Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-08
THE XVIII AMENDMENT.
Its Ratification AnnOunCed-Messa%e OF the
President-PrOclama of Secretary
Fish
WAsHrNaroN. March 20. 1870.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1870.
The following documents were sent in
to Congress to-day:
To The Senate and House Of Representatives {;
It is unusual TO notify the two Houses
OF Congress by message of the promulga-
ton by proclamation of the Secretary of
State of the ratification of Constitution
al Amendment In view, however, of the
vast importance of the Fifteenth Amend
ment of the Constitution, this day declared
part of that revered instrument, I deem
departure from the usual custom iustif-
able. A measure which makes at once four
millions Of people voters who were hereto
fore declared by the highest tribunal in the
land not citizens of the United States, nor
eligible TO become SO with the assertion
that g at the time of the Declaration of In
dependence the opinion was fixed and uni
versal in the civilized portion of tie white
race, regarded as an axiom in morals as
we'll as in politics, that black men had no
rights which white men were bound to re-
spect y, is indeed measure of grendel
Importance than any other one act of the
kind from the foundation of our free Gov
eminent to the present time.
Institutions like ours, in which all
power is derived directly from the people,
must depend mainly upon their intelli-
i sonce, patriotism and industry. cell the
| attention, therefore, of the newly enfran-
chised race to the Importance of thei1
striving, in every honorable manner, to
make themselves worthy of their new
privilege. TO the race more favored here
tofore by our laws I would say, withhold
no legal privilege of advancement to the
new citizen. The trainers of our Consti-
tuition firmly believed that a republican
form of government could not endure
without intelligence and education gen
orally diffused among the people. The
"Father of his Country" in his Farewell
Address, uses this language:
''Promote then, as q matter of primary
Importance, institutions for the general
diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as
the structure of government gives force TO
public opinion, it is essential that public
opinion should be enlightened"
In his first annual message to Congress
the same views were forcibly presented,
and are again urged in his eighth message.
repeat that the adoption of the Fiji
teenth amendment to the Constitution
completes the greatest civil change and
constitutes the most important event that
has occurred since the nation came into
life. The change will be beneficial in pro-
portion to the heed that is given to the
urgent recommendations of Washington.
If these recommendations were important
then, with population of but a few mil
lions, how much more important now,
with population of forty millions, and
increasing in rapid ratio!
[ would therefore call upon Congress
to take all the means within their consti-
tutional powers to promote and encour-
age popular education throughout the
country, and upon the people everywhere
I'D see to it that all who possess and exercise
political rights shall have the opportunity
to acquire the knowledge which will make
their share in the Government blessing,
and not danger. By such means only
can the benefits contemplated by this
amendment to the Constitution be secured.
u. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, March 80, 1870.
PrOcla matiOn-EIamiltOn Fish Secretary
Orstatc of the United States.
To all Whom These Presents May Come,
Creettny: Know ye that the Congress OF
the United States on or about the 9th day
Of February, in the year 1869, passed
resolution in the words 20 wit
ga RESOLUTION proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States:
t'Article Is, section l. The right of citi-
zens of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the United
States, or by any State, on account of race,
color or previous condition of servitude.
''Section 2. Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate legis
lation.''
And further that it appears from Off
cial documents On file in this Department
that the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States proposed as aforesaid
has been ratified By the Legislatures of the
States of North Carolina, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Maine, Louisi-
ana, Michigan, South Carolina, Pennsyl-
Vania, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, H.
inois, Indiana, New York, New Hamp-
shire, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, Ala
bama, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Nebras-
"a and Texas--in all twenty nine States
And further, that the States whose Leg
slatures have SO ratified the said proposed
amendment constitute three fourths of the
whole number of States in the United
States.
And further, that it appears from an Of
icial document on file in this Department
hat the Legislature of the State of New
York has since passed resolutions claiming
% withdraw the said ratification Of the
aid amendment, which had been made by |
he Legislature of that State. and of which |
,fficial notice had been filed in this De- |
)artment.
And further, that it appears from an of
iclal document on file in this Department, |
hat the Legislature of Georgia has, by
esolution, ratified the said proposed !
Now, therefore. be it known that I,
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State of the
United States, by virtue and in pursu-
nee of the second section of the act of
congress, approved the 29th day of
april, in the year 1918, entitled San act to
provide for the publication of the laws of
he United States, and for other pur-
'oses, (" do hereby certify that the amend
nent aforesaid has become valid to all in
ents and purposes as part of the Oonsti-
ution of the United States.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto
ct my hand and caused the seal Of the
department. of State to be affixed.
49, Done at the city of Washing
SEAL. ton this thirtieth day of March,
49, in the year of our Lord one
housand eight hundred and seventy, and
I the independence of the United States