Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-04-08
Proclamation Announcing the Ratlflca-
tIOn Of the Fifteenth Amendment.

Tfmsansse WASHINGTON, March 90
To mo Senate ami House Of Representatives
II is unusual to notify the two houses
Of Congress by message Of the promulga-
ton by proclamation Of the Secretary OF
State Of the ratification OF q constitutional
amendment. In view, however, OF the
vast Importance of the Fifteenth Amend.
ment 10 the Constitution, this day declared
part Of that revered instrument, deem
departure from the usual custom justifi-
able. A measure which makes at once
four millions of people voters, who we're
heretofore declared by the highest tri-
bunal 10 the land not citizens of the
United States, nor eligible to become so,
with the assertion that at the time of the
declaration of independence the opinion
was fixed and universal in the civilized
portion of the white race, and regarded
as an axiom in morals as well as in poll
tics, that the black men had no rights
which white men were bound to respect,
is indeed 81 measure of grander importance
than any other one act of the kind from
the foundation Of our free government to
the present time. Institutions like ours,
in which all power is derived directly
from the people, must depend mainly
upon their intelligence, patriotism, and
" u,
of the newly enfranchised race to the i'm.
poftance of their striving in every honor.
able manner to make themselves worthy
of their new privilege. To the race more
favored heretofore by our laws, | would
says Withhold no legal privilege Of adj
Vancement TO the new citizens. The franz
ets OF our constitution firmly believed
that republican form of government
could not endure without intelligence
and education generally diffused among
the people. The Father of his Country,
in his Farewell Address, used this language;
Promote, then, as matter of primary
importance, institutions for the general
diffusion of knowledge. In proportion
as the structure of the government gives
force to public opinion, IL is essential that
public opinion should be enlightened,p
In his first annual message to Congress
the same views were forcibly presented
and were again urged in his eighth mes
sage. repeat that the adoption of the
Fifteenth Amendment To the Constitution
completed the greatest civil change, and
constitutes the most important event that
has occurred since the nation came into
life. ff3 t'tE 80 .tJtf.5
The change will be beneficial in proper.
tion to the heed given to the urgent
recommendations OF WaShlngtOn. Ii these
recommendations were important then,
with population of but few millions,
how much more important now, with a
population of forty millions, and increas-
ing in rapid ratio. ! would, therefore,
call upon Congress to take all means
within their constitutional power to pro,
mote and encourage popular education
throughout the country, and upon the
people everywhere to see to it that all
who possess and exercise political rights
shall have the opportunity to acquire
knowledge which will make their share
in the government blessing and not a
danger. By such means only can the ben
efts contemplated by this amendment be
secured.
(Signed U. s GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 30, 1870.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State OF
the United States