The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-26
The ConstitutioaaI Amendment.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO
2 CONGRESS.
ms APPROVAL Withheld.

HIS APPROVAL WITHHELD.
The President sent into Congress yester-
day the following message and accompany
ing papers in relation to the reconstruction
amendment to the Constitution
To the Senate md House Of Representatives
submit to Congress report of the Sec
rotary of State, to whom was referred the
concurrent resolution of the 18th instant,
respecting submission to the Legislatures
of the States of an additional article to the
Constitution of the United States.
1t will be seen from this report that the
Secretary of State had, on the 10th instant
transmitted to the Governors of the several
States certified copies of the joint resolution
passed on the 18th instant, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution.
When in ordinary times any question of
amending the Constitution must be Justly
regarded as of paramount Importance. This
importance is at the present time enhanced
by the fact that the joint resolution was not
submitted by the two Houses for the appro
val of the President and that of the thirty
six States which constitute the Union. eleven
are excluded from representation in either
House of Congress, although, with the sin
gle exception of Texas, they have been en-
tirely restored to all their functions as States
land, and have appeared at the national
capital by Senators and representatives, who
have applied for, and have been refused adj
mission to the vacant seats.
Nor have the sovereign people of the nation
| been afforded an opportunity of express
| ing their views upon the important question
which the amendment involves. Grave doubts
| therefore 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 with
out reference to such an issue, should be called
| upon by Congress to decide respecting the
ratification of the proposed amendment.
Waving the quertion as to the constitution
nal validity of the proceedings of Congress
upon the joint resolution proposing the
| amendment, or as to the merits OF the article
which it submits through the Executive
Department to the Legislatures ofthe States,
deem it proper to observe that the steps
taken by the Secretary of State, as detailed
in the accompanying report, are to be consid-
| cred as purely ministerial, and in no sense
whatever committing the Executive to an APP
| proyal of the recommendation OF the amend
ment to the State Legislatures orto thepeople.
| On the contrary, proper appreciation of the
| letter and spirit of the Constitution, as well
as of the interests of national an enlight-
end public judgment may, at this time, well
suggest a doubt whether any amendment,
to the Constitution ought to be proposed by
Congress and pressed upon the Legislatures
of the several States for final decision until
after the admission of such loyal Senators and
Representatives of the now unrepresented
| States as have been or may hereafter be chosen,
in conformity with the Constitution and
laws of the United States.
| ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, d. G. June %, 1866.
| To the President:
The secretary OF State, to whom was refer
red the concurrent resolution of the two
houses of Congress of the 18th inst, in the
following words: THAT the President of
the United States be requested to transmit
forthwith to the Executives of the several
States of the United States copies of the ar
| ticle of amendment proposed by Congress to
the State Legislatures to amend the Consti-
tuition of the United States, passed June 10,
1866, respecting citizenship, the basis of re-
presentation, disqualification for office, and
validity of the public debt of the United
States, &C., to the end that the said States
may proceed to act upon the said article OF
amendment, and that he request the Execu-
tive of each State that may ratify said amend
ment to transmit to the Secretary of State
a certified copy of such ratification" has the
honor to submit the following report, name
ly: That on the 10Th instant the Hon. Amos
Cobb, of the Committee of the House of Rep
resentatives on Enrolled Bills, brought to
this department and deposited therein I'm
enrolled resolution of the two houses of Con
gress, which was thereupon received by the
Secretary of State and deposited among the
rolls of the department., copy of which is
hereunto annexed. Thereupon the Secretary
of State, upon the 18th instant, in conformi-
ty with the proceeding which was adopted
by him in 1865 in regard to the then propo-
sed and afterwards adopted congressional
amendment of the Constitution of the United
States concerning the prohibition of slavery,
transmitted certified copies of the annexed
resolution to the Governors of the several
States, together with a certificate and circu-
lar letter. A copy of both of these commu-
| nications is hereunto annexed.
Respectful submitted.
WILLIAM III. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, June 20, 1857.
TfrT, ryr-ra A., I