The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-31
THE SCIENCE OF POLITICS.
TIE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT A
PART or THE CONSTITUTION.

The Passage by the House OF the Texas Bill
nr Amended In the tenato-Tho Lon :
Expected Pro clumnt'on by the President
The Finnl Triumph Of tie War.
wAsnIxG1os, March 8o.-Reprcsentative Bur-
LER rep Mast.) reported back the Senate amend
ment to the bill admitting the State OF Texis TO rep
resen tation in the Union, with recommendation
tat the amendment be concurred IN.
(Thc amendment is to strike out the proviso mat
nothing in tic bill sha affect the c9ndlti99s on winch
Texas was originally annexed TO the UNI MI
Mr. BUTLER explained the amendment, showing
that the construction put upon the proviso in the
Senate was that o. one OF the original conditions
was that Texas might be divided into four states
wherein slavery should exist, It would rocs,ablsh
slavery there. lie protested against that construc'
dom n the bin contained direct prcviso estab-
fishing slavery in Texas, II would be simply void,
and OF no effect How could anv man in his senses
come u the conclusion that provso In bill say
ing that nothing In II would affect that question,
would establish slavery, which was prohibited by
the Consti.utionf
Mr. woop Dem. n. " expressed his surprise at
the facility with which the gentleman from Massn-
ohusetts changed his position. That gentleman had
deemed the proviso Of such importance tina; lie had
drawn 1t with his hands AMI presented II to the
Reconstruction Committee, where It was orreed TO
Without dissenting voice. For Himself he adhered
10 the opinion wnich lie then had that tue oroviso
was mattor Of grave importance. and ought to be
retained In the bill
MIR. PAINE (Rep., wis) renudated the absurd con.
struction which the Senate had put upon PRO-
viso. lie Hing. however, to have the nroviso
struck ont, be ieving that the law would not be a.
fcced whether II WIS IN or out.
Mr.. rRooTs (Dcn N. W remarked that there
were three 80 rantees given TO Texas in tie original
Annexation bill, and he asked Mr.. Butler whether
tfose three guarantees, except Of course rs to sla
very, would stand in the new compact
MIR BUTLER gave II as his opinion that the a'rik-
Ing out Of the pruvieO would not alter or uUect in
any way the original guarantees.
Mr. ERooKs was Clsd TO nc-r thai, and suggested
the proptety ~ non--oncurring In tc Senate amend
ment, and having a Committee OF Conference.
Mr.. TuTLgR did not concur In that suggestion, as
tie matter really was Of too little importance and as
Texas waiting for admission TO teprcseniati
The idea NJ reviyirg slavery under the pfovi-o he
iegnrdod as too prerosterous to find Judgment In
this 81 OF the Capitol The rroviso bad been sug
cested BY rim only n matter OF extreme caution,
lest It might be ssd the till affected in any way the
hts OF private citizens In Texas, under these guar
arrec@, a. to the public lands, the debt, &c.
MIR. 1AwnENcE QRen Ohio argued TIA, the pro-
viso totally unnecessary, inasmuch as there was
nothing in the bill shich IN terms ~ by implication,
proposed to take away any Of the rights OF Texas as
guaranteed under the original resolution OF aunexa.
tinn ne immediate reconstruction OF Texas was de-
srable IN order that tie p defamation announcing
the adj ption OF tie Fifteenth constitutional Amend
ment mlght he immedntely issued.
The Senate amendment was concurred in--yens,
1872 nays, Ca party vote.