The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-05-21
THE INDIANA DODGERS.

The Legislature of Indiana has rati-
fed the 18th amendment. The condi-
ton of affairs, when the ratification took
place, renders il probable that the va
| lidity of the ratification will be tested
in the courts, and we have no opinion
to express, whether it will be sustained
or rejected. The Gazette, however, hav-
ing seen proper to endorse the action of
the Democratic members in resigning,
To laud as arrant a pack of skulking
dodgers as ever disgraced Legislature,
and to misrepresent the case, it is right
that the truth should be told. We
quote.
1t will be remembered that when the
Republicans of Indiana undertook to
take snap judgment on the people by
passing the fifteenth amendment, the
Democratic members resigned and left
Legislature without a quorum. The
Governor called special elections
in the vacant districts, and the mem-
bers who had resigned went into the
canvass on their action, and with the
specific declaration that they would, if
elected, resign again should the legisla>
without giving the people of the State
a chance to vote upon it. either directly
or by Legislature chosen on that issue
On these grounds every man of them
was reelected. showing that the people
were opposed to- the fraudulent snap
Judgment that the radicals were endeav-
oring to take on them. They went to
the capital received pledge from the
Republican caucus thHJ il they would
go into session the question would not
be raised, and on This pledge they
went Ia.
1t is optional with Congress, under
the constitution, TO submit an amend
ment either 10 Legislatures or Conven-
tions. The 18th amendment was subs
mitted to the legislatures as we believe
every amendment ever ratified has been,
and to legislatures elected in nearly ev-
cry instance before the amendment was
suggested. In the Indiana Senate there
are 33 Republicans aud l. Democrats I;
in the House, 81 Republicans and 43
Democrats. making 80 Republicans to
60 Democrats, on joint ballot, with a
Republican majority in the State OF
9,572. Here was the best opportunity
in any OF the Republican States tor the
democracy to defeat the amendment
the Democrats having one~third on joint
ballot. and nearly four iifths la the
House Instead of meeting the issue
ike mer, a number from the lower
counties resigned the very day the
amendment came up, leaving the House
without quorum and the entire busi~
ness of the State in an incomplete mud
die. What did they care for that
They refused TO return and skulked
about until the Republican mem bers
agreed that the amendment should not
be taken up until May 18th, when their
greed for green backs induced them back.
A pledge was never made, as the Gu
zctte admits, that the question would
not be raised. The Republicans cd
hered faithfully TO the agreement, that
the State might not suffer from the stag
nation of all business req uiring legisla-
ton. But the very day the limitation
expiring. the vision of the 10th amend-
ment rose up like the ghost of Banquo
before their frighted eyes and tho val
liant. chivalrous, unterriied scalnpered
out of their seats, out of the Legislature.
out of town and out of their seven sens
ses. 1t is trickery, craft or cowardice.
unworthy of honest men, evsding an
issue they were afraid to- meet, and like
Masons, Slidells, Breckenridges or
Floyds, they nibbled at the public crib
as long as they could and then resigned,
after doing all the harm in their power.
They have acted undemocratic in refus-
ing to abide the voice of the majority,
and thus by device defeated the ex-
preston of the State and the object of
legislation. But they have not defeated
the ratification of the amendment any
more than the Democrats of North Car
olina did in dodging the adoption OF the
Federal Constitution for over two years
after its submission.