The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-06-26

WAsHENoToN. June 2O.-TBe President
sent the following message to Congress to-
day
TO the House Of Representatives,:
l return without my signature a bill en-
titled IAN act to admit the State Of Ar
kansas to representation in Congress. -
To approve Of this bill would be admission
on the part of the Executive that the act
for the more efficient government Of the
rebel States, passed March 2, 1867, and
the acts supplemental thereto, were proper
and constitutional.
Ny opinion, however, in reference to
those measures has undergone no change,
bat, on the contrary, has been strengthen
ed by the results which have attended
their execution. Even were this not the
case I would not consent to a bill which
is based upon the assumption either that
by an act of rebellion of a portion Of its
people the State of Arkansas seeded from
the Union, or that Congress may at its
pleasures expel or exclude any State from
the Union or interrupt its relation with the
Government by arbitrarily depriving it of
representation in the Senate and House Of
Representatives. If Arkansas is not
State in the Union, this bill does not admit
ii IS State.
II, GA the other hand, it is State in the
Union, no new Legislation Is necessary to
declare it entitled to representation in Con-
gress ae one of the States ofthe Union
The Constitution already deelaresthat each
State shall have at least one Representative;
that the Senate shall be composed of two
Senators from each State that no State
without its consent shall be deprived Of its
equaI suffrage in the Senate, and also makes
each House the Judge of the election re-
turns and qualifications OF its own mem
bers. and therefore all that is now neoes-
sary to secure Arkansas in all its consttu
tioDal relations to the Government is a de-
csioa by each House upon the eligibility
of those who, presenting their credentials,
claim seats in the respective Houses Of
Congress.
This is the plain and simple plan OF the
Constitution, and believing that had it
been pursued when Congress assembled
in December, 1865, the restoration of the
States would long since have been com
pleted. once more earnestly recommend
that it be adopted by each House in refer
ence to Legislation which ( respectfully
submit is not only Of doubtful constitutions
aity, therefore unwise and dangerous IS
precedent, but unn eeessary not so effec-
tive in it's operation as the mode prescrib-
ed by the Constitution involves addition
al delay, and, from its terms, it will be Ia
ken rather as applicable to a Territory
about to be admitted as one of the United
States, than State which has occupied a
place in the Union for upward Of quarter
OF century.
The bill declares that Arkansas is EMIT
led and ought to be admitted to rePresen-
tation in Congress- as one of the States Of
of the Union, upon the following
fundamental conditions "That the Con-
stituuon Of Arkansas shall never be so
amended or changed as to deprive any citi-
zen or class Of citizens Of the United States
of the right to vote who are entitled tc vote
by the Constitution herein recognized, ex-
cept for punishment for crimes that are
now felonies at the common law. whereof
they shall have been convicted, equally
applicable to all the Inhabitants of said
State. provided any alteration Of said Con
stituiou prospective in its effect may be
made in regard to the time and place Of
residence of voters"
have been unable TO TO find ia the Con-
stitution Of the United States any warrant
for the exercise OF the authority thus claim
ed by Congress in assuming power to inn
pose fundamental conditions on State
which has been d uly admitted into the Union
on an equal footing with the original States
in all respects whatever Congress as
serts tho right-to enter Stats as 1t may be
Territory. and to regulate the highest
prerogative ola free Psoplo7Tthe elective
franchise. This question is reserved by
Constitution to tke States themselves. and
to eonoede to Congress the power 70 regu
late this subjest would be to reverse tbs
fundamental principle Of Che Republic and
place in the hands Of the general Govern
meut, which j. creature Of the States, th'
sovereignty which Justly belongs to th'
States or the people, the true source Of al
political power, By whom our federal sye
tenn was created and TO whose will it is sub
ordinate.
The bill fails to provide ia what name
the ( tate Of Arkansas is to signify its &C
osnianee of the fundamental conditio
,Jeawors 10 mako una