Andrew Johnson: “If the admission of loyal members to seats in the respective Houses of Congress was wise and expedient a year ago, it is…”

Strongly impressed with the truth of these views, I feel called upon by an imperative sense of duty to revive substantially the recommendation so often and so earnestly made by President Jackson.

The foregoing views have long been entertained by me.

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.

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