Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-04-08
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
A Proclamation.

! ot the Fifteenth Amendment of the Con-
stitution, this day declared n part of that
revered instrument. | deem departure
\ from the usual custom iu>titiable.
The measure which makes ut once four
millions of the people voters who were
hitherto declared by the highest tribunal
of the United States. not eligible to be
come 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, and
regarded Is an axiom in morals ~ well
as in politics, that black men had no rights
which white men were bound to respect
Is indeed measure OF grander import
ance than any other ono act ct the kind
from the foundation of our free govern
meat to The present time. Institutions
ike our>, in which all power is derived
directly from the people, must depend
mainly upon their intelligence, patriotism
and industry. | call the attention there
fore. OF the newly cu'ranchiscd race TO
the importance OF ,hei- striving in every
honorable manner to make themselves
worthy Of their new privilege. To arace
more favored horetofofr by our laws, |
would say. withhold no legal privilege of
advancement to the new citizens. The
irr,iuers of our Constitution firmly be-
Gcvcd that republican, form Of govern
mcut could not endure without inielli.
geucc and educatiou was generally diff
fused among ,ho people. The Father of
his Country in his Farewell Address uses
thi> language Promote then ~ matter
Of primary importance institutions Tor the
general diffusion Of knowledge. In pro-
portion as he structure of government
gives force 10 public opinion iti,c>>cn,ial
that public opinion should be enlightened"
Ia al, first annual mes SAGE 10 Congress
the same ,ieN. are tcrcihlN prc>en,cd.and
are again urged in the eighth message.
repeat that the adoption Of the Fifteenth
Amendment 10 the Constitution completes
the most important event that has oc-
CURED : the nation came into life.
The chang will a., beneficial in proper,
ton 10 the h,cl tha; j. given % the mr.
gent Recommendation, ot Washington Ii
these recommendations were important
then, with a population Of bat fcw
millions, how much move impoy'au: are
they now. with Popu'a,iouof 100000
aud increasing in rapil ratio. would.
therefore. call upon Congress t. tAk- all
the mcau> within their constitutional
power to encourage popular education
throughout, the county, and upon the
people everywhere t. see - !, that all
who possess and exercise political rights
shall have on opportunity to acquire that
kuou.elS, which viii make their share
ia the government; blessing and not -
danger By such means only can the
benefits contemplated by this amendment
10 the Constitution he secured
(>igued) L. ;, GRANT.
Executive Mansion. March 80, 1870.
The senate and House of Representa-,
ti,e> of tho United States, on or about the
9Th OF February. in the year one thousand
eight hundred ,,nd sixty nine. passed 4
resolution in the words and figures FOL
lowing. 10 vii;
R,>oi.cd bg Zee 'Sci.ate and House Of
Representatives, Of tn Jnusd Stt;cS Of
.im,rlcu %. Congress assembled. Two thirds
/ oi bn,n Houses coucunng. That The fol-
lowing article be proposed TO the legi,la.
lures of the several States rs an amend
ment - the Constitution Of the United
States. which when ratified by three,
lourths of the sand legislature shall be
valid ~ u part OF the Constitution,
namely:
Article l5-SecQon First. The right
I of citizen, of the United States TO vote
shall moi be denied or abridged by the
I Uuited States or any State on account OF
/ race, color or previous condition OF
seryitude.
1 Sect ,. Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by app opriate legisla-
/ ton
And further. it appears from official
( documents on file in this Department that
/ the amendment TO the Constitution OF the
4 United States proposed as aforesaid has
I been ratified by the legislatures of the
/ States OF Nor,h Carolina, West Virginia,
| Massachusetts, Wisconsin Maine, Louisi-
ana, Michigan, South Carolina. Penusyl-
I yania. Arkansas Connecticut, Florida.
/ Illinois. Indiana. New York. New
I Hampshire, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia,
/ Alabama. Mississippi, Missouri. Ohio,
/ Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Rhode Island,
/ Nebraska end Texas, in all tweaty-nine
States
And further, That the States whose leg
isla.mcs have - ratified the said propos-
ed amendment constitute three iOurths OF
the whole number of States in the United
States.
And, further, That it appears from the
official documents on file in this depart
ment that the legislature OF the State OF
New York has since passed n resolution
claiming to Withdraw said ratification of
said amendment which has been made by
the Legislature of that State, and of which