Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-07

N@AOAuliJ PiSP"ASui anu 10 N0io'Su " 10
correct.
Briefly, then, the action had upon the
amendment is as follows, the dates de-
noting the time when each States action
was complete, through the concurrent
vote of both Houses of the Legislature:
Alabama-No action yet taken.
Arkansas-Ratified March Is, 1869.
California-No action yet taken.
Ratified May Ii, 1869.
Delaware-Rejected March Is, 1869.
Florida-Ratified June 10, 1863.
Georgia-Rejected March IL, 1869,
Illinois-Ratified March 5, 1869.
Indiana-Ratifed May IA, 1869.
Iowa-No action yet taken.
Kansas-Ratifed February q, 1869.
Kentucky-No action yet taken.
Louisiana-Ratified March l, 1869.
Maine-Ratified March IL, 1869.
Maryland-No action yet taken.
Massachusetts. -Ratified March II,
1869.
Michigan-Ratified March 5, 1869.
Minnesota--No action yet taken.
Mississippi-No action yet taken.
Missouri-Ratifed March :. 1869.
Nebraska-No action yet taken.
Nevada-Ratified March |, 1869.
New Hampshire-Ratified July l,
1869.
New Jersey-No action yet taken.
New York-Ratified April Ii, 1869.
North Carolina--Ratified March 8,
1869.
Ohio--Rejected by Senate April 80,
1869.
Orcgon-No action yet taken.
Pennsylvania.-R Ratified March %, 1869.
Rhode Island-Senate ratified May q,
1869.
South Carolina Ratified March l3,
1869.
Tennessee-NO action yet taken.
Texas-No action yet taken.
Vermont-No action yet taken.
Virginia-No action yet taken.
West Virginia-Ratifed March 3, 1869.
Wisconsin-R Ratified March 5, 1869.
The federal constitution provides that
any proposed amendment must be rati-
fed by the Legislatures of three>fourths
Of the States (unless Congress shall pro
vide that the ratification shall be done
by convictions in the several States called
for the purpose) before it can become a
part Of the constitution. In the above
list there are thirty seven States, and the
ratification Of twenty. eight is thus neces-
sary to constitute the amendment part
Of the constitution. By the list it APP
pears that nineteen States have already
ratified it. Nine more are therefore ne
| cesSary to render the ratification COM
plete. By the requirements Of Congress,
Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia must
ratify the amendment before their recon-
struction can be completed. These
three States, added to the nineteen
which have already ratified it, would
make twenty-five States, leaving six
vet required to render the action com
| Ilete. And the States from which these
six must be obtained are: Alabama,
California, Delaware, Georgia. Iowa,
Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New
Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Ten
nessee and Vermont.
1t should be remarked, however, that
objection has been made to the action Of
some of the legislatures. Kansas, Miss
souri, and Nevada acted upon an i'm
perfect telegrsphic copy of the amend
ment, and adjourned before the official
copy was received. 1t is contended,
therefore, that their action was insult
ficient, and that their legislatures must
again vote in its favor to render the rati-
fication legal and satisfactory. The Indir
ana legislature ratified the amendment
after nearly all the Democratic members
had rendered their designations and
withdrawn from the two houses in order
| to prevent its ratification. 1t IS
therefore, contended by the opponents OF
the measure that no quorum was pres
ent in either House of the Legislature
when the vote was taken, and that the
ratification by Indiana is consequently
without force and void. Friends of the
measure, however, contend that these
Withdrawals did not leave either House
without quorum, as that depends upon
the actual number of members at the
time the action is taken, and not upon
the number which would constitute a
full representation Of the State, in both
branches of the Legislature. Senator
Norton is among those who strenously
maintain the validity of this ratification,
contending that the principle was long
since established by usage, laws passed
by the Legislature while in this condi'
ton having invariably been carried out
as duly enacted, and two United States
Senators having been chosen in disre
gard Of this requirement.
Some of the papers have said that the
amendment has been ratified by Ala
bama, Iowa and Minnesota; but this il
a mistake. There has been no session
of the Iowa Legislature since April 1865
and it will not again assemble until 1870
nor has there been any session of thu
Alabama Legislature since the amend
meat was submitted, by Congress. Tht
Legislature of Minnesota was in session
when the amendment was submitted
but declined to act on the telegraphi
copy, and adjourned before the Officis
copy was received from the State de-
partment. The next session Of the Leg
islature of that State will be held il
1870.
The Senate Of Rhode Island ratitie'
the amendment, as stated above, in May
but the House postponded its considera
ton until the next session in November
The States which have ratified tn
amendment, but have not yet ofticiall,,
notified the State department at Wash
ipgton, are; Illinois, Indiana, kansa:
Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire an
, New York. Georgia rejected it subse
/, quent to the expulsion of the cOlore
r members of the Legislature, but has NJ
officially notified the State Department