Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-31

Pending the discussion the morning
hour expired.
At the opening OF the evening ses-
sion, Mr.. Finklebury presented the
credentials Of Mr.. Degerst, of Texas.
Referred.
Mr.. Cleveland presented joint res
Olution providing that the Secretary
of the Treasury shall not exceed the
law providing for the purchase Of
bonds with the sinking fund surplus
of the revenue remaining in the
Treasury.
The House went into a eOmmitte Of
the whole on the tariff bill, and agreed
to debate it tomorrow
Messrs. HOar and Maynard advOea-
ted the bill, when the Presidents Mes
sage was handed in, which was then
read:
WASHING TON, March 30.-TO the
Senate and House Of Representatives
1t is unusual TO notify the two Houses
of Congress by message Of promulga-
ton, by proclamation Of the Secretary
of State, of the ratification Of Con-
stitatiOhAl Amendment. In view,
however, of the vast importance Of the
Fifteenth Amendment to the COnsti-
tuition, this day declared a part of that
revered instrument, l deem the de-
parture from usual custom justitiable.
A measure which makes at once four
millionI people voters, who were
heretofore declared, by the highest
tribunal in the land, not citizens Of
the United States, and not eligible to
become so; with the assertion that at
the time OF the declaration of inde-
pendence, the opinion was fixed and
regarded as an axiom in words az well
as in politics, that black men had no
rights which white man was bound
to respect, is indeed a measure of
grander importance than any other
one act of the kind, from the founda-
ton of the Government to the
present day. Free institutions.
like ours, in which the power is
derived direct from the people, must
depend on industry. l call attention,
therefore, of the newly enfranchised
race to the importance OF their striV-
ing in every possible way to make
themselves worthy Of their new priv
ilege. To the race more favored
heretofore o. the laws, / would say
withhold no legal privilege for the
advancement to our new citizens.
lac 1ramers OF cur constitution firmly
believed that ths Republican govern
ment could MT endure without
intelligence and education, 1t is
generally diffused among the people.
the father of the country. IN bis
farewell address, uses tEis LANGUAGE:
Promote, then, as 3 matter of pri-
riaEy Importance, Institutions FOR the
general diffusiea of knoWlege in pro-
portion IS the structure of the Gov
eFnment gives force to public opinion.
1t is essential that public opinion
should be enlightened" ." In his first an
nual message tn Congress tae same
views were fOrcibly prSsented, and
were again urged IN his eighth message.
! repeat, the adoption Of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution cDnl-
pleteS the greatest civil change, and
constitutes the most ImpOrt-
ant event that has occurred
since the nation came into life.
The change will be beneficial in pro-
portion % tue need given to the ur-
gent recommendations Of Washing
ton. If these recommendations were
important then, with population of
but a few millions, how much more
important must it be now with a pop-
ulatiOn Of forty millions and increas-
Ing in rapid ratio. would therefore
call on Congress to taks al the means
within thelE constitutional powers
to promote and encourage pOpu-
lar education throughout the
country, and upon the peo-
pie everywhere to see to it
that all who possess and exercise To-
litieal rights shall have an Gpportu-
nifty to acquire knowledge which viii
make them share in the government
blessings, and not dangers. BY such
means only can any benefit eontem-
plated by this amendment to the con-
stitutiOn be secured.
[Signedl Q. s.. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March ~, IS70-
Accompanying the Message was
proclamation announcing the ratifca-
ton, from Secretary Fish, the reading
of which was followed by great de-
monstrations Of applause.
Mr., Peters moved to refer the mes
sage and proclamation to the Judiei-
ary Committee.
Mr.. Wood desired that special refer
ence be made to that point in the pro-
clamatiOn relating to the State of New
York, that the State had nOt,as recited
therein, ratified the Fifteenth Amend
ment.
Mr.. Peters-We think she has.
Mr.. Black said that portion of the
proclamation which declares that the
State of Indiana had ratified the Fit
teenth Amendment was not true.
A pretended ratification by the Leg
islature was made, and certificate
sent to the State Department was
untrue.
A debate arising on Peters motion,
the subject was postponed till ta-mor-
row.
RR0QEEDINas OF THE SENATE.
Mr.. Stewart, in the Senate, called
up the concurrent resolution for the
appointment of a joint special Com
mittee on Indian affairs.
Mr.. Thurman opposed the resolu-
ton upon general grounds, particularly
because he thought be saw in the
proposition a disposition to make the
Indian policy suhServient to certain
TdtiEOdu SOIl kaulc5 WHICH EUNbteu Llc
possession of the public domain. He
thought he saw in it a great land
trafficking scheme from the beginning
to the end, which would result in the
violation of existing Indian treaties.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, believed
that there were no questions deserv-
ing more thorough scrutiny than
those concerning Indian affairs. He
preferred to have them revised by an
independent Committee ofthe Senate.
Mr.. COrbett spoke of the necessity
of carrying out our treaty stipulations
as means of preventing Indian
wars. He thought the agency of a joint
committee might prove effective to
that end.
Mr.. Drake moved to amend by
striking out the authority of the COM
mittee to examine witnesses and send
for persons and papers, which, he
said, would avoid an expenditure
amounting to not less than 1900.
The morning hour having expired,
the subject was laid aside.
The case of General Ames came up
in order.
Mr.. Sumner moved to proceed to
the consideration Of the executive
business.
After some discussion with refer
l.. \ ~