The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-25
TuosaIy Evening, May %, 1859.
sNEAFOR MORTON ON THE XVIII AMEND
MRNT IN INDIANA

gument Of Senator '"'''0''
rrovo that the recent action OF portion OF
-. member, ofthe Legislature OF that state
~. p,oposed fifteenth amendment, con.
,r,ntss A valid ratification oft We find,
b,vev,-in the Albany Erspiag Journal, the
following statement and approval Of the
SENATOR'S views Of the question, which de.
serve more that passing notice
"Wben the question WAS taken, number
orlaadiug Democrats were on the hoOr Of the
IIog.e. among them two OF the number who
had not resigned. The point Of order vas
that there was not O quorum present. HE
Speaker decided that az they we're voting on
All amendment TO the Natioua. Constitution,
performing az act required by the Constitu
ton Of the United States, solely, ana IN no
manner regulated by the state Constitution,
three .fhhs quorum was not necessary 49,
The simple question Is, can this be sustain
ed? Senator Morton holds II clearly right
And we are inclined to agree with him. But
for the National Constitution the Indiana
LEGISLATURE would have no power over the
matter whatever The National Constitution
requires the ratification by the Legislature
Tho, means the same thing in Indiana az in
New York-the majority Of the Legislature
And i eau mean no more 10 Indiana than
IN New lork. i was not contem plated by
the trainers q the National Constitution,
that ratification by the Indiana Legislature
should be under more stringent regulations
than BY the New York Legislature. The
voice Of the people was 70 be expressed in
the Same way, through the voice Of the ma
or,ty Of the Legislature. The State Con.
sutuu0n cannot alter or regulate duty I'm.
posed by the National Constitution, and this,
together with the fact that the Indiana Con.
situation does not pretend 10 regulate the
question, seems to strongly fortify the posi-.
ton Of the Speaker Of the Indiana House Of
epresehtatiye,.'
1t rs as surprising as il is alarming that
70 respectable a member Of the L. s. Sen.
St. as Mr., Morton, and so able q journal as
We have inst quoted, should commit them
selves to such transparent and dangerous
h.ac.es as are contained in the above para.
graph The statement Of the Speaker and
action Of the House was excused at the
time on the ground that there being qucs.
80" as 70 whether the legislature could act
'eIa''y or not II could be tested ana decided
only by acting, and thus making an issue
FOR the courts. There is nothing particular,
'' surprising either IN the tact that those IN
both parties whose p0liucgl opiulOus rise IN
DO greater level than par'izan prejudice,
reject tAe phase OF the question most adj
Eaomgeons 20 their respective partles. Bu
something better Is expected OF those wilt
are supposed to be teachers and leaders.
The constitution Of the United States
ihe warrant Of authority 20 Congress in tb
matter, aud II provides that ichu amcur
mouts which have been proposed by Con
gryss have been raHfsi Jy be Icyj,iIh,n
~ three fo1utls orhe s,rerl gb,l,s, III,
shall be valid to all intents aud purpo,.s
parts of the constitution. II ia difficult
discover either the authority or excuse
the assertion that the act Of the India
Legislature was one required by the Co
stitut,on of the United States, solely, ana
10 manner regulated by the State Cous'i,
ton There is nothing in the cougumu
express or implied which ,y1.res . s.a
legislature to act on an amendment propo,,
by Congress Would il not ta p.r.ec.
legitimate however uncouttnur. E.r, .,