Andrew Johnson: “There must be confidence between the Government and the States, and while the Government confides in the people the…”

The danger of a defeat of the popular choice in an election by the House of Representatives is no greater than in an election made nominally by the people themselves.

Feeling constrained to withhold my consent, I herewith return the resolution to the Senate, in which House it originated, with a brief statement of the reasons which have induced my action.

The foregoing views have long been entertained by me.

I transmit the accompanying communications from the Secretary of the Interior, together with the papers to which they have reference.