been or may b
bereafteri chosen in conformity with tn
Constitution and laws of the Unite,
States"
ANDREW JOHNSON.
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