The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-20
THR INDIANA LEGISLATIVE FARCE.

Whatever may BE- thought OF the sprl
and motives prompting the Democratic
mem ers Of the Indiana Legislature tc
twice resign their seats to prevent vote OF
the proposed fifteenth amendment, we thinl
there can be but one opinion among thOs,
who report the forms of law and regar,
constitutional limitations of binding fore
as to the recent attempt by the Republics
members Of that body to ratify the amend
ment without the presence Of a quorum.
Only those who believe constitutions and
laws utilities unless according with their
own wishes and purposes, can consider the
action Of this fraction Of Legislative
body anything more than a farce.
1t is not strange or unreasonable, cons'd-
ering the warmth Of purity aud zeal IN the
country, that Republicans aud Democrats
should differ on the question of the moral
or political right5 Of the Democrats to de-
feat the formal ratification of the amend.
npnt By breaking up d quorum for both
parties look at the question from different
stand points. The Republican thinks the
fifteenth amendment a righteous and just
measure, according justice to prescribed
race and prolonging the day Of his party
nscendancy while the Democrat considers
the measure fraught with both public mis-
chief and party disadvantage. Ia addition
to this, the Democrats Of Indiana are war.
rauted il believing that the people Of the
State are opposed to the amendment, aud
that the present legislature, not having
been chosen with reference to the issue Of
negro suffrage, does not represent the Popu-
lar will on this subject, and hence they N.
sist that it is unfair to take advantage Of
this state Of facts, aud fastcn upon the
people not only Of that State, but Of all
the States, fundamental aud irrepealable
law without their consent and against what
is believed to be their wi shes.
If We 60 into the equities and fairness Of
the position Of the two parties, the advan.
tage il certainly with the Democracy, and
the determined haste OF the Republicans in
North virtually comedies it. For, if the
people Of the State Of indiana are in favor
Of the measure there is nothing lost in al.
loving them to choose delegates to ratify it,
and if they are opposed to it they should
certainly be allowed to reject it, The post.
pOncment till another Legislature cannot dc.
feat it if the people are in favor OF it, bu,
tbs ratification Of it by the present LeEsa.
t4re would be final and conclusive upon the
people, and could not be reconsidered, even
though the next Legislature should be a
unit IN its opposition to it, The desire,
therefore, on the part Of the Democrats Of
Indiana to defeat this measure for which
they conceive to he the public welfare or
even party advantage does not outweigh in
the scale Of moral or political turpitude the
determination on the part of the Republi,
cans to ratify it for similar reasons, espe
cially when the latter themselves have good
reason to believe the people are opposed to
il Had the Democrats retained their
seats and the amendment had been ratified
against their protest on behalf of the people
Tor the reasons assigned for resiguing the
ratification would have been legal though
unfair and the action of the Democrats in
resigning in order to transfer the question
from the party caucus to the people, have
equal claims to legality, and is not so un.
fair, even in party sense
The Chicago I1st which denounces the
Democrats on their first. resignation, as
worthy of the States PRISON. now comedies
that they had legal right to resign, and
thus practically dissolve the Legislative AS
sembly and denounces the action oS the
Republicans rs irregular and illegal. II
says
The proceedings in the Lower House are
in themselves conclusive of the want Of lie.
gality in the result. The resolution in that
body was considered by only ftty.fve mem
bers, against the protest of the opposition
that the action was worthless as sixty.siX
members were required for quorum. The
speaker paid no attention to the fact but
put the thing through
Now we are sincerely and heartily in ia.
vor Of the fifteenth amendment but we are
not in favor of and cannot assist in estab
fishing such precedent for future outra
Ees upon the rights of the minority as thi,
Indiana history will be, if it has the appro
baton of Congress and the country. W;
hold that the resignation of the opposition
members was moral crime against tn,
people; but it was necessarily subversiye o
good government or order in the State. !
simply delayed legislation, and took tn
question in issue back TO the people wher
the Republicans should have been glad t
fight it out But set it up as rule thu
the constitution of State in a time 0
peace NAV be violated with IMMUNITY an
that the yolators may gain all thai they en-.
desvored to accomplish BY their act, and Of
course all checks upon the power Of ma
jorities, all safeguards for the protection o
minorities, and all stable and orderly gov
eminent, are at an end. The Giteent
amendment, ratified by the means choser
for the purpose in Indiana, would not b
worth the parchment upon which it is Ell
crossed.