The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-04-14
WARRINGTON. D. C.. March RI

10 tic Senate and House Of Represental;oe,
It is unusual to notify the two Hous:
IS OF Congress, by message, Of the
PRONUNCIATION by proclamation Of the
Secretary Of State of the ratification of
= Constitutional Amendment. In view,
however, of the vast importance of the
XVIII Amendment Of the Constitution,
this day declared a part Of that revered
instrument, I deem a departure from
the usual custom justifable.
A measure which makes at once
100000 Of people voters who were
heretofore declared BY the highest tri-
bunal in the land not citizens of the
United States, nor eligible to become
50, with the assertion that at the time
Of the Declaration Of Independence tho
opinion was universal in the civilized
portion Of the white race, and regarded
as an axiom in morals as we'll as in pol
itics that black men have no rights
which white men were bound to re-
spect, is indeed measure of grauder
importance than any other act of the
kind from tho foundation Of our free
government to the present time.
Institutions like ours in which all
the power is derived directly from the
people, must depend mainly upon their
intelligence, patriotism and industry.
I call the attention, therefore, of the
newly enfranchised race to the impor-
tanoe Of their striving in every possible
manner to make themselves worthy of
their new privilege.
TO the race more favored, heretofore,
BY our laws I would say, withhold no
legal privilege Of advancement to the
new citizens.
The trainers Of our constitution firm
IL believed that Z republican form of
government,oould nos endure without
Intelligence and education generally diff.
fused among the people.
The Father Of his Country, in his
farewell address, used this language
"Promose, then, as Z matter Of primary
importance, institutions for tho general
diffusion Of knowledge; in proportion
- the structure IF the government gives
force to pubic opinion, it Is essential
that public opinion should be-. enlight-
ened." :.
In his first annual message to Con-
gress the same views were forcibly pre-
sentsd, and are again urged in his eighth
message.
1repoatthst the adoption of the XVIII
Amendment completes the greatest civil
change and constitutes the most impor-
tan: event that has occurred since the
! nation came into. life. TIE change will
be beneficial in proportion to the heed
that IS given to the urgent recommen-
dation Of Washington. If these recon.
mendations were important then with a
population of but few millions, how
much more important aow with a
population Of forty millions, ssd in.
ereasing. in rapid ratio. I would
therefore call upon Congress to take all
means within their power to promote
eod encourage popular education
Throughout the country, aud upon tho
people everywhere to see to it that all
Who possess political rights shall have
opportunity to acquire knowledge which
Will make their share in tho Govern
mont blessing aud not danger.
BY such means only can tas benefits
contemplated by this amendment to the
constitution be secured.
(SiEned) U. s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, March 3Oth, 1870.
THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.
! To al to shon these presents shall come,
greeting: .~
Know yc, that the Congress Of tho
United States, on or about the 9Th
day Of February, in the year 1869,
passed resolution in the words and
figures following, to wit :....: ~- q.
4 resolstion rroposing an amendment to ht
Constlntion efths United States. ;.
Resolved, BY the Senate aud House
Of Representatives Of the United State,