The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-17
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT IN THE
INDIANA LEGIsLATuRE

The Senate Of the Indiana Legislature
as our readers are already advised, without |
"a --s. quorum, and after the resignation Of
The democratic members, few days ago,
p4! ga record its ratification O! the fifteenth
amsndment, By vote Of - to !. As this
% likely to give rise to very important ques.
tons Of constitutional law upon which the
country will be divided, we give below a
full report og the proceedings Of the House
on the same subject, from which We think
It can be discovered that the Republicans o.
tho Indiana Legislature emulate, in high
degree, the lawless and reckless spirit ex
hibited by their party representatives. il
Congress. This action of the House wa
taken on the llth
Motions were made for the call Of tho
house, and the reading of the journal aud
to adjourn. The latter motion having been
withdrawn, call OF the house was or.
dered, and the yeas and nays demanded,
winch resulted Yeas 20 ; nays 81.
The house then took recess till 2 o'clock
at which the session was resumed,
Mr.. Osborn moved that the house concur
in the senate amendments to the specific
appropriation bill, which were CONQUERED in
by unanimous consent.
A message from the senate was received
announcing that the body had passed the
CONT resolution ratityiug the fifteenth
amendment, and requesting the concurrence
Of the house.
4 message was read from the Governor,
announcing the resignation of certain mem.
bers Of the house.
Mr.. Osborn moved that the house cousil.
or 'hescrRtc resolution ratityiug the amend
ment, and demanded the previous ques-
ton
Mr.. Colroth just then came into the hall,
demanded a call of the house and submitted
the point of order that the consideration Of
the amendment having been fixed by reso.
luton for 2.3O to day, the motion Of Mr. Os-
born could not be considered.
The rol. Of the house proceeded, aud dis
covered hftysix members. The names of
the resigned members were not called
Mr.. CotFroth affirmed that, by his watch
which was set by the house cloc~, =, ye'
wanted OF
Mr.. Osborn said his watch was with th'
house clock.
The speaker said his watch was Is min
utes aiter2.
Mr.. Cofroth said he presumed oil til,
watches had been advanced to suit the ad
vance Of the house clock.
He insisted that no quorum was present
and that no legislation could be done with
outa quorum.
The speaker said that on that question
there was a diversity Of opinion. Sixty sew
en- members were necessary for legiSativ,
business of gu ordinary character, but or
the question Of ratifying the amendment
there was doubt enough to warrant the
chair in holding that it could not be settled
but by holding that the ONT resolution o.
the senate is In order.
Mr. Coffroth appealed from the decision
Of the chair, and submitted it in writing
which was laid on the table-by yeas 50
nays 3
The appeal was laid on the table, and the
vote wa' taken on the joint resolution for
the ratification Of the amendment, resulting:
yeas b. nays none.
Mr.. Cofroth and Mr.. Davis declined 20
vote regaTt'nE the proceeding in violation
OF the state constitution, which prescribes
that seventy seven members shall constitute
q quorum.
The speaker announced the result, and
declared the joint resolution adopted by the
house OF representatives, and the house ad
!ourned