The Van Buren press., 1870-04-26
Letter from Chief Justice Chase.

The Cincinnati Commercial publishes
the substance of an important and re-
markable letter from Judge Chase, to the
committee Of colorcd citizens, who were
appointed to correspond with him in re-
lation to the celebration of the Fifteenth
Amendment. 1t is one that commands
study, and will repay Investigation and
consideration;
WAsHINGroy, April 3.
Accept my thanks for the invitation
rendered in behalf of the eolored people
of Cincinnati to attend their celebration.
Duties here will not permit me to be
present except by good will and wishes.
Almost quarter of a century has passed
since some of you probably heard me de-
clare in May, lS45, that all legal distinc-
tons between individuals of the came
community, founded on any such crcum-
stances as color origin or the like, are
hostile to the genius of our institutions
and incompatible with the true theory
of American liberty and true democracy
place of nativity, or any other similar
circumstances of condition, and that the
exclusion of colored people as a body
from the elective franchise is incompati
bic with true democratic principles.
congratulate you that these principles
have been at length made part of the
supreme law of the land. Many, no
hau frl, I oh
have been if the great work consummated
by the ratification of the fifteenth amend
ment could have been accomplished by
the States through the amendment ofthe
States Constitutions, and through appro-
pirate State legislation; but delays and
uncertainties, prejudicial to every inter
est inseparable from that mode of pro
ceedings seemed to necessitate the course
actually adopted, nor does the amend
ment thus seal the rights OF any State,
but leaves the whole regulation of sui
fragc to the whole people of each State,
subject only to the fundamental law that
the right of no citizen to vote shall be
denied or abridged on account of race,
color or previous condition Of seryitudc
1t is to be hoped that each State will so
conform its constitution and laws to this
fundamental law, that no occasion may
be given to legislation by Congress. But
the best indication of wisdom, as well as
Justice, of the amendment must be found
in the conduct of that large class of citi-
zens whom you represent on the occasion
to which l have referred. l ventured to
90 hat 70 inc bn
full dwelling together of the different
races is the cordial reception of benefits,
and not the mutual infection of injuries
and | cannot give you better counsel now
than | offered then. Go forward, having
perfect faith in your own manhood and
in Gods providence, adding to your
faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and
to knowledge patience, and to patience
temperance, and to temperance brothcrly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness
charity Why not signalize your rejoic-
ing in the right secured under the fif-
tecnth amendment by urging upon Con
gress the prompt removal Of all political
disabilities imposed upon our fellow citi-
zens by the fourteenth amendment, so
that through universal suffrage and uni
versal amnesty, peace, good will and
prosperity may be established throughout
our county. Every good man must re-
joice in the progress which the colored
citizens of the United States have made
In education IN religious culture ana IN
the general improvement of their condi-
ton. Every good man must earnestly
desire their accelerated progress in the
same direction. All public and all pri-
vate interests will be promoted by t,and
it will insure at no distant day cordial
recognition Of their rights, even from
those of their fellow citizens who have
been most earnestly opposed to them.
No man can now be found who would re-
store slavery. A few years hence, if the
colorcd men are wise it will be impossi-
Bile to find man who will avow himself
in favor of denying or abridging their
right to vote S. p. CHASE.