The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-27
The Indiana Revolution.

The following comments upon the
recent attempt of the radical members
of the legislature to force legislation by
setting aside constitutional restrictions,
meets with a just rebukc from the
Chicago Post, an able, outspoken radi-
cal paper, but one not disposed to sacri-
fee manliness and law even to obtain
party triumph 1t will be seen from
the article, that the Post has no SYM
pathy whatever with the democracy,
hence its rebuke of the action Of tie
radical members of our legislature is
the more striking. That paper meas
ures the great wrong correctly in
stating that if such violations Of the
constitution Of a state are permitted
with impunity-and we vii. add with
out the indignant rebuke of all good
citizens who desire to main tain a Just
and stable government, then all checks
upon the power of majorities, all safe
guards for the protection of minorities
and al stable and orderly government,
is at an end. And we call particular
attention to the closing sentiment of
the Post upon the revolution Inaugural
ted by The radical majority in the In
diana legislature, for it is alike manly
and prophetic. "The fifteenth amend
ment, ratified by the means CHOSEN for
the purpose in Indiana, would not be
worth the parchment upon which it is
engrossed," yet these means were cho-
sen and urged upon the party majority
in the legislature by Senator Morton,
and he tells the people that the inta
nous act will be accepted by congress
as valid ratification Of an amendment
to the constitution of the United
States. Read the indignant protest OF
the Post upon the Indiana revolution :
" That two wrongs DO not make one
right, is as true in politics as in any
thing else; hence. we Go not choose to
put forward the ruifianly action of the
Indiana legislature in electiDg a sena-
tor to congress in 1857, and the atroc-
ious conduct Of the senate in admitting
to his seat the man so chosen, as jus
LITIGATION OF the revolutionary proceed
ings by which it is claimed that the
fifteenth amcndmant to the federal
constitution was ratified few days ago.
To make no long story of it, We state
that the copperheads (aud they are
about as malignant In Indiana. as in
Texas, were determined that the
amendment should not come to vote,
although to defeat it they mi,,l.t be
compelled to resign. Being hard
pressed by the majority against them
In. each house, enough of them sent in
their designations to the governor, as
they had clear right to do, to break
up quorum; but ten of them, five ol
whom had resigned, were brought into
the senate under call of the house.
and though they were present and did
not vote, the resolution was brought up
and Of course passed by y to l.
thirty-four being a quorum.
The claim of the majority that they
had 10 official notification Of
the resignation Of the eight
members held inside Of the senate un
der the call, and that, as they were
present, though they refused to answer
to their names, may or may not have
something in it. Whether it has OIL
has not makes no difference, because
the proceedings in the lover house are
In themselves conclusive OF the wan
Of legality in the result. The resolu
ton in that body was considered bJ
only ffty-ive members, against tho
protest ofthe opposition that the act
ion was worthless as sixty-seven mem
bers we're required for quorum. TIL,
speaker paid no attention to the fac
but "put the thing through"
Now, we are sincerely and hearth.
in favor of the fifteenth amendment
but we are not in favor Of and cauno
assist in establishing such preceden
for future outrages upon the rights o
the minority "a this Indiana histor,
will be, if it has the appreciation 0
congress and the country. We hol
that the resignation of the opposition
members was a moral crime against tn
people butt was not necessarily sub
versive of good government or order i
the state. 1t simply delayed legisla
ton, and took the question in issa
back to the people where the republ
cans should have been glad 10 fight
out. But set it up as = rule tina. TIL