Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1866-06-30

dent to-day sent the following message
to Congress elstive 10 the reconstruc-
tion smondments 10 the Constitution:
To the Seaate and House Of Rep,
yesentGtyteS:
submit to Congress a report from
the Secretary Of Slste, 10 whom was re
ferred the concurrent resolution of the
l8;hinst., respecting submission to the
Legislatures Of the severa States Of an
additional erticle 10 the Constitution of
thr United States. t
Il will he seen from this report, that
the Secretary Of State had, on the 18th
instant. transmitted to the Governors Of
the several States certified copies Of the
joint resolutions passed On the 18th inst,
proposing an amendment to the Com
stitutien.
Even 10 Ordiuay times suy question
Of amending the Constitution must be
Justly regarded as Of paramount impOr-
tauce This importance is at the pre-.
sent time enhanced by the fact, that
he Joint resolution was not submitted bv
the Houses for the approved oftho Presi
dent and that of the thirty S:stes
which constituted the Union eleven are
excluded from representation in the
House ofCougress, although, with Tive
sjDgIa exception of Txps, they have
been entirely restored to all their funr
| ious as Fte, il conformity with the
/ organic Is Of the land and have ap,
Ip"me al The n tional capital by their
naorS and represen 9'ives and beeu
fused adRissiop TO the vRcatt seats
nor have the sovereign peoble Of the
nation been affrded an opportunity Of
expressing their views uron the impor.
iant questions which the sneudment in
volges. Grave doubts therefore, ray
Justly arise as - wherher the action of
Congress is 10 harmony with the senti
meuis Of The pe"ple, and whether under
such circumstances the State should be
called upon to decide respecting tle
ratidcationof the proposed amendments
Waving the question as to The
coas'iiuti9aal validity of the proceed.
I I'nga Of Cong ass upon the joint reSolu.
na' ng the Amendments. or as o
Sle ge9r Be which It su5.
/ miisibropga Ess nt
h. "a vsct -. aase "a
/ Y proper - 0ss9lNn t
~ The Secretary of STATE,
tho SC ampanyipI report, 4re tc 0s
considered as hereby miniaterio aHd as
in no sense whatever committing the
Executive to an approval or recon
medallion Of the amendment to the
State Leaslanres or to the people. On
the CONTRARY, proper appreciation Of
The letter and spirit ofthe Constitution,
as we'll q. of the interests of national or.
der and harmony and union, and due
Difference for an enlightened public
Judgment, may at this time well suggest
douh whether any amendment to the
Fon9titutiOn ought to be proposed by
Congress and pressed upon the Legis.
lstureQ Of the several States for 6nal
decision until after She admission ofsucb
loyal Senators and Representatives oI
the non represented States as have been
or many hereafter DO chosen in confOr'
nifty with the, Constitution and laws o.
the United States
tSig ed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
Appended to the above message is q
communication from the Secretary Of
State, addressed to the President, in
which he reports that on the 10th inst.
the Hon Amasa Cobb. Of the CON-
mittee of the HouS of Representatives
on enrolled bills brought to shislDspart-
ment and deposited therein ap enrolled
resolution Of the two Houses of Con
Cress, which was thereupOn received hy
the Secretary OF State and deposited
among the rolls of the D patment. q
copy of which is hercunto annexed with
he preceding, which was adopted by
him in 1865 Inr gard t. these propo
s,d and afterwards adj pied tGrpgres'
,ioua amendments IT the United StaeI
concerning the prohibiri'n Of slavery
transmitted certified copies Of the an
nexed resolution TO the goV,rnors OF the
several State. together with certificate
and irregular letter. A copy Of both
Of these sOPpqqil'slloQps is hereunI'
anpezed
DIR. OF STATS WASHINGTON,