That the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely:

ARTICLE XV.

SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Attest,

SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

B. F. WADE,

President of the Senate, pro tempore.

EDW'D MCPHERSON,

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

GEO. C. GORHAM,

Secretary of Senate, U. S.

Which was read, and referred to the Committee under the Fourth Joint Rule.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Camp, their chief Clerk, as follows:

Mr. PRESIDENT: The House have considered a joint resolution from the Senate, providing for the adoption of Joint Rules, and have adopted the same in concurrence.

On motion of Mr. Pingry, so much of Senate Rule No. one, as requires the appointment of a canvassing committee from each county unrepresented, be suspended.

The President appointed the following named Senators as the joint committee on the part of the Senate, to canvass the votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer:

Addison County
Bennington County
Caledonia County
Chittenden County

Essex County

Franklin County

Mr. Jones,
"Orvis,
"Hall,

"Halbert,
"Dale,

"Royce,

Thereupon the Senate confirmed the nominations, and the committee were duly sworn.

On motion of Mr. Halbert, the Senate adjourned at three o'clock and five minutes.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1869.

Prayer by the Chaplain.

Journals of Thursday and Friday were read, corrected and approved.

Jedd P. Ladd, Senator elect from the county of Grand Isle, appeared at the bar of the Senate, received and subscribed the oaths of office.

Mr. Hutchinson of Orange introduced the following joint resolution, which was read and adopted on the part of Senate:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the use of the Hall of the House of Representatives be tendered to the Vermont Historical Society, for their annual meeting, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 19th, 1869.

Mr. Dewey of Washington submitted the following joint resolution, which was read and adopted on the part of the Senate:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the use of the Hall of the House of Representatives be tendered to the Vermont Colonization Society for its semi-centennial Anniversary, on Thursday evening, Oct. 21, 1869.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Camp, their Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have adopted, on their part, joint resolutions as follows:

A joint resolution providing for the adoption of the joint rules of last session;

A joint resolution for a Joint Assembly to hear report of committee appointed to canvass votes for State officers;

In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.

The House has appointed, on their part, the following committees:

Under Fourth Joint Rule:

Mr. Joyce of Rutland,
"Safford of Hartford,

"Dickey of Bradford.

Committee to canvass votes for Governor, Lieut. Governor

A joint resolution from the House of Representatives: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the joint rules of the last session be the joint rules of the present session until others are adopted;

Which was read, and, on motion of Mr. Heath,

Ordered to lie.

A joint resolution from the House of Representatives: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the two Houses meet in Joint Assembly to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock, to hear the report of the committee appointed to canvass the votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer.

Mr. Pingry moved to propose to the House to amend, by striking therefrom the words "to-morrow morning, at 11 o'clock," and inserting in place thereof the words "this afternoon, at 2 o'clock;"

Which was agreed to, and the resolution adopted in concurrence, with a proposal of amendment.

On motion of Dewey of Washington, the resolution adopted yesterday, providing for the suspension of Rule 1, of the Senate, so far as related to counties unrepresented, was rescinded.

On motion of Mr. Royce, the committee to canvass the

votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer, were granted leave to sit during the session of the Senate.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Camp, their Clerk, as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House have appointed, on their part, as members of the committee on Joint Rules:

They have also considered Senate proposal of amendment to joint resolution providing for Joint Assembly to hear report of committee appointed to canvass votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer, and have agreed thereto.

On motion of Mr. Dewey of Windsor, the Senate adjourned at eleven o'clock and five minutes.

AFTERNOON.

On motion of Mr. Dale, the Senate proceeded to the election of Standing Committees, for the present session;

The vote having been taken, the several committees were elected as follows: