The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-05-25
7 N d 7 a N a =
The Present ActiGn OF tise DcnlO-
crssisfn the Legislature Deaeid-
-

ncnro SUFFRAGE amendment was passed
by two third vote OF those present,
and hurriedly submitted to the States,
three f1urths Of which must ratiiy to
make it valid. On the 3th Of March
the Democratic members of tie House
and Senate, minority in both branches,
but really the Representatives Of large
majority OF the people, resigned, solely
to prevent the ratification .}y lndiana.--
An election was ordered and the time
therefor fixed in the midst ofthc equlnoc-
tial storms, twelve days before an an
nual election; first. to punish Democrat
ic cOuntips; secondly, to prevent 4 full
vote, thirdly, TO prevent the question:
from entering into the township elections
there and elsewhere. Every resignin9
member was returned. The condemna
ton of the People was hurled against
the Radical leaders.
A special session was ordered for the
Sth of April for the purpose, as stated
by the Governor, of passing the neces
sary appropriations" 1t was alleged
over and again that this could have beer
done in five hours if the members hac
not resigned, and thus have avoided the
expense OF q called session. When tht
Sth of April arrived, the newly returned
members refused to he sworn in unless
assurances were given by the majority
that the amendment should not bt
thrust in advance of necessary .ogisla
ton for the State Positive promise:
and assurances were given to this effect
US shown by the correspondence pub
lished at the time, and by the speech o
Mr. Rice and others in the Senate Mem
bers qualified, and the very next day
trap was attempted to be. sprung upol
them in the Senate, by which the Amend
ment should be ratified, but was happi
| ly discovered and defeated. Resolu
tons were thereupon adopted in eacf
House, fixing the day for the considera
ton of said Amendment on the llth o
May.
When that time spproached it wa
deemed necessary for the public good t.
postpone it further, and SO resolution
were adopted in each House, in effect
setting the consideration of said amend
ment down for Friday, the l4th of alay
1t was well understood all the time tina
when this question was taken up TO
consideration the Democrats would no
be present, because the voice Of the peo
pie had no been consulted by the Rad
icals; and yet it was pressed to the verg
of breaking up the business on the da.
after the Senators were sworn in. o.
the night of the 10Th instant, a Repuh
Iican caucus was held, in which it wa
determined that the next morning the,
would press the specific appropriation
blll-of between one and two hundret
thousand doilars-containg many spe
cifc allowances to leading Radicals an
that then they would force through tn
negro amendment.
OF this Democrats had hint, and
therefore, called caucus of member
of the House in the morning of the l3t
at nine clock, and in twenty minute
thereafter, and while consulting, tn
House hastily adjourned, meeting th
Democrats going in as they came out o
the hall In the meantime ali unadvise
effort had been made by Radical t
get up the Amendment in the Senate i
the forenoon. 1t failed because tn
large allowances to leading Radicals ha
not yet passed the House. AT the moo
adjournment of the Senate a caucus G
Republicans of both Houses was al
nounced to meet at once. They me
and reaffirmed their determination of tn
night before. At the meeting Of tn
House at two o'clock a proposition wa
offered to take up, first, the Specific Al
preparation Bill, and after two hour
consideration vote on 1t. Then, see
ondly, to take up the Morgan Raid Bill
and, after two hours, vote upon tha
and then take up other business, br
that the Amendment should not be take
: W that day.
This was rejected at once by the IN;
/ iority, because it would interfere wit
the caucus arrangement, and postpon
the amendment until after legitimate an
| necessary business. Thereupon tn
t Democratic members of the House, ha'
ING learned that the Republicans in I'll
Senate had taken up the Constitutions
Amendment, and locked the doors
the Chamber to prevent the exit Of men
{ bers, resigned at once-forty two i'll nun
ber This they were more prompt
do because they found the doors Of tt
hall all locked but one, and that left u
t looked for the reason, il seemed, til
f the Doorkeeper could find no key for
and it was surmised that some unregeI
crate Copperhead had confiscated
seeing the approaching storm.
Democratic Senators anticipating Il
, intended action of the Radicals, did n
90 to the Senate Chamber before Il
House had rejected the fair proposition
before set out. Eleven thereupon +
signed, and several who did not, b:
. business elsewhere and did not go up
u all. In violation of their repeated pror
:, ises, Of their resolution and Of the a
parent action in the forenoon, Radio
, Senators took up the negro votir
Amendment and went through the for
of passing it On the afternoon OF Il
18th.
q On the morning of the 14th the Hou
d met, no quorum being present, and a
9 journed until o'elock-the regular ho
8 by the rules. Before that hour arriv,
! portion of the Radicals again met
the hall of the House and at once, wit
out calling the yeas and nays, and wit
out a quorum, pretended to concur
the Senate amendments to the speci
= appropriation bill. This. they did
o the absence Of Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Co
: roth, Democrats, who were left to C;
the yeas and nays, and who. hearing
the proceedings, fastened in before tv
O'Clock, ,and Indignantly protested again
such an attempted outrage and intam
II The House then proceeded, still, witho
/ a quorum, to consider and vote up'
d a resolution ratifying the Constitution
Amendment-ffty- three voting for
none against it, and three present rel
Y sing to vote, ffty-six in all--sixty sew
e being . quorum. Thus the farce W