Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-11
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

The pending constitutional amendment
has received the ratification of several ofthe
States, and it may safely set down
that it will be ratified in Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Is
land, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michi-
gan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas,
Nevada, California and West Virginia
tc.nty States. Oregon has rejected it, or, at
least, rescinded its ratification. Missouri
will probably ratify. Tennessee has rati-
fed, but the regularity and legality Of the
act is vet to be decided. If however, all
these are included in the ratification, it will
fail by four of receiving the requisite
three fourths.
We assume that Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama
Mississippi. Louisiana Texas and Arkansas
will reject it. This would be sufficient to
secure its defeat, but it is equally certain that
Kentucky will also reject it. and the elections
last Tuesday render it certain also that Ma
ryland and Delaware will refuse to adopt it.
When proposition to amend the Constitu-
ton fails TO receive three-fouTths ratiica-
ton after all the States have acted, it is a
rejected proposition. 1t cannot be presented
again to any State until Il is re-submitted y
Congress, or a Convention Of all the States
Ii does dot remain open, so, that if one Leg
islature Of State ratiiies or rejects, as the
case may be, a subsequent Legislature OF the
same State may alter that action. Each
State has but one vote on such propositions,
and that being cast, the power in the preml-
ses is exhausted. We conclude, therefore,
that the present amendment has very little
prospect of ratification, il the present
Legislatures proceed to act upon it. We
hone. in the interest of the country at large,
that the issue may be promptly aud decisive
! " met. 1t was offered by the Radical Con-
cress 10 the whole nation-that body had nc
power to do less whatever may have been its
wish. II il fails to meet with acceptance, it
must be abandoned, and the sense Of the ma
ton should be taken on il at once. There is
no need for delay, whilethere is much posi-
bic evil Il such policy is adopted. a plain
question is presented, and it should be plain
| " met. IL three-fourths Of the States ratify
it it becomes a part Of the supreme law. Il
/ they do not. the Constitution remains unal-
tered. There may be a necessity for changes
in the fundamental law, but the one pro-
posed will thus be disposed Of and will be q
step towards the solution Of the nations
perplexity. Let the matter be determined
during the coming session Of the present
Congress
In such question, while under consider
alton. neither the President Congress or th'
Supreme Court have az voice. 1t Is for th'
States and their peoples-the latter IS th'
original source Of all governmental power
and the former as the organisms through
which they act. There should be, by no
depar,ment Of the General Government l
manifestation for or against 1t, or show
Of favor. affection, or partially The one wa,
or the other. In the decision Of such ques
lions the nation il holding gran'
;nopes, and no officer Of high o
low degree. is authorized to inter
fsre. The people may investigate the mer
rs Of the proposition, and discuss the mo
tives and purposes Of It's ProPosers' saei
discussion should be free and untrammeled
| We are satisfel that more than one-iours
Of the States viii reject it and De
lieve that large majority Of the pee
ple are opposed te IL i was con
cievea in vindictive spirit ana ~
tended As a punitive measure. Y y ma
intrinsic merits, this fact alone should con