The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-26
Letter From Judge Chas e.

The following important and remark~
able letter from Chief Justice Chase has
been received by the Committee Of Cor
respondence of the colo ed citizens of
Cincinnati who are about to celebrate the
ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment:
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1860.
GENTLEMEN Accept my thanks
for the invitation you have rendered me
in behalf Of the colored people of Gin
cinnati, to attend their celebration Of
the ratification Of the Fifteenth Amends
ment My duties here will not permit
me to be present except by good will
and good wishes.
Almost a quarter of century has
passed since some fyou probably, heard
me declare, on the 9th Of May, l84S; in
an assembly composed chiefly of the
people whom you now represent, that all
legal distinctions between individuals of
the same community founded on any
snch circumstances as color, origin, and
the like, are hostile to the genius of our
true theory of American liberty; shat
true democracy makes no inquiry about
the color of the skin, or the place of
nativity, Or any other similar circum-
stance Of condition; and that the exclu-
sion of the colored people, as body,
from the elective franchise is incompati
BILE with the true democratic principles
i congratulate you on the fact that
these principles. not then avowed by me
for the first time, nor ever since aband-
oned or compromised, have been at
length incorporated into the constitution
and made part of the supreme law Of
the land.
Many, no doubt, would have been
glad. as | shonlI have beeu, If the great
work consummated by ratification of the
Fifteenth Arnendm ens, could have been
accom- lished by the States, through
amendment Of State Constitutions and
throu4 h appropriate State legislation;hut
the delays and uncertainties, prejudicial
to every interest. inseperable from hat
mode Of proceedings; seemed to neces
state the course actually adopted. Nor
does the Amendment impair the real
rights Of any States. It leaves the
whole reg ulation Of suffrage to the
whole people of each State, subject only
to the fundam entail law, tn at the right OF
no citizen to vote SHALL be denied, or
abridged, on eccount Of color. race, or
previous condition of servitude. 1t is
to be hoped that each State will so con-
form it's Constitution and laws to this
fundamental law that no occasion may
be given to legislation 10y Congress
But the best vindication of the wis
dom as well as justice Of the Amendmen ent
must be found in that large class of
citizens whom yoa represent On the
occasion to which l have referred, /
ventured to say that the best way to Iu-
sure the peaceful dwelling together of
the different races. is the cordial reci>
procation of benefits, not the mutual
inflction Of injuries and / cannot give
you better council now than l offered |
then; Go forward, having perfect faith |
in your own manhood, anil in Gods |
providence, adding to your faith, virture
and to virtue, knowledge; and to |
patience; and to patience,
and to temperance, broth
erly kindness; and to brotherly kindn ess,
why not signalize your rejoicing in
the rights. secured under the Fifteenth
by urging upon Congress
the prompt removal OF all political dis
abilities imposed upon our fellow-c'ti-
zens by the Fourteenth Amendment ?-t
so that, through universal suffrage and
universal amnesty. peace, good will and
may be established through
out our country.
Every good man must rejoice in the
progress which the co,ord citizens Of
the United States have made in educa
ton, in religious culture, and in the
general improveme ent of their condition.
Every good man must earnestly desire
heir continued and accelerated pro
2ress in the same direction All
public and all private interest will be
by it; and it will insure at no
distant day, cordial re ,ognition of their
rights, even from those of their fellow
citizens who have most earnestly oppos-
ed them
No man can now be found who would
restore slavery; a few years hence, if the
;otored men are wise. it will be impossi-
Die to find a man who will avow hin- elf
n favor Of DENYING or abriiying their
light to vote"
Very respectfully yours.
s. p. CHASE
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