The same act authorized the President to submit to a separate vote such clause or clauses of said Constitution as in his judgment might be particularly obnoxious to any considerable number of the people of the State.

It was not and could not be denied that the Constitution as a whole was a most admirable document.

The Democrats had no serious objection to its ratification if the clause disfranchising most of their leaders were eliminated.

When it became known that this clause would be submitted to a separate vote, and that the Republican organization would not insist upon its retention, no serious opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was anticipated.

And, indeed, none was made.
The time fixed for holding the election was November, 1869.