The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-05-18

q A>A> A>~N ~
the counties from which these members had
resigned, and in April, 1869, convened the
Legislature in extra session. When this
session approached it, close the Republi-
cans again determined t. ratify the 18th
Amendment, and the Democratic members
OF the House again resigneu for the purpose
OF breaking the quorum.
Senator Morton returned home from
Washington on tie very morning the resig-
nations were handed in, and learning what
had been done, he Immediately sent word
TO the Republican members not to adjourn,
but to meet him in consultation that night
at the Supreme Court room. On assemb-
ling, he addressed them At length, taking
the ground that the quorum was not broken
by the resignation of more than one-third
the members of the House that the con-
stitutional requirement OF two-thirds OF the
members of each House to constitute
quorum meant two-thirds OF the actual
members that when . member died, or re-
signed, he was no longer to be counted, and
that two-thirds of the remaining members
| constituted a quorum that the Constitu-
ton Of the United States declared that 4
nj ajority Of each House of Congress should
constitute a quorum, and that after the re-
signation of the Southern members at the
beginning of the rebellion it was decided,
after full discussion of the subject, that
the Constitution meant that the quorum
should consist of majority of the actual
members remaining, and that when MEM
Der died or resigned he was no longer to be
counted. This was the accepted rule in
beth houses Of Congress, and in consequence
the quorum varied from time to time,
Just as the actual number of members
changed.
This argument, presented SO clearly and
forcibly, was accepted as conclusive by
every member present, and the next morn
| ing both Houses assembled as usual, and
ratified the Amendment. These proceed
| ings were duty certified to the Secretary OF
State at Washington. and Indiana was
counted a. having ratified the Amendment,
very much to the surprise, but greatly to
the satisfaction, of Senator Sumner.
OTHER DOUBTFUL STATES.
Pending the passage OF the Fifteenth
Amendment, bill was introduced into the
House, authorizing the President to recon-
struct Virginia, Texas and Mississippi.
Here was another opportunity, and the
Indiana Senator made the most OF 1t. On
its reaching the Senate, he submitted as an
amend nent an additional section, providing
that before these States should be admitted
to representation in Congress, they should
ratify the proposed Fifteenth Amendment.
The judiciary committee, to which the bill
and its amendment were referred, favored
the former, but struck out the latter. A
three DAYS debate ensued, in which Mr..
Trumbull, as chairman of the committee,
championed his report, and MIR. Morton
sustained his amendment. 1t was their
first contest, and interested spectators
crowded the galleries to cheer the victor"
Mr.. Trumbull, an able, clear-headed law
yer, discussed the question solely upon legal
grounds. "But Mr.. Norton" says a CORE
spondent of the New York Times, took both
its legal and humane points into the &C
count, and sustained his opposition by a
mastery argument, excellfng, if that be
possible, his former speech on Reconstruc-
tion." On the following day the bill passed
as amended, and the House subsequently
concurred in the amendment. Thus was
secured the ratification of these States.
The vote of Georgia was secured By
similar coup d'etat This State had been
reconstructed in 1868, under the act of 1887 ,
but subsequently violated its agreement by
the expulsion of all the colored members of
the Legislature, on the ground that they
were not eligible to hold Office. In Decem-
Der, 1869, therefore, Senator Morton intro
duced a bill instructing the military COM
mandant to reconvene the Georgia Legis-
laturs, including the colored members elect,
and authorizing it, thus convened, to pro-
coed to the work of reconstruction by the
election Of two. lnited States Senators, who
should be entitled to their seats whenever
the Legislature had ratified the Fifteenth
Amendment. To the last provision the ju-
dietary committee took exceptions, and in
| their report it was stricken out. A spirited
debate again followed, in which Mr.. Nor
ton was opposed by the entire committee,
including Messrs. Conkling and Carpentar.
The bill passed, however, in its original
form, by seven majority, securing the vote
OF Georgia, the last Of the five States Mr..
Summer, less than a year before, had pre-
dic,ed would not ratIfy.
But il was as leader of the administra-
ton party in the Senate that he won his
most brilliant, intellectual, and admins
trative achievements. "Here," said cor
respondent Of the New York Herald, writing
of his management of the San Domingo af-
fair, "here amidst all discouragements he
moves in majesty, for he moves in strength.
No difficulties weary or Withstand his en-
ergies. Like Hannibal in the passage Of
the Alps, he keeps his place in front Of his
comrades, putting aside with giant effort,
every obstacle that opposes his progress,
| applauding the foremost, rousing those who
| linger, until the work is accomplished"
In the session of lS69-7O, the ratification
of the San Domingo treaty had been defeat
ed, notwiths. anding the President had ear
nestly favored it in special message. In
the following session it was likely to re-
ceive the same treatment. Public opinion,
| and a clear majority in the Senate were
decidedly opposed to it. In his terrible OPP
| position Mr. Sumner had made charges in
| volving the Presidents honesty and integ-
rity; and Mr.. Trumbull and Mr.. Schurz,
backed by press, teeming with bitter de-
nunciations, were hardly less severe. 1t
was a most trying potion for the Admin
istration, and to extricate it was the work
assigned to Senator Morton. For this pur-
pose he introduced a resolution providing
for the appointment of a committee to
make Investigations respecting San Domin
90, and in his defense of the measure
against the repeated and powerful attacks
Of Mr. Sumner, che completely INDICATED"
says a report of the debate, "the fairness,
integrity, and patriotism of those who ia
vOred the proposed investigation"
THE KU-KLUX.
The same persevering energy and indomi-
table will are manifest in Senator Morton's
efforts 10 secure suitable legislation against
further outrages from the ku-klux Klan.
At the close Of the summer session Of 1870,
be first called attention of Congress to the
matter in an able speech, which was replied
to by Mr.. Trumbull, ridiculing the idea of
such an organization. During vacation,
however, evidence accumulated and at the
opening Of Congress in the following Deem
Der, he offered q resolution authorizing the
appointment OF . committee of investiga-
ton. No action being taken, he called
upon Mr. Grant to send in what he knew of
the outrages. Even the President was slow
to respond, and when he did &C, strong
disposition to adjourn without taking up the
matter was manifest in both House and
Senate. Senator Morton, however, felt that
to adjourn without providing for the securi-
ty of Southern Republicans would be
gross Outrage, and by individual efforts,
seconded BY Mr.. Pool, or North Carolina,
he held the Senate in session for nearly two
months, until the bill known - the Ku-klux
Act was passed and approved. During this
time eight concurrent resolutions from the
House fixing the time for adjournment were
laid upon the table.
ADEFESDER OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
During the 4lst and ~ Congress, Mr..