New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-04
THE CONsTIrUrIoN AMHND.
MENT.

In twenty Of the twenty-five States which
took part in the late Presidential election, tho
Legislatures are in session. All of these,
with tho exception of Delaware, Kentucky
and New-Jersey, are under the control Of the
friends of universal freedom, who are re-
spending TO the great move Of Congress with
inspiring alacrity. Already the Legislatures Of
Illinois. Rhode Island, New-York, Pennsyva-
MIA, Maryland, Michigan, West Virginia and
Massachusetts have spoken; none more signif-
cantly than the last two States, the Legislature
OF which gave unanimous votes in favor Of
ratification Soon California, Indiana, Kansas,
Maine, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Wiz.
consin, will have sent Us their response; making
in all seventeen States. The Legislatures Of
Connecticut, New-Iempshire and Vermont
meet later in the year, and those Of Iowa and
Oregon not until 1866; but in neither Of these
States, we feel sure, will the loyal Governors
dissppont the impatence Of the nation, to see,
as speedily as practicable, the contamination Of
the grand change in our National life. The
assent Of these states will give rs twenty two
votes. Tho legislative bodies representing the
loyal citizens Of Arkansas, Louisiana and Vir-
GINA, which are now in session, and tho Legis
lature Of Tennessee, which Is expected to meet
in April, will claim the honor Of cooperating
with the old free States in Kidding the Union of
Slavery. Counting in their votes would give
US twenty.six States, or only one less than the
number required.
The nation turns, therefore, with more than
ordinary anxiety to the three State Legislatures,
in which the opponents Of the Emancipation
policy OF the present Administration are in q
majority. AL three of them are now in session.
The assent of one Of them makes the execution
Of the great decree offreedom, if all tho above
Legislatures vote, immediately possible.
The eyes of hundreds of thousands Of
patriots orc therefore now turned upon
the Democratic members Of the assem-
blies at Trenton, Frankfort and Dover,
and upon the ballots which they will deposit.
How will they vote Will sufficient number
Of opponents of the Administration be patriotic
enough TO lay their party spirit and party pre-
ju Ices on the altar of the countryf These are
questions engrossing at present public opinion.
Let us then briefly examine what chances Of
success we have in those States. l.4 ---4
Least promising is the aspect Of affairs in Del.
aware. There the Democrats number in the
Senate against only 3 Unionists, and Ia in the
House against Unionists, thus having ma
jority Of 3 in the Senate, of 7 in tho House, and
of 10 on joint ballot. 1t would require, there
fore, 6 out Of the 90 Democratic votes Of the
Legislature TO be cast in favor Of the amend
meut. The past attitude Of Delaware Democ-
racy, and in particular, in the recent reelection
Of man like Salisbury to the United States
Senate, leaves but little hope of such change.
In New-Jersey and Kentucky the prospect is
a little brighter. In the former the Democrats
have majority Of Sin tho Senate, numbering
10 against Uniotists. In the House, however,
which on the opening Of the session counted an
eqna! number Of Democrats and Unionists, the
death Of one Of the Democratic members gives
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