The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-12
this proposition does do that. II does not /

-E3 : Z
Tess. II oanna do any good, and Il seens
to me 1t is calculated to weaken the Consti-
tuition md to weaken the confidence of the
people Of the country in the validity OF o
constitutional amendment which shall be
adopted when We see that the Congress OF
the United States itself is afraid that il
will amount to nothing unless it, by some
act of Congress, provides for making ii
effective.
Mr.. Drake: Mr.. President, am not sur
priced ut the opposition manifested by the
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee to
this amendment. think it has been very
from the beginning of the work
of reconstruction until this time that the
senator from Illinois has had great aver
sion to anything in this law that had q
grip in it. II the reconstruction acts
were to be passed, that would seem
to do the thing, and yet come little
short of doing it. They were such acts as
the senator from Illinois was willing to
pass, and we have had from time to time to
patch up our reconstruction acts, and pro-
vide for the things that wero omitted by
the senator from Illinois in the drafting of
those that we're passed and now, sir, when
q proposition is made to put into this bill o
provision which is to have distinct and
substantive effect in producing given re-
suit, the senator from Illinois is opposed to
it, as he has always been opposed since ]
have been in the Senate to everything in
connection to reconstruction that really did
go right to the heart of things, leaving no
thing ct all to be done thereafter.
Mr.. Morton: It is possible that Virginia,
after her admission, and after her senators
have been sworn in, and taken their seats
upon this floor, supposins the matter has
passed beyond the control of Congress,
may commit an act of treachery and rescind
the ratification of the fifteenth amendment
before the first of March, or before enough
States have ratified it to make it part of the
fundamental law. Therefore, to guard
against possible act of treachery, which,
however, I do not now believe would be
committed, but which is possible, I am in
favor of the adoption of this amendment
We have right to protect ourselves in the
future by looking at the history of the past,
and we have right, without dishonoring
Virginia, to guard against any possible &C,
ton there in the future by simple refer.
ence to her sister State, Georgia, lying
almost by her side.
Mr.. Trumbull: Will the senator from
Indiana allow me to ask him question
right there ?
Mr.. Morton: Certainly.
Mr.. Trumbull: If this amendment il
adopted, which the senator now advocates
and Virginia should, next month, recall hel
ratification of the fifteenth amendment, ant
Virginia should then be put back terrific
rally, would he then insist that her ratif
cation was good?
Mr.. Morton: If Virginia should rescint
her action, in violation of this amendment
and be put back to her present condition
we will hold her there until she does ratify
the fifteenth amendment again, or unit
she consents to abide by her faith.
Mr.. Trumbull That was not my qucs
ton. Ny question was, Where, then, would
be the fifteenth amendment? Do you no
thereby admit that her ratification of thu
amendment is gone if you put her back il
that way? That is my point.
Mr.. Morton l think not. make no ad
mission of that kind.
Mr.. Trumbull: Then, why hold her unit
she ratifes again?
Mr.. Morton We simply hold the Stat
as security, that is all.
Mr.. Trumbull: Do understand thu
senator to say that he would hold her TO
security for that which he has got? vii
he keep the money and demand securit.
too?
Mr.. Morton: We expect, Mr.. President
to have the vote of Virginia for the fifteenth
amendment Independent of any attempted
breach of faith of that kind, and we Civ
Virginia to understood by this amendmen
that if she shall attempt to play tricl
upon us in that way she will lose her repre-
Bentation upon this floor.
Mr.. Conkling Mr.. President, when the
honorable senator from Missouri proposed
this amendment, I confess frankly that j
did not occur to me that he was in earnest
I saw in it certain logic, from which
thought it was admissible he intended i
US satire upon some propositions which
have heretofore been advanced, but it seem!
we are to vote upon it, and, therefore,
beg, in O very few words, without argu
ment, to assign two reasons upon which
shall vote against it. must vote agains
it first, because, as was said by the senator
from Illinois, there is bound up in it, ant
ineradicable, q confession OF the power O
a State to refer assent given to constitu
tional amendment. know of no construc
ton by which we can escape from that con
clusion involved in this amendment.
Mr.. Drake It is now very evident, MIR
President, after the discussion this amend
ment has received, that there is but on
single objection urged to it which woul'
prevent any senator on this floor from
voting for it who desires that the fifteenth
amendment should be admitted, and tina
objection is that the adoption of this amend
ment would be an admission Of the legalit,
of rescision by the Legislature of Vir
ginia of its previous ratification of the fl
teenth amendment. / should be very gla'
IL