THE XVTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTUNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
Mr. FISHER, noticing a good deal of nervousness on the part of our Democratic fiends, in order to quiet it asked and obtained leave to offer the following:
WHEREAS, At an early day in the present session of the Senate, it was ordered that the question of the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States be postponed to and made the special order for Tuesday, and the 11th day of May;
AND WHEREAS, Other important legislation is still pressing upon the Senate; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the consideration of said amendment be further postponed until Friday, the 14th day of May, at half-past two o'clock P.M., and made the special order for that hour.
The PRESIDENT pro tem. [Hon. John R. Cravens.] I would say that the resolution is clearly out of order. The Senate, in the first clays of the session, agreed to postpone the consideration of the Constitutional amendment till the llth of May. Such a resolution passed. Then a motion was made to reconsider and that motion was laid on the table. It was clinched on both sides. The only way this thing can be reached is to pass a resolution that when the llth of May arrives you will take up the amendment, and again postpone its consideration.
Mr. HANNA. I suppose by unanimous consent we might stay the order.
The PRESIAENT pro tem. I don't see how, unless the Senate retraces its steps, and I don't see how you can get over the operations of parliamentary law at any rate. It would be competent for the Senate now to pass a resolution saying that on the llth of May they would again postpone the consideration of that measure.
Mr. HANNA. Well, shape it in that form.
Mr. GRAY. I have no doubt but that the decision of the chair is right; that question is tied up, but the Senator from Wabash [Mr. Fisher] can amend his resolution as suggested by the chair.
Mr. FISHER. Will the chair indicate the character of the amendment again?
The PRESIDENT pro tem. I did not intend to suggest it for the purpose of having anything done upon my suggestion. And only thing competent to be done now would be to pass a resolution pledging ourselves, if you want to pledge, that on that day we would postpone the further consideration of the amendment till a day certain. I am not making any ruling with special reference to action on this matter. I know what the general wish is, and as far as I could make a ruling consistent with it, I would.
