The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-17
GneQmteltiqetrter:
INDIANA LEGIsLATURF.
Ratification of the Fifteenth Amen

A day or two since we published In
telligence of the passage of resolutions
in the Indiana Senate ratifying the 15tt
Amendment. The Democrats had agaiL
attempted to prevent it by resigninG
and breaking up quorum, but the Re
publicans were too smart for them and
rushed the resolutions through before
any official notice of their resignation
was received and while in contempla.
tion of law a quorum was still present
The Democrats having complained that
the Republicans violated an agreement
In regard to bringing up the question
the matter is thus explained in letter
to the Cincinnati Gazette under date o.
Friday:
The difficulty first arose in the House
The Specific Appropriation bill and the
Morgan Raid bill were both in the
same situation. Both had been passed
by the House, had been passed by the
Senate, with amendments, and had
come back to the House for concur
renee in the amendments. 1t so hap
pened that the Democrats especially il.
terested in the Morgan Raid Bill, and
the Republicans in the Appropriation
bill. or the Morgan Raid bill l need
not now say much 1t proposed
to pay claims to the amount OF
Sab 900, a very small proportion OF
which could ever be got from
the general Government. A large
amount of these claims had baen
bought up. and were in the hands of
speculators, 80 that the real losers
amount. The Indications are that the
lobby force in the interest of these
spectators had a large amount OF
money to spend for the purpose of get
ting the bill through, and If it was not
II was not their fault; while
the extra zeal shown by few oil the es-
pecial champions of the bill gave color,
at least, TO the charges of corruption.
This bill was set for 10 O'Clock yester-
day morning. Upon meeting at 8
o'clock the Appropriation bill would
come up, and the friends OF the Morgan
Raid bill, led by John S. Davis. of New
Albany, determined 10 stay ont and
prevent action upon the Appropriation
bill until theirs could be taken up aud
propose that they would act upon the
former if pledge were given that
theirs should be passed, but not other
wise. This was revolutionary pro-
ceeding in itself which was as high
handed as the ripest disorganizer need
desire. The Republicans were willing
that both bills should stand on their
own merits, aud upon them stand or
fall, but would give no pledges OF pre-
cedence to the Morgan Raid bill, and
thereupon adjourned until O'Clock.
At the same time it WAS evident to OBJ
servers that the end of the session had
been reached, so far as the Democrats
could control the matter, and before
noon enough designations had been
rendered the Governor of members OF
the House to break quorom in that
body.n
In the Senate there were but eleven,
and several OF them went in and took
their seats as If nothing had happened.
No resolution had been adopted in the
Senate postponing action on the amend
ment, until today, although one had
been passed several days ago, pledglng
a postponement of action when 1t
should be taken up. Republicans were
willing to postpone until Monday, If
the Democrats would recede from their
to press the Morgan
Raid bill, but they would listen TO
nothing of the kind. The Republican
satisfied that the Democrats
had already broken their pledge and
acted in bad faith, took the action set
forth in last nights dispatches. and
ratified the amendment i'll that body,
refused to vote.
The Democrats tried the same game
Friday In the House and were beaten
there as they were in the Senate, rs the
following proceedings show:
IHD1ANAPoLls, May IA.
The interest day centered in tho
House, forty two Democrats rendered
their designations to the Governor yes
terday, leaving but two OF their party,
Coffroth, of Huntington, and Davis, OF
Floyd, two of the keenest and most un-
scrupulous partisans.
Nothing of interest occurred at the
morning session, There was no que
rum, but no official notice of the resig-
nations had been received from the
Governor. The House adjourned until
two o'clock.
A caucus Of Republicans was held
and it was agreed to follow faithfully
the lead of Major Osborn.
Promptly, on the stroke OF two, the
Speaker called the House to order.
Mr.. Osborn moved to concur in the
Senate 4 amendments TO the specific
appropriation bill, and the two Demo-
Gratis were not in their places TO de-
mand the ayes and noes. II was &C
cordingly, done in moment, by viva
voce vote. This was perfectly legal,
the presumption being at the opening
OF each session that a quorum Is pres
ent until the contrary Is shown.
Immediately after this the two Demo.
Gratis appeared greatly chsgrlned a:
their want of vigilance.
Soon after the Governor sent in the
official notice that torty.two members
had resigned.
Mr.. Osborn called up the Senate
Joint resolution to ratlfy the Fifteenth
Amendment, and moved its passage.
Mr.. Davis had left his sea. and gone
over by Mr.. CoTroth. where they were
surrounded by such Democrats as Sam.
Buskirk, Bayless w. Hanna and w. r.
Bowes as a bodyguard. The maneu-
vering and filibustering now began.
Mr.. Coffroth raised the point of or
der that there was not quorum pres
enG.
had held uniformly that it required
sixtY-seven members to constitute q
quorum to do business, this was Pc
culiar case-the ratification OF pro-
nosed amendment to the National
Eonstitution; and that instrument and
the acts of Congress are silent as &c
what shall constitute quorum for tnls
purpose. He should mold, therefore
that as the roll call had shown thai
there were fifty-four members present
more than q majority-there were
enough for the purpose Of acting upon
this resolution.
An appeal was taken ard voted
down, or course, and under the pressure
of the previous question the resolution
passed, by a vote of 81 ayes and nc
noes. ,.,.oor ~
Morgan. made short speeches, when
their names were called, and refused &c
admirable speeches, brief and to thf
noint. were made in explanation O
their votes by Dunn, OF LaWren 1e
Lneh 'S DSS,o-, Gordon of Boone