Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1869 — The Xv th Amendment. [ARTICLE]

The Xv th Amendment.

Tfc* prop—c 4 iftMiitk amend«««tU.lU cmuUumi*. * the United SUU* provide I*. That.t no election In any state shall any distinction be made lo regard to •lector* on account of race, color, of previous condition ot slavery.— H That congress may enforce this rule by judieions legislation. It requires that the legislatures of threefourths of the states ratify it to make it a part of tho constitution. The following tabic shows the states that have acted on it together with those |hat have not; Alabama, not ncuM.. Arkansas, ratified March SO, 1860. California, not acted. Connecticut, ratified March 13th. Delaware, rejected March 18th. qpFlorida, ratified March 15th. Illinois, ratified March sth. Indiana, ratified May 14th. lowa, not acted. •Kansas, ratified February 27th. Kentucky, rejected March 18th. Louisiana, ratified March sth. Maine, ratified March 12th. Maryland, not acted. Massachusetts, ratifiedM'ch 12th. Michigan, ratified March Bth. Minuesota, uot acted. •Missouri, ratified March Ist Mississippi, not acted. Nevada, ratified March Ist N. Carolina, ratified March sth. Nebraska, ratified March sth. New Hampshire, ratified July 7th. New York, ratified April 14th. New Jersey, not acted. fOhio, Rejected May 4th. Oregon, not acted.' Pennsylvania, ratified March 26th. Khodc Island, not dieted. S. Carolina, ratified March 16th. Tennessee, not acted. Texas, not acted. t Vermont, not acted. Virginia, ratified October Bth. West Virginia, ratified March 3d. Wisconsin, ratified March Oth. Besides Kansas and Missouri, whose legislatures ratified imperfect copies, twenty states have ratified the amendment. The legislatures of these states will correct their action, which will leave it neoessary for six more states to ratify it to make this amendment a part of the constitution and the supreme law of the Union. Of the states that have not yet acted, Alabama, lowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Texas and JVermont will probably ratify it this winter, while California, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon and Tennessee are doubtful. To sum up; Twenty-eight states are necessary to pass the amendment, and make it a law. Twentytwo have passed it and six others will soon be added to that number. Of the five doubtful states — or six if we include Ohio—the prospect is favorable for three to vote for it— We think tiiat it is certain to become a law before the 4th of next March. sad M momri ratified imperfect espies received by telegraph, but will correct their action. fie Ohio the people, by the late election, declared iu favor of the amendment, end the next legwisUre may reverse the decision of the last one. tSlnee this wee written, Vermont baa ratified the amendment.