The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-07-27
REPRESENTATION OF TENNESSEE.



Tho following joint resolution restoring Ten.
nes,ee to her relations to the Union, was last
evening presented for my approval:
the STATE OF Tennessee Was seized upon and
taken possession Of by persons in hostility to
the limited States, and the Inhabitants OF said
State In pursuance Of an act OF Congress were
declared 10 he In state Of insurrection against
the United States, and
Vbersa.. said State Government can only
bc restored 70 its former political relations 10
the Union by the consent OF the law making
power Of the United States, and -,
Uhsreas, the people Of said State did on the
22d day Of February, 1865, BY large popular
vote, adopt and raiify n Constitution whereby
slavery was abolished and all ordinances and
laws OF secession and debts contracted under
the same were declared null aud void, and
JYAereas, q State Government has been or
gauileI under said Constitution which has rat
flied the amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States sboishing slavery, and also the
amendment proposed by the 3Oth Congress. and
had done other acts proclam!ng and denoting
loyalty, therefore, be It
Resolred, by the Senate and House OF Rep.
rcsentatives of tho United States In Congress
assembled, that the State OF tennessee 10 here.
by restored to her former practical reactions to
the Union, and Is again entitled to be repre-
sented by Senators and Representatives In Con.
The preamble simply consists OF statements
acme OF which are assumed, while the resclu.
ton Is merely declaration Of opinion. II
comprises no legislation, nor does 1t confer any
power which Is binding upon the respective
Houses, the Executive or the States. 1t does
not admit to their seats In Congress the Sena-
tors and Representatives from Tennessee, Tor
Il. sl,a NJ ha
each House In the exercise OF It's constitutional
right to Judge for itself Of the election returns
and qualifications Of Ito members, may at It's
discretion admit them or continue to exclude
them. II Joint resolution OF this character
were necessary and binding condition pro-
cedent to the admission OF members OF Con-
gress, II would happen In the event OF veto
by the Executive, that Senators and Represen..
tatives could only DO admitted to the Houses OF
Congress by q two.thirds vote OF each OF the
two Houses.
Among other reasons, recited In the pream-
bic, for the declarations contained In the reso'
luton, Is the ratification, by the State Govern
ment of Tennessee, Of, tho amendments to the
constitution Of the United States abolishing
slavery; also the amendment proposed by tho
thirty ninth Congress. II, as IL also declared
in the preamble, said State government can on
ly be restored to its former political relations
in the Union, by the consent OF the law making
power Of tho United States. II would really
seem to follow that the joint resolution, which
at this late date, has received the sanction OF
Congress, should have been passed. approved
and placed In the statute books before any
amendment to the constitution was submitted
70 the Legislature of Tennessee. Otherwise the
inference is plainly deducible, that while In the
opinion of Congress the people OF State may
be too strongly disloyal " DO entitled to- repre-
sentation, they may nevertheless, curing tue
suspension Of their former practical relations
10 the Union have au equally potent voice with
other and loyal States, In provisions to amend
the constitution, upon which. so essentially de.
ponds the stability, prosperity aud very exis'
,ence Of the nation. q. 4,
A brief reference to my annual message OF
the ith Of December last. will show the steps
taken by the Executive for the restoration TO
their constitutional relations OF the states tlat
had been affected by the rebellion. Upon the
cessation If active hostilties, provisional gov
errors were appointed, conventions were callcd'
governors elected by the people. legislatures
assembled. and senator's and representatives
chosen 10 the Congress OF the United States
At the same time the courts OF the United
States were reopened. the blockade removed,
the custom houses re established and postal OPP
erations resumed. The amendment to the con-
sti,uton abolishing slavery forever within tho
limits Of the country was also submitted 10 tne
States. and they were thus invited To ana ulu
participate In ratification, thus exercising the
highest functions pertaining toa State. In
addition nearly all these States through 'nei,
conventions and legislatures had adopted and
ratified constitutions Of government whereby
slavery was abolished, and oil ordinances and
laws of secession, and debts contracted unuer
the same were declared null and void. So lar
then the political existence Of the States aud
their relations to the Federal Government hal
been fully and completely recognized AMI no.
knowleJged by the Executive Department OF
the Government, and the completion OF the
work Of reconstruction which has progresses
SO fayorably was submitted to Congress, upon
which devolyed all questions pertaining to ad-
mission To their seats Of senator's md repre-.
seutatiycs chosen from States whose people hal
engaged In the rebellion. AL these steps had
been taken when on the 4th day OF December
1875, the thirty-ninth Congress assembled.
Nearly eight months have elapsed since that
time. and no other plan having been proposed
by Congress, for the measures insutu'eo oy
the Executive, IL is now declared In the JOINT
resolution submitted for my approval, that the
State of Tennessee is hereby restored to her
former practical relations with the Union. anu
is again entitled TO be represented by Senators
and Representatives In Congress. Thus, aher
the lapse of nearly eight months, Congress
proposes to pave the way To the admission OF
the REPRESENTATIVES of one Of the eleven States
whose people arrayed themselves in rebellion
against the constitutional authority OF the
Federal Government.
Earnestly desiring to relieve every cause OF
further delay, whether real Or inaginary, on
the part Of Congress, to the admission to their
seats Of loyal Senator's aud Representatives
from the State of Tennessee, have, n0twith.
standing the anomalous character OF this pro.
cecdinG, affixed my signature to the resolution
| Nv approval, however, Is not to be construed
as an Acknowledgement NJ the right OF Cong.
ress to pass law preliminary to the admission
of duly qualified Representatives from any OF
the States, neither Is II tn be considered rs com
hitting inc to all the statements made IN the
preamble, some Of which are, In my opinion
without Foundation In fact. especially the as:
scrtion that the State Of Tennessee has ratified
the amendment to The Constitution OF the
United States, proposed by the 3oth Congress
No official notice of such ratification has been
received by the Executive or 6lci In the De-.
par,mcnt Of State. On the contrary, unofficial
information from most reliable sources, induces
the belief that the amendment has not yet oeeh
sanctioned by the Legislature Of tennessee.
The right of each House, under the Cons'Iu,
,ion. 10 Judge of the election returns and
qualifications ofits own members IL undoubted'
aud my approval or dlsapproval OF the resoiu.
ton, could not In the slightest degree increase
ar diminish the authority In This respect con.
ferred upon the two branches OF Congress.
In conclusion, I cannot too earnestly repeat
my recommendation for admission OF tennessee
and all other States to fair and equal partici.
patton in the national legislature. when they
present themselves in the persons OF loyal
Senator's and Representatives, who can comply
with all the requirements Of the Constitution
and laws. BY this means. harmony and recon.
citation will be effected, the practical relations
Of all the States to the Federal Government
re-establishel, and the work OF restoration
ipaurura,ei upon the termination OF the war,
successfully completed. ,,,,,o,
(SiEneJ,l ANDREW JOHNSON.
e.. Our Young Folks" for the next
month is full of good stories and charming
Illustrations. Mrs. Stowe, Gail Hamilton.