of
those who were qualified under the laws of Congress it is not possible
to know, but that such was its effect, at least sufficient to overcome
the small and doubtful majority in favor of this constitution, there
can be no reasonable doubt. Should the people of Arkansas, therefore,
desiring to regulate the elective franchise so as to make it conform to
the constitutions of a large proportion of the States of the North and
West, modify the provisions referred to in the "fundamental condition,"
what is to be the consequence? Is it intended that a denial of
representation shall follow? And if so, may we not dread, at some future
day, a recurrence of the troubles which have so long agitated the
country? Would it not be the part of wisdom to take for our guide the
Federal Constitution, rather than resort to measures which, looking only
to the present, may in a few years renew, in an aggravated form, the
strife and bitterness caused by legislation which has proved to be
so ill timed and unfortunate?

ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, D.C., _June 25, 1868_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

In returning to the House of Representatives, in which it originated,
a bill entitled "An act to admit the States of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida to representation
in Congress," I do not deem it necessary to state at length the reasons
which constrain me to withhold my approval. I will not, therefore,
undertake at this time to reopen the discussion upon the grave
constitutional questions involved in the act of March 2, 1867, and
the acts supplementary thereto, in pursuance of which it is claimed,
in the preamble to this bill, these States have framed and adopted
constitutions of State government. Nor will I repeat the objections
contained in my message of the 20th instant, returning without my
signature the bill to admit to representation the State of Arkansas,
and which are equally applicable to the pending measure.

Like the act recently passed in reference to Arkansas, this bill
supersedes the plain and simple mode prescribed by the Constitution
for the admission to seats in the respective Houses of Senators and
Representatives from the several States. It assumes authority over six
States of the Union which has never been delegated to Congress, or is
even warranted by previous unconstitutional legislation upon the subject
of restoration. It imposes conditions which are in derogation of