Andrew Johnson: “Our Government springs from and was made for the people--not the people for the Government.”

My object in this communication is to suggest certain defects in the Constitution which seem to me to require correction.

The foregoing views have long been entertained by me.

No power exists in the Constitution authorizing the joint resolution or the supposed law--the only difference being that one would be more palpably unconstitutional and revolutionary than the other.

In compliance with and execution of the act of Congress before mentioned, do issue this my proclamation, announcing the fact of the ratification of the said amendment by the legislature of the State of Louisiana.