Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-05
Equal Suffrage in ohio.

The prompt action of Senator Kellogg
Of Ashtabula County in introducing, on
the first day of the legislative session, a
resolution proposing a change in the State
Constitution striking the word "white"
out of Section lst, Art. 9th, of the con-
stitution, which provides the qualifications
Of electors, viii meet the hearty approval
of al true friends of human equality. We
have advocated such an amendment too
long and earnestly, and our opinions have
been too unanimously supported by the
press and people Of Northern Ohio, to re-
iterate any arguments in favor of this
proposition.
We observe, however, that MI. Kellogg
has fsllen into a blunder which a gentle
man who has served so long under our
State Constitution ought to know better
than to make. His resolution proposes to
submit the amendment to popular vote at
athe next annual October election when
the Constitution distinctly provides that
all amendments be submitted to the vote
of the electors at the next election for
Senators and Representatives after it has
been proposed by the Legislature. This
feature of Mr.. Kellogg's resolution needs
amendment before it is passed.
The mistake into which Mr.. Kellogg, an
able and experienced legislator, has allow
ed himself to fall, indicates such a general
popular ignorance of eur constitution that
a short abstract of its provisions on the
subject Of amending it will be new to
many readers. Either house may propose
amendments to the constitution, and II
passed by a MrseJffths vote of both houses
they shall be submitted tothe people, after
being advertised in at least one newspaper
in each county for at least six months pre-
vious, at the next election for Senators and
Representative, and if they are approved
by "a majority Of the electors voting at
such election " they shall become part of
the constitution. A Constitutional Con-
vention,t to revise, amend or change the con-
stitution, may be called at any time, with
the concurrence of ts0o-thirds of the mem
bers Of beth houses of the General As.
semby, ond with the approval of the ma
jority Of the e~lector. voting at the next
election for members of the General As
sembly. The convention shall consist of
as many members as the House of Repre-.
sentatives and shall be chosen in the same
manner. The constitution, however, i'm
peratiYely provides that the question
aShaIl there be a convention to revise, al
ter or amend the constitution" shall be
submitted to the people in the year 1871,
and every twentieth year thereafter. No
amendment agreed to by any Constitu-
tional Convention shall take effect until
submitted to the vote of the people of the
State and adopted by a majority of those
voting thereon.
One point in the Constitution has not
been fully commented on. The require
ment is that any amendment must be pro
posed not by three-ffths vote of the mem
bers present and voting thereon, but by
"~three-ffths Of the members of each
House. The House of Representatives
contains los, and the Senate 81 members.
To pass the amendment, then, it is neces-
sary that it receive SO votes in the House
and % in the Senate. As the Union men
number 70 and the lower House and % in
the Senate, it is clear that it is in their
power,if they stand united On the question,
to pass the amendment. Will they act
together2 The question viii soon be
solved.