The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-04-08
TIE F1FrEENTH AMENDMENT.

Ihe Secretary OF State announces
the adoption of the Fifteenth Amend
ment by The ratification Of the Legis-
aatpres of three-fourths of the States.
Tho text of the Amendment is as fol-
lows: - Z. ...- ..+
ARr1cLE XIV, SEcr1oN /. The
rights of citizens of the United States
to vote shall not be denied Or abridged
by tho United States, or BY any State,
on account Of race, color or previous
condition of scrvitude. =, >. ;..,,'4
SEqg1oN 2. The Congress shall have
power'to enforce this article by ap-
propriatc legislation. -,
The States ratifying arc as follows ::
North Carolina, West Virginia, Mas-
sachusetts, Wisconsin, Maine, Louisi.
ana, Michigan, South Carolina, Penn
sylvania, Arkansas, Connecticut, Flor
ida, Illinois, Indiana, Now York, New
Hampshire, Nevada, Vermont, Vir-
ginia, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi,
Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Rhode Island, Nebraska and Texas,
in all twenty-nino States.
The Legislature Of New York has
PASSED resolutions claiming to with
draw its ratification, and Georgia has
made an informal ratification vet
without counting these, tho required
thrce-tourths Of tho States arc sccur-
ed.
President Grant has mudo the pro-
mitigation Of this ratification, tho oc-
casion Of = special message to Con-
gross, in which he charactcrizes the
measure as "one Of grander impo:-
tance than any other act of the kind
from tho foundation Of the Govern
ment to tho present time" Now
whatever difference Of opinion there
may be as to this proposition, there
will be no hesitation, wo think. in on
dorsing the advice which he gives to
both racos-to the blacks ''to strive
in every honorable manner to make
themselves worthy of the now privi-
lcge"-to the whites "to withhold
no legal privilege of advancement to
the new citizen" IF education and
general intelligence be the conditions
Of freedom, the blacks must be clcva-
ted.
The adoption Of the Fifteenth
Amendment Introduces no new pro-
xision;into! the Southern State con.
stitutions. 1t had long ago been in.
corporatcd, and was accepted by our
people as n fixed and determined fact.
The present Amendment only makes
that general, which before was limit
ed to the State; and universal suffrage
becomes part and parcel Of the State
constitutions evcrywbere, The effect
however is different in the + DIFF.
ferent sections. Here it means for
tho timo being, tho rule OF the blacks,
Tor bore they have the power Of the
numbers. Elsewhere they. have no
influence, and the Immediate effect as
Insignificant. The indirect and drc-
mote Influences mag however ho,wlTvtf be- con!
trolllhg. a As Governor Orr 81 Suggests,
the concession Of universal suffrage
msydbe the gift Of "twD edged
ssydrdW' TO the: Soutb, r which may
again restore the t,jdst ,eguilibifum' 81
the sections, Negro suffrage : :is, f. q
power, 10 thezland.i Az! the yintereata
of theitwo raeos at tho Sonsh arsiden.
eeay7thorc'is no reason Willy 1t Should
not be wioldcd by tho best men white
and Black to advance The common
interests of the races, and promote
the true prosperity Of the soutlr,n In
this union Of the black maj" " With bis
natural friend and protector, at the
South, wa shall oyerireach party csel,
fishness and Northern cupidity: .""
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