THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Mr. HOOPER moved to suspend the order of business in order that he might introduce a joint resolution accepting and ratifying a certain amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which he sent to the Secretary's desk, and had read for information.
Mr. SHERROD moved to lay the motion to suspend the order of business on the table.
Mr. RICE. I understand the object of this motion is simply to get the resolution before the Senate, and move to take it up to-morrow at 2 o'clock.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, It is not before the Senate. The Senator had it read for information.
Mr. SHERROD. I withdraw my motion.
Mr. SMITH. I regard this as a trick, and you can't do it.
Mr. STEIN. Inasmuch as the remark, has been made that this resolution is brought up for the purpose of making it the order for to-morrow, I, for one, will, move at once the ratification of the amendment as soon as it is before this body.
The motion to postpone was rejected by yeas 19, nays 25, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Andrews, Armstrong, Beardsley Bellamy, Case, Caven, Cravens, Fisher,Fosdick, Gray, Green, Hamilton, Hess, Hooper, Kinley, Robinson, of Madison, Stein, Wolcott, and Wood-19.
NAYS-Messrs. Bird, Bradley, Carson, Church, Eliott, Gifford, Hadley, Hanna, Henderson, Huey, Huffman, Humphreys, Jaquess, Johnson of Spencer, Johnson of Montgomery, Laselle, Lee, Morgan, Rice, Reynolds, Robinson, of Decatur, Scott, Sherrod, Smith, and Turner-25.
Pending roll-call-
Mr. CHURCH, when his name was called said: On all occasions I have given Democrats to understand that this thing should page: 222[View Page 222] not be taken up, but should be fixed for a certain time. I vote against taking it up, and if it is sprang to take advantage of the position I take I shall vote against the amendment. I made no bargains to get Democrats into the House, but alter they got in I regarded this thing as virtually gone until the business of the session was completed; and I shall vote against taking it up. I vote "no."
Mr. FISHER, when his name was called, said: My object in voting to suspend the rules is for the express purpose of moving to postpone the resolution till 2 o'clock tomorrow. I vote "aye."
Mr. GRAY, when his name was called, said: I am going to vote to suspend the rules, and go with the Senator from Tippecanoe [Mr. Stein] to close this Legislature as soon as possible. I don't think it is doing any good, and the sooner it adjourns the better for the people. I vote "aye."
Mr. HADLEY desired to be found acting in good faith, saw no necessity for this motion, and as the quickest way to remove this trouble voted "no."
Mr. HOOPER, when his name was called said: I desire to say in explanation that while the main object in making; this motion to suspend the rules is to get this resolution before the body, I do not want any Senator to be mistaken as to my position. I wish to get it before the Senate, and the Senate may then make such disposition of it as they see proper. If a majority deem it right to postpone it till to-morrow that is their act and not mine. I want to get this question before the body. While Senators are talking about important measures, I hold that this is the most important measure of the whole session. Those minor matters of legislation which Legislatures coming after us may make and repeal, should give way to this. I desire this question to come before this body. As it now stands it is not before this body at all. I intend to vote for it the first opportunity. I vote "aye."
Mr. LASELLE, when his name was called, said: It seems to me it is properly Before the Senate now, and the only thing necessary is to take it up. It can be taken up to-morrow as well as now, and therefore I vote "no."
Mr. MORGAN, when his name was called, said: When the regular session broke up it caught me without my stamps, but I am ready for it now. [Laughter.] I don't want to cast my vote to take up or not take up this thing; but if I am compelled to vote now, I say "no."
Mr. ROBINSON of Madison, when his name was called, said: We passed a resolution last week that this matter would be postponed till to-morrow. But it was set for Tuesday. That thing has never been taken up, and I propose by my vote to take it up and let it be referred till tomorrow. I vote "aye."
So the motion to suspend the rules was rejected.
And then came the recess till 2 o'clock
