The Republican journal., 1870-04-07
THE Fifteenth AMENDMENT.
Official Notice Of its Ratification.

Of1CIdI NOllCe VI lis hdtInCdIiOn,
To THE SENATE
AND House OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses of Con-
@reSS by message Of the PRONUNCIATION bv proclama-
lion Of the Secretary of State of the ratification of
me constitutional amendment. In view, however.
OF the vast Importance of the 18th Amendment of
The Constitution this day declared a part of that
reNered instrument, deem departure from the
usual custom justlable The measure which
makes AT once four millions of the people voters
who were heretofore declared by the highest tribl,-
nal IN the land not citizens of the ned States nor
eligible to become 50, with the assertion that at the
time OF the Declaration of Independence the opin-
lo was fixed and universal in the civilized poriion
"i the White race, and regarded as an axiom in
morals as well as i'll politics. that black men had no
rights which white men were bound to respect is
inoee'i' a measure Of grander Importance than any
"lltr one act of the kind from the foundation of
our lree government to the present time Insttu-
mons like ours, in which all power is derived d.
lr'tIy from the people. must depend mainly upon
llielr intelligence, patriotism and industry | call
the attention. therefore, of the newly entranchiscd
race 70 the Importance of their striving in every
honorable manner to make themselves worthy of
lheir new privilege. 10 a race more favored here
lolole by our laws would say. withhold no legal
privilege OF advancement to the new citizens The
trainers of our constitution firmly believed that
frpubllcan form Of government could not endure
without Intelligence and education were generally
'll1IlSed among the people. The Father of his
ollhtry, IN his farewell address, uses thi, Ian
%uaSc- Promote, then, as matter Of primary
Importance, institutions for the general diffusion of
hnoWlettge. In proportion as the structure of GOV
eminent gives force to public opinion it is essen
ial that public opinion should be enlightened" Tn
ms 1rSt annual Message to Congress the same
views We're torcibly presented and are again urged
IN ms eighth message. I repeat, that the adoption
OF the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution com
Ietes the greatest civil change and constitutes the
most important event that has occurred since the ma
non came INTO life The change will be beneficial i'm
proportion to the heed that is given to The urgent
recommendations of Washington. Ifthese recon-
mcn'iationS were important then. with a population
:" mi lew millions, how much more important
are they now with population Of forty millions
and Increasing in rapid ratio. would therefore
an upon Congress to take all the means within
'hrlr constitutional power to promote and en-
courage popular education throughout tie country
anu upon the people everywhere to sec To Il that
MI who possess and exercise political rights shall
h'tN' an opportunity to acquire that knowledge
,Mhrh wll make their share in the government !,
blessing and not a danger. BY such mean, only
can the benefits contemplated ly his amendment 10
The Constitution be secured
(Signed) t. s. GEANr
ENrrIlllV" Mansion. March Seth lS-0
THE rRoCLAMNTIoN.
HAMILTON FISH SECRETARY OF STATE or THE
MED STATES, no ALL WHOM THESE PRES
lNiS MAY COME, GREETING
Know We, that the Congress of the uite1 St.,tc,
on or about the 2.th day of February in the wear
one thousand eight hundred and SXtv-lline passed
resolution IN the words and figures following, to
Wit
resolution proposing AN amendment ia fine
t"n>tltution of the United States.
HeS"/redbgWe Senate and House of P40fpseu
'""f'S ~ Mr nate" suites ~ Iacfica IN Cna-
Hf'SS GSSrmtf"l. two-hrds of both Houses concur
rln%, that the following article be proposcd tu thn
legislatures of the several States :S an amendment
I" The Constitution of the United States. which
when ratified by thrce-tourths Of the said I.egiSla-
namely:
ARTICLE - SECTION |. The rights of the
clllzen, Of the United States to vote Shall not be de-
hel or abridged by the United State, on account
81 race color or previous condition of Scryulp
SECTION >. Congress shall have power to en-
force this article by appropriate legislation.
in"' lHIher. That it appears from official dorll-
mcnt to the Constitution of the United states pro-
posed as aforesaid, has been ratified bv tie Leeis-
Eilures OF the states of North Carolina, West Nir-
$inl;' MASSACHUSETTS,, Wisconsin, Maine, Louisiana
Michigan. South Carolina, PENNSYLVANIA Arkau-
SaS' CONNECTICUT, Florida. Illinois. Indiana New
York. New Hampshire, Nevada Vermont. Vir-
9lilh' Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio Iowa,
Texas, in all % States:
-lnd. tHFthef, that the States whose LEGISLATURE,
haNt SO fililied the saul proposed Amendment
Constitute three-fourths of the whole number of
states IN the nted States.
-lH"' JAi3hef, that it appears from the official
document ON file in this Department that the Leg
stature Of the state Of New York has since passed
resolution claiming to withdraw said ratification
Of the said Amendment which had been made nv
Inc Legislature of that State, and of which official
h"life had been MED in this Department:
-lMm, J@f2her that it appears from the official
document on tile in this Department that the Leg
stature OF Georgia has, by Il resolution ratified
the said proposed Amendment:
Now therefore. be it known that |. Hamilton
flSl' secretary of State Of the United States bv
virtue ana III pursuance Of the second section Of
an het OF Congress approved the Goth day of April
III lhe year ISIS entitled An Act to Provide for
the Publication of the Laws of the -nted States.
ana Tor other purposes do hereby certify that the
amendment aforesaid has become valid to all intents
;'iu purposes tS Il part of the Constitution of the
nitcd States. "
IN testimony whereof have hereunto SET NV
hahd ana caused the Seal of the Department OF
state to be affixed. Done al the City of Washing
ION lhS dav 10th day of March, in the year of our
LORD one thousand eight hundred and seventy. and
{" me independence of the United States the ninety
fourth. U,NUTnv E,.m