The POTUS. To the HoRep: The following “Jtresolution, restoring Tennessee to her relations in the Union, ” was last evening presented for my approval: “ Whereas.in the year 1861. the government of the state of Tennesseewas seized upon and‘t akenpos SBJH'IOoHf by persons in hostility to the U.S.a and the inhabitants of snid State.in pursuance ofan act of Congress.weredeclaredto bein a state of in ss auidrre State government U.S. reastnodrewdhteoreita!s y former polities relations in the Uniop by the consent of the lawmaking power of the pita States; and whereasthe peqpe of said State did. on the 21dday of February is , by a large popular vote. Adopt and ratify a spam.tution of government whereby slavery was abolished and all ordinances and laws of secession, and debts contracted underthe same were declared void; a d whereas a Stat Io government has been organize under said constitution, which has ratified the amendmeptto the Constitution of the U.S. abolishing slave; also the amendment proposed by the hirty; inth Congress, and as done other acts proclaiming and denoting loyalty: Therefore Be it resolved the Senate and HoRep of the U.S. in congress assembled That the State of Tennessee is hereby restored to her former proper. practical relations to the Union, and is again entitled to be represented by Sens&Repsin Congress.” The preamble simply consists of statements, some of which are assumed, while the restflution is merely a declaration of opinion. It comprises no legislation, nor does it confer any flower which is binding upon the respective cases the Executive, or the States. It does not admit to their seats in Congress the Sens&Reps from the State of Tennessee; for, notwithstanding the possage of the resolution, each House, in the exercise of the constitutional right to judge for itself of the elections, returns, and qualifications of itsmcmbers, may, at its discretion admit them or continue to exclude them. If a JtResolution of this kind were necessary and binding as a condition precedent to the admission of members of Congress, it would happen, in the event of a veto by the Execu tive, that Sens&Reps could only be admitted to the ha ls of legislation by. a 2/3rd s vote of each of the 2 Houses. Among other reasons recited in the preamble for the declarations contained in the resolution, is the ratification, by the State government of Tennessee, of ‘the amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. abolishing slavery, and also the amendment proposed by the 39th Congress.” If, as is also declared in the reamble, “said State government can only e restored to its former political relations in the Union by the consent of the lawmaking power of the U.S., ” it would really seem to follow that the JtResolution which at this late day has received the sanction of Congress, should have been sssed, approved, and placed on the statute ooks be ore any amendment to the Constitution was submitted to the Legislature of Tennessee for ratification. [Applause from democratic sidc.] Otherwise the inference is lainly deducible that while, in the opinion oi? congress, the people of a State may be too strong y disloyal to be entitled to representation, they may nevertheless, during the suspension of their “ former proper, practical relations to the Union, ” have an equally potent voice with other and loyal States in re positions to amend the Constitution, upon which so essentially depend the stability, prosperity, and very existence of the nation. A brief reference to my annual message of the 4th of December last will show the steps taken by the Executive for the restoration to their constitutional relations to the Union of the States that had been affected by the rebellion. Upon the cessation of active hostilities, ‘provis10ne.l governors were apointed, conventions called)Governors electe by the people) Legislatures assembled, and“ Sens&Reps chosen to the Congress of the U.S. At the same time the courts of the U.S. were reopened, the blockade removed, the customhouses re'c's tablished, and postal operations resumed. The amendment to the Constitution abolishing sla very forever within the limits of the country was also submitted to the States, and they were thus invited to and did participate in its ratification, thus exercising the highest functions pertainiu to a.State. In addition, nearly all of these States, through their conventions and Legislatures, had adopted and ratified constitutions “ of government whereby slavery was abolished and all ordinances and laws of secession and debts and contracts under the some were declared void.” So for, then, the political existence of the States and their relations to the Federal Government had been fully and completely recognized and acknowledged by ‘the executive dept of the Government; and the completion of the work of res toration, which had progressed so favorably, was submitted to Congress, upon which devolved all questions pertaining to the admission to their seats of the Sens&Reps chosen from the States whose people had engaged in the rebellion. All. cse steps had been taken, when, on the 4th day of December, 1865 the 39th Congress assembled. Nearly 8 months have elapsed since that time; and no' other plan of restoration having been proposed Congress for the measures instituted y the xecutive, it is now declared, in the 1ioiu tresolution submitted for my approval, ‘that the State of Tennessee is hereby restored to her former proper, practical relations to the Union, and is again entitled to be represented by Sens&Reps in Congress.” Thus, after the lapse of nearly 8 months, Congress proposes to pave the way to the admission to representation of one of the 11 States whose people arrayed themselves in rebellion against the constitutional authority of the Federal Government. Earnestl desiring to remove every cause of further eluy, whether real orimaginary, on the part of Congress to the admission to seats of loyal Sens&Reps from the } State of Tennessee, I have, notwithstanding. the anomalous character of this proceeding, affixed my signature to the resolution. [General applause and laughter.] My aproval, however, is not to be construed as an acuowl edgment of the right of Congress to pass laws preliminary to the admission of duly qualified representatives from any of the States. [Great laughter.] Neither is it to be considered as committing me to all the statements made in the reamble, [renewed lau hter, ] some of which) are, in my 0 inion, with rout foundation in fact, especially the assertion that the State of Tennessee has ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. proposed by the 39th Congress. [Laughter] Nyo official notice of such ratification has been received by the Executive or filed in the Dept of State; on the contrary, unofficial; information from most reliable sources induces the belief that the amendment has not yet been constitutionally sanctioned by the Legislature of Tennessee. The right of each House, under the Constitution, to judge of the elections, re turns andqualifications of its own members is undoubted, and my approval or disapproval of the resolution could not in the all htest degree increase or diminish the authority in this respect conferred upon the 2 branches of Congress. In conclusion, I cannot too earnestly repeat my recommendation for the admission of eu nessee, and all other States, to a fair and equal participation in national legislation when they present themselves in the persons of loyal Sens&Reps, who can comply with all the requirements of the Constitution and the laws. by this means harmony and reconciliation will e effected, the practical relations of all the States to the federal Government re established, and the work of restoration, inau gurated upon the termination of the war, successfully completed. ANDREWJOHNSON. Wasmxorox, D. C., July 24, 1866. Applause from the Democratic side.] the message was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.