White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1870-04-07

wAsuIxcros, D. c., March 30th. 1870.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
Itis unusual to notify the two Houses Of
Congress, BY message, Of the PRONUNCIATION Of
the PROCLAMATION of the Secretary Of State,
of the ratification of q constitutional amend
ment. In view, however, of the vast impor
lance Of the Fifteenth Amendment of the Con-
ssi.utien, this day declared part of that re
vered instrument, deem departure from the
usual custom justifiable. A measure which
makes at once four millions of people voters,
WHO were heretofore declared, BY the highest
tribunal OF the land, not citizers Of the United
States, nor eligible to become so, with the as
sertion that at the time of the Declaration of
Independence the opinion was fixed and uni.
versal in the civilized portions Of the white
race, and regarded as an axiom in morals as
well as politics, that the black man had no
rights which til . white men we're bound to re.
spect, is indeed measure Of grander impor-
tance than any other act of the kind. From
the foundn, ion of our free Cove rnment to the
present time, institutions like ours, in which
all power is derived dir ectly from the people,
must depend mainly on their in telligence, pat
riotism aud Industry. call the attention,
therefore. of the newly enfranchised race to
the impo, lance Of their striving in every hon
o,abe manner TO 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
citizens. The franers of our Constitution firm
ly believed that a republican form of govern
ment could no: eniure without inie iligence and
education generally diffused among the peo-
pie.
The Father:of his Country, in bfs farewell
address. used this language: "Promote, then,
as motto Of primary Importance. institutions
for the general diffusion Of knowledge: In pro-
portion ~ the structure Of the Government
gives to-e {, public opinion. It is essential that
public opinics s,ould be enlightened" In his
6rst Annual Message 10 Congress, the same
views were forc;3iy presented, ami are 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 na-
tion came into life. The change will be beneficial
in proportion to the heed that is given to the
urgent Recommendations of Washington
1fthese Recomme ndat:o nswere important then,
with a population Of but few millions, how
much more important now. with population of
forty millions, and increasing at q rapid ratio.
would, therefore, call upon Congress to
take all means within their constitutional
power to promote and encourage popular edu-
cation throughout tie country, and upon people
everywhere to see to it that all who possess
and exercise political rightssshall have on OF
portuuity to acquire knowledge, which will
make their share in thcs Government a blessing
and not danger. BY such means only can
the benefits contemplated by this Amendment
to the Constitution be secured.
Signed, 8. GRANT.
HAMILTON FISH,
Secretary Of State Of the United States