Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-06
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Ratification PrOelaimed--A Message from
the President Of the United states.

WASHINGTON, March 30.-The Presi-
dent to-day having approved the Texas
bill, soon thereafter sent the following
message and accompanying proclamation
to Congress, announcing the ratification of
the Fifteenth Amendment:
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 80, 1870.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.:
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses of
Congress by message of the PRONUNCIATION
by proclamation of the Secretary of State
of the ratification of a Constitutional
amendment. In view, however, of the
vast importance of the Fifteenth Amend
ment of the Constitution, this day declared
a part of that revered instrument, deem
a 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 tribunal
in 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, regarded as an axiom in
morals as well as in politics, that !" black
men had no rights which white men were
bound to respect" is indeed measure of
grander importance than any other one
act of the kind from the foundation of our
free Government to the present time. In
situations like ours, in which all power is
derived directly from the people, must de-
pend mainly upon their intelligence, pa
triotism and industry, / call the atten-
ton, therefore, of the newly-enfranchised
race to the importance of their striving in
every honorablemannerto make themselves
worthy of their new privilege To the
race more favored heretofore by our laws,
| would say, withhold no legal privilege
of advancement to the new citizen, The
trainers ofour Constitution firmly believ-
ed that republican form of government
could not endure without intelligence and
education generally diff'used among the
people. The Father of his Country, in his
Farewell Address, uses 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, it is essential that
public opinion should be enlightened
| In his first annual message to Congress the
| same views were forcibly presented, and
are again urged in his eighth message.
| repeat that the adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution completes
the greatest civil change, and constitutes
the most important event that has occurred
since the nation came into life. The
change will be beneficial in proportion to
the heed that Is given TO the urgent recon-
mendations Of Washington. If these re-
Communications were important then, with
a population Of but few millions, how
much more important now, with popu-
lation Of forty millions, and increasing in
a rapid ratio. would therefore call upon
| Congress to take all the means within their
constitutional power to promote and en-
courage 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 the knowledge which will make
their share in the Government blessing
and not danger. BY such means only
can the benefits contemplated by this
amendment to the Constitution be secured
/ (Signed,) u. 5. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, March 80, 1870.
HAMILTON FISH,
Secretary of State of the United States
PROCLAMATION.
To all WhOm these presents may come greet
ing:
Know we that the Congress of the United
States ON or about the 9th day of Febru
airy, 1865 passed Il resolution in the words
and figures following, to-wiu:
A resolution proposing an amendment to tn,
Constitution of the United States
Resotred, BY the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America il
Congress assembled, two-thrds of both House
coneurring that the following article be pro
an amendment 10 the Constitution of the Unite,
States, which, when ratified by three-fourths o
said Legislature, shall be valid as part of tn
Constitution, namely
ARTICLE -, SECTION 1.-The rights of citi
gems of the United States % vote, shall not b
denied or abridged by the United States or b,
any State on account of race color or previou