The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-07-03
Ra,if,iug the Amendment,

The ratification If the constitutional
amendments proposed by Congress does
not seem to go forward with that degree
of rapidity and uniformity expected oy
the radicals. We were told some time
ago that, Immediately after the ad"p-
ton Of the amendment by Congress
specia | sessions OF the loyal legIsta
tures would be held and the whole busl'
ness would be fixed up III few weeks
Tennessee and probably Arkansas would
be admitted into the Union immedi-
stsly; their representatives, would take
their seats before the adjournment Of
the present session of Congress; "the
Republican party would be strengthened
for the fall elections" aud all would 60
merry asa marriage bell" But the re.
cent message of President JOIN
SON has put rather different op-
pearance upon the faces OF the
radicals and tho aspect of affairs. The
Governors of the loyal" States are not
30 prompt in assembling their leg
islatures as thoy were hoped 70
be, and it now seems extremely improb'
able that the amendment viii be acted
upon in more than three or four of the
States until after the people have an op.
portunity, in he fa'l elections, of ex-
pressing Their disapprobation OF the
scheme.
The legislature of Connecticut is now
in session, and has been the first TO rat
ify the amendment; but there IS 40
good reason to believe that, il g State
which SO lately refused to amend its own
constitution so as 10 establish negro
suffrage. legislature which wOuld TO-
fuse to incorporate a negro suffrage
amendment into the Federal COustitu-
ton would have been elected had
the question come before tho people.
In New Hampshire also tho Stats
Legislature is now in regular
session and will probably yatify the
amendment; a resolution TO that eiiyCr
has, we believe, already passed by a
small majority il the lower House Bur
in this case as we'll as il Connecticut.
the members of the legislature were
elected by the people loug before it was
thought that congressional radicalism
would take its present shape. Governor
BRowNLow, of Tennessee, is the only
efacer who has yet called special ses-
sion of the Legislature. According TO
his proclamation, the 50 called Legislature
Of Tennessee is to assemble on the Ith OF
July, but it is said to be extremely doubt !
ful whether q quorum can be got togcth. |
or for the purpose of ratitying the amend,
nent President JoHNsON's messlgr .
has had the effect of opening the eyes OF
some of the Tennessee radicals and their .
love for the "loaves and fishes Will not (
permit them to ratify the constitutional /
amendment in direct opposition 10 The
wishes of the President.
In West Virginia it is understood tial
special session of the legislature viii
be held in November far the purpos If
adopting the legal code, or whatever
portion Of it may be ready at chat -iue
and it is probable thar the ,esro sat.
frage amendment will be ratified by
the radicals then assembled The
same men who went through The
farce of making unconstitutional
laws in this city last winter, viii
be called upon to ratify the work of their
fslloy disunionists in Congress
II is row considered almost certain
that the proposed amendment will fail
TO receive the sanction OF thIee-fOurths