The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-25
Lincbln on the Powers Of Congress.

Lincoln on the Powers Of Congress-.
The Radical press has avoided any notice
whatever Of LlNcoI.N's message in 1885 with
reference to the powers of,the two houses
OF Congress in Joint session to count the
vote for President. Nor have they pub
lished the vote Of the Senate on the resolu-
ton assuming the right Of Congress to eS-
clude the votes Of State or States for Pre-
sident. Among those senators voting for
the right to investigate, returns, and for
cause to reject votes, Were SHERMAN, CHAN
der, Su,lNER, MORTON, and numerous
Others OF their type. 81 ' ,5,5f '., ,S -.
In order that the proclamation OF Presi-
dent LINCOLN may be kept before the peo-
pie, and that the Radical press may be made
to,take notice OF it, we republish it below {:
TO The Hon. the Senate and House of Re
preSentdtireS
IS The Joint resolution entitled =" Joint re-
solution declaring certain States not entitled
to representation in the Electoral College "
has been signed by the Executive, in defer
snce to the view OF Congress, implied In Its
passage and presentation to him. In his
own view, however, the two houses Of Con-
gress convened under the twelfth article Of
the Constitution haze complete Po,cer to e1-
deemed by them to be illegal. Andit is not
competent for the Executive to defeat or
obstruct that power by ayeto, as would be
the case If his action were at all essential in
the matter. He disclaims all right OF the
Executive to interfere in any way in the
matter OF canyassing or counting electoral
votes, and he also disclaims that by signing
said resolution he has expressed any opin-
ion on the recitals Of the preamble, or any
judgment of his own upon the subject OF
the resolution. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Executive Mansion, February s, 1865.
We also repeat the resolution which is
referred to in the message OF Mr.. LINCOLN.
This resolution excluded, amongst others,
the votes OF two ''loyal" States Nouisiana
and TENNESSEE which had been re6rganized,
and both OF them had loyal Governors. The
resolution is as follows: ~
"Be at resolued by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States OF
america in Congress assembled, That the
States mentioned in the preamble to this re-
solution Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and
TENNESSEE are not entitled to representa-
ton in the Electoral College for the choice
of President and Vice-President OF the
United State for the term Of office CON-
mencins on the 4th day Of March, 1865;
and no electoral cote shall be received or
counted from said States concerning the
choiceot President and Vice-PreSident for
said term of office. E.a% ~t'<ss=.' ~.
For this resolution the following senators
voted: Messrs. anthony, BROWN, BUcKA-
LEW, Chandler, CLARK, CoLLAMER, Con-
NESS, DAVIS, DIXON, FARwELL, FOSTER,
GRIMES, HALE, HARLAN, HENDERSON, Hen
dricks, HOWARD, johnson, [Reverdy] NOR
GAN, Morrill,, NYE, POWELL, RAMSEY, Sher-
man, STEUART, SUMNER, 1lumbuti, WADE,
and WRGHT-29. -.
ZACH. GAMBLER, SHERMAN, ANTHONY,
Uhe probable next president Of the Senate,)
Mr.. SUMNER, in fact almost every Republic
can senator, then took the position which
Mfr. TRUMBULL and Mr.. HENDRICKS took
then and still adhere TO-