Smyrna times., 1870-04-06
The 18th Amendment,

EE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AND SECRETARY FrsH's PSocLA-
NATION.
To the Senate and House OF Representatives:
is unusual to notify the two Houses Congress-
sage OF the promug~n BY proclamation of the Secretary
state OF the ratification OF constitutional amendment 10
view, however the Fifteenth Amend
ment OF the Constitution tins day declared part that re
vered Instrument deem departure the usual custom
lu~tifabe which makes tour millions of
people voters who heretofore by the highest t
buna in the land citizens Of the Cuted States
to become with the assertion that the Dcar
alton Of Independence the fixed universal in
the civilized portion Of the white regarded
morals as well in politics that black no rights
winch white men bound to respects indeed measure
OF grander Importance than any the kind from the
formation OF free Government present time Inst
tu"ns ike ours in which all derived directly from
the people must depend mainly upon patriot
Ism aud industry call the attention. therefore. the newly
enrancised the Importance Of their striving in yrv
honorable manner to make Themselves WORTH their
privilege To the favored heretofore BY our laws
would withhold no legal privilege advancement 20 the
nav citizen The trainers oil Constitution FIRMLY believed
that republican form not endure with
out Intelligence and education generally diused among the
people The Father Of bis Country his farewell address
uses this language Promote tleu matter Of primary
Importance institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge
In proportion az the structure government gives force to
public opinion it Is essential that pubic opinion should be
enlightened In his brst annual Congress the
same views were torcby presented and
eighth repeat, the adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment TO the Constitution completes tbc import
ant event that has occurred the life
Inc change viii be beneficial IN proportion heed
given 10 these urgent WashinRton If
these recommendations important then
OF but few millions. how important now with
population OF forty millions, aui increasing a rapid ratio.
would therefore call upon Congress to take all the
in their constitutional power promote and encourage pnp
lar education throughout the country upon the people
every" here to see to 1t that all who
teal rights shall have the opportunity acquire know
edge which Will make their share in the blessing
and not danger BY only can the benefits CON
tenpated by this amendment to the
Leisheu" I. 5. GRANT.
Executive Mansion March 30. 1870.
SECRETARY FIsH's PRoCLAMArIoS
Hamilton Fish, Secretary State the United States to all
t" whom these presents come, greeting:
Know We that the Congress he United States on or about
the 9th OF February in the thousand eight hundred
and Ntynine passed resolution the words and figures fol
lowing. to wit:
"A Resolution propost amendment Constitution
Of the United States.
Resolved by the Senate and House Of
the United States Of America Congress assembled tvo.
thirds of both c,ncurrin that the ovino a,,iI "a
proposed to the LeGatur,s several States as an amend
m"nt 10 the Constitution of the United States which, when
ratified by three Ourhs Of said Legislatures shall be vad az
part Of the Constitutions viz: Article l5
Section l. The rights citizens OF the United States 10
vote shall not be denied abridged United States or by
any State on account of color condition Of
servtude.
SEcTON The Congress shall have power TO enforce this
article by appropriate legislation"
And further hat appears official documents on file in
tins department. that the amendment Coustution Of
the United states proposed been ratified BY
tn" Legislatures Of the States North Carolina West Vir
gina Massachusetts,, Wisconsin, Maine Louisiana Mchjpan
south Carna PENNSYLVANIA Arkansas Florida
Illinois, Indiana New York New Hampshire Nevada Vermont
Virginia Alabama. Missouri Mississippi Ohio Iowa Kansas
Minnesota Rhode Island Nebraska Texas In all twenty
nine States.
Ana TURNER that the States whose legislatures have SO rat
lied the said proposed amendment constitute three forhs Of
the whole number of States the United States And further
hat II appears nom official document file In this Depart
m'nt that the Legislature Of the State of New York has since
passed resolutions claiming withdraw the said ratification
ot the said amendment which had the cgisla
ure of that State aud which been filed
IN this Department And further that appears from an
official document file in this Department that the gisa
tue Of Georgia has by resolution the said proposed
| amendment.
Now therefore, be il known that l. Hamilton Fish, by virtue
Congress approved day April the year 1919 en-
titled AN to provide the publication of the laws
the United States 70 other purposes do hereby certify
that the amendment aforesaid ntents
and part Of the Constitution the United
In testimony whereof have hereuutu my and
caused the seal o the Department Of state be affixed
Done at the city OF Washing this 3Oh March, in
the Lord seventy
and Of the Independence the United States the ninety
fourth
(Slgned) HAMILTON FISH.