Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — A critic of a failed House resolution to congratulate President Obama on his historic election because of a reference to slavery said Monday he would support a revised version of the tribute.

House Resolution 1003 by Rep. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, failed in the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs last week with six members voting for it and 11 against.

“This nation … was not founded to promote slavery. It is a shameful part of our history,” Rep. Ed Garner, R-Maumelle, said at the time.

Flowers said it was important to include some mention of the role of slavery in American history.

Picking up on Garner’s comment, Flowers filed an amendment to the resolution Monday that replaced the words “a nation founded by slave owners” with “a country whose history includes the shame of slavery.”

Garner said Monday he was satisfied with the change and would support the resolution.

“Overall, the resolution is not the language that I would have written, obviously,” he said. “I can’t speak for everyone who voted against it, but I will support it. I don’t think we need to edit someone’s resolution to make it perfect.”