The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-02-26
A BRIEF BUT TELLING spEEcH.
Senator Hendricks on the Submission Of
the Amendment.

the Amendment.
MR. PRESIDENT: 1t is not my purpos
TO disclss the amendment proposed TO tn
Constitution Of the United S,s.es now be
fore the Senate. My opinions have bee,
on one or Two occasions expressed. 10 III,
Senate upon that subject.
! think that the history of the last two o.
or three years does not strengthen thu
position Of gentlemen who claim that N.
right Of suffrage ought TO be extcnded 10 The
colofed populations The govern,oe mis- tha,
have been established in some the State.
under that policy are not su. n q success in
protecting p"rsoss ahd pro cry, aud pro.
ihoI'hg the prosperity and peace Of the peo.
pie as will JUSTLY any very confident de
mand made by the friencs Of this measure
The question which | wish TO discuss jus,
now Is that OF The proper submission of this
amendment 10 The people or to the Siates.-
l am not able to concur in all Of The propo-
s'sIon OF the Senator from Kentucky. One
Vi the features Of his proposition is that the
'mencment may be submi,ied TO the people
Of the States TO be voted upon in he po2u.
lar way ny the people. um not aware Of
my provision OF the Constitution OF the Uni
-d States uihorxing the ratification Of an
amendment Ia iha, mode. So FAR as the fu
ure IL concerned, have no doubt that we
nay so amend The Constitution. The ques.
ion which wish 10 spenk Of now Is how
hall this sme ndment be considered hv tho
'eop'e! tbs radical ard important. and il
honlo be decided in The country oecorSop
o the will and pleasure Of Tie people. How
an that be done! In the absence OF a con.
ii'u'ional provision su'horizng it, I canno,l
ee hos il can be ,ubmit,ed to ropulor vote
0 The States.
There are only two modes OF ratification:
ne Is by The Legislatures Of the States, and
no other by conventions called in the States:
nd seems 10 be competent for Conpr
} decide upon the mode OF ratification a.
et"een these two modes. The Senator
ON Connecticut (Mr Tixonl has pro posed
suomiesicn TO conventions in The States
; understand ii. That t.ie nearestnos
Bile approach that we can now make 10 the
sope with lhls amendment. wish we
'uld provide but an not clepr that it is
aciicsble. that this amendment shall be
rsidesed by any Legislature already sc.
c,ed. II II could be submitted 10 Leqis;a.
res the members Of which are heresfter 10 d
elected that would answer. every purpose a
l think, desired by the Senator from Con. !
cticut: bu, ! suppose il is not practicable n
possible for Congress 10 say 10 the Sta,e v
,et particular Legislature shall consider o
e eme ndment. sm no, sure upon that I
es'ion. wish could feel sure that we !,
gh, say that the Legislature now elected /,
III not consider il. Iwanf, IN come model,
other. The people to psse upon this mess. /,
;. II they decide that spffrsge in, this {
untry shall be without. limit. then, odb
nrse, ii becomes their voice. il become m
ht so far ss Government is concerned; n
I until that is done no submission will be
cge'her satisfactory. So that I know OF no 8
'de by which we cnD secure the voice and n
cement Of the people except that sug. ID,
,,ed b. the Senator from Connec,icu,;i h,
what ! wish to say now 10 the Senst. 4,
70 lsvor Of that proposition. l,r
submit TO honorable Senators on, all Ibs
es that none OF US to day politically stand Ia
; position to deny tais proposition. \ Itis
posed BY Senator from Connecticut that az
people. in the selection Of delegates to 90
State Conventions. shall have a voice Il
IN this matter. II is their matter. II isl sis
. no further than We can Constitute d an
Of the body Of the people. os'es pr
The Senator from Connecticut pro. si.
es that the people shall speak upon the pr
a, question Of changing the Constitution ID
he United States 10 regard to the exer. we
, Of political power. 10 that upreason o !. De-