The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-26
President J0hns0n'S Message on the
Tennessee Case.

WASHINGTON, July 24.-The president,
this afternoon, transmitted the annexed mes
sage 10 congress:
To the House of Representatives:
The following joins resolution. restoring
| Tennessee to her rels-. ons to the Union, ' as
last evening presented or my approval:
WHEREAS, In the year 1861, the government of
the state OF Tennessee was seized upon take II
possession of by persons In hostility to the United
States, and the Inha btants OF said state Id pursu
ancs OF an act OF congress, were declared TO be in
a state oi Instruction against the United States
and
WHEREAS, Said state government can only be
restored its former political relations in the IN
ion by the consent of the law-making power Of the
United States and
WHEREAS, The people of said state did, On the
a2d day OF February, 1865, by large popular vote,
adopt and ratIfy a constitution 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 organ
lied under said constitution, which has ratified
| the amendment to the constitution of the United
States abolishing slavery, and also the amendment
proposed by the seth congress, and has done 9TH
er acts proclaiming and denoting loyalty; there
| fore,
Be it Pesoloed, By the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States, in congress
assembled, that the state of Tennessee is hereby
re stored to its former practical relations to the
Union, and is again entitled to be represented by
senators and representatives. in congress.
| The preamble consists simply of state
ments, some of which are assumed, while the
resolution Is merely a declaration of opinion.
| 1t comprises no legislation, nor does it confer
any power which is binding upon the respec-
| tive houses, the executive, or the states II
| does not admit TO their seats in congress the
senators aud representatives from the state OF
Tennessee, for, notwithstanding the passage
| of she resolution, each house, in the exercise
of the constitutional ight to judge tor itsel
| of the election, returns and qualifications Of
its members, may, at its discretion, admit
thea or continue to exclude them. Ii a Joint
resolution of the character were necessary
and binding as a condition precedent to the
| admission of members of congress, it would
| happen, IN the event OF veto by the sxecu-
| tive, that senators and representatives could
| emily be admitted to the halls of congress by
q two thirds vote of each of the two houses.
Among other reasons, rected in the pre-
| am Bile, for the declarations contained in the
| resolution, is the ratification by the state gov.
| eminent of Tennessee of the amendment to
| the constitution of the United States abolish
ing slavery, and also the amendment pro
posed by the thirty ninth congress. If, as ID
/
ernment can only be restored to it's former
political relations in the Union by the con-
sent of the law making power of the U. S., il
would really seem to follow that the Joint
resolution, which at this late day has re.
oeived the sanction of congress-, should have
been passed, approved, and placed in the
statute book, before any Amendments to the
constitution was submitted to the Legislature
Of Tennessee for ratification. The Inference
| is plainly deducible that while, in tie opin
ION of congress, the people of a state may be
too strongly disloyal to,betentitled to reprssen
talon, they may nevertheless. during the
suspension of their former practical relations
to the Union, have en- equally potent voice
with other and loyal states in propositions to
amend the constitution, upon which so essen
tally depend the stability, prosperity, and
very existence of the nnsion
A brief reference to my annual message of
the 4th of December last, will show the stems
! taken by the executive for the rsstora tion q
| the constitutional relations of the states .,e
had been affected by the rebellion. pon
the cessation of actual hos ilities, provision a
/ governors were appoin led. conventions call d
governors elected py tie people, legIs' atures
assembled, and senators and represen ativet
chosen to the congress of the United States
At the same time, the courts of the United
otates were reopened, the blockade removed
the custom houses re-established, and postal
operations resumed. The amendment to the
constitution, abolishing slavery forever with
In the limits OF the country, was submitted Ia
the states, and they were thus invited to, and
dld, participate IN ratification thus exer.
clsing the highest functions pertaining to q
state. In addition, nearly all of these states,
through their .constitutions and Legislatures.