The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-20
The Indiana Legislature and the Fifteenth
Amendment.


Amendment.
The following special to the En-
quirer, of the 14th, gives the action
in the Senate of Indiana on the Ff-
teenth Amendment TO the Federal
Constitution
"All the Democratic members of the
House, except Mr.. Coffrath and Mr..
Davis, of Floyd, resigned their seats
this afternoon, regarding such step
necessary to defeat the ratification of
the Constitutional Amendment.
All the Democratic Senators have
also zFesig1seta but Messrs- Bradley,
Johnson, Henderson, Morgan and
Denbo. It was made evident on
Wednesday that the Republicans in
teuded to bring in the consideration
of the amendment by the adoption of
a motion to postpone the considera-
tfon of the Senate amendments to the
Morgan Raid Bill until to-day at three
O'Clock, one hour after the time fixed
for the consideration of the amend
| ment; they thought the Democrats
would not resign until the Morgan
Raid Bill was passed, but they count
ed without their host
At noon the Republicans held a
caucus, at which Senator Morton was
present, who urged extreme measures
to secure the ratifieationof the amend
4neift. It was determined that the
eleven old Senators should pass a. res
olution so as to defeat quorum in the
Joint convention. Ii the Republicans
should attempt that measure to ratify
the amendment. They had no inten-
ton to- break quorum in the Senate,
but intended enough should remain
to finish up all bills that had passed
the House.
= Five of the Senators who had re-
signed went TO heaSenates chamber,
when the doors were locked upon
them. but one. of them managed to
get out.
This left four Democrats in the
Chamber, who were known to; have
resigned, and four Democrats who
| had not resigned. On the vote on the
Joint Resolution, twenty-seyen Sena-
| tors voted aye, and one nay, all Re-
publican. f9tt '7HH 30 ts
The Lieutenant Governor with a
knowledge that quorum of Senators
were not present, as it required thlr-
ty-four, declared the resolution adop-
ted. ,siEfsg se "a # @
THE Republican members, as was
predicted, broke faith, and proved
themselves to be destitute of manli-
ness, integrity and honor; but no
good viii come from this violation of
faith. The pledge not to bring on the
consideration of the amendment un-
til this afternoon, as the resignation of
the Democratic members of the House
Legislation, and virtually dissolving
lfIe Iesislatufe.a It is understood,
however, that the Radical members OF
the House will tomorrow proceed to
ratify the amendment, trusting that
the Radical Congress will accept it as
1.-THE zsoA "of the Legislature. 3
lsidFhe Morgan Raid and specific ap-
EpropriatioH bills fail, and the respon-
sibility and .odium OF the defeat OF
I those measures will rest with the Rad
fical members, who violated theil
faith, rather than permit their pas
Sage s4dss 59siasssu a5fw fui..
lss In the House, sen Friday afternoon
question of cencurrinn in the res
olution ratifying theamendment came
up, land, althaugh the Democratic mem
!, sbers previously resigned, rendering i
legally impossible for them to transac
business for the want of a constitu
tional quorum, forty-one persons
claiming to be the House of>Repre'
I. sentatiyes, in utter disregard of theil
& official oaths proceeded to vote upor
the joint resolution to ratify tn
amendment, which was carried by
dBoted of ayes 81, nays, none; two
d Democrats and one Republican pres
g aent, refusing to vote. 1t is thus, il
9 total disregard of their plighted faitf
8 their oaths of Office, the obligations o
9 thesconstitutiop, and the known vii
of the people, that the Radical despot
9 are carrying through their high-hand
{ ed measures, planting consolidated
Q Imperial government upon the ruin
y of that Federal Union established b
y the patriots of the Revolution
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