The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-06-29
THE CONsTITUTIoNAL AMENDMENT

Secretary Seward Transmits the Report
of the JOint Committee TO the state
Executiye---The President Advises its
Rejection.
In the House of Representative yes
tprday. the Speaker laid before the
House the following message of the
President, which was read and referred
to the Committee on Reconstruction:
TO the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
| submit to Congress report of the
Secretary of State, to whom was refer
red the concurrent resolution OF the
18th inst. respecting a 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 certified copies of the
Joint resolution, passed on the 18th
inst, proposing an amendment to the
Constitution.
Even in ordinary times, any ques-
ton of amending the Constitution
must beiustly regarded as ofparamount
importance. The importance is, at the
present time, enhanced by the fact that
the Joint resolution was not submitted
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 representa-
ton in either House of Congress, al
though with the single exception OF
Texas they have been entirely restOr-
ed to all their functions as States, IN
conformity with the organic law ofthe
land, and have appeared at the Nation
al Capitol by Senators and Representa-
tives, who have applied for, and have
been refused admission to the vacant
seats.
Nor have the sovereign people Of the
nation been afforded an opportunity OF
expressing their views upon the i'm
portant question which the amend
ment involves. Grave doubts, there
fore, may naturally 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 to such an
issue, should be called upon by Con-
gress to decide respecting the ratitica-
ton of the proposed amendment.
Waving the question rs to the Con-
stitutiOnal validity Of the proceedings
of Congress upon the joint resolution
proposing the amendment, or as to the
merits Ofthe article which it submits
through the Executive Department to
the Legislatures Of the States, | deem
it proper to observe that the steps
taken by the Secretary of State, as de
tailed in the accompanying report, are
to be considered as purely ministerial,
and in no sense, whatever, committing
the Executive to an approval or re-
commendatiOn Of the amendment to
the State Legislatures or to the people.
On the contrary, a proper appreciation
of the letter and spirit of the COnStltu-
ton, as we'll as Of the interests of ma
tional order, harmony and union, and
due Difference for an enlightened
public judgment, may, at this time,
well suggest a doubt whether any a.
mendment TO the Constitution ought
to be proposed by Congress and press
ed upon the Legislatures of the several
States for final decision until after the
admission of such loyal Senators and
Representative Of the now unrepre-
sented States as have been or may
| hereafter be chosen, in conformity
with the Constitution and laws of the
| United States.
| ANDREW JOHNSON,
| Washington, ID. c., June -, 1866.