Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-04-15
A Free Nation.

TIE Both of March will forever be
memorable in the history of the American
republic and the cause of freedom. For
Oh that day in this glorious year 1870 the
contamination of our freedom, so tar as
making all men politically equal before
the law is concerned, was brought about.
The proclamation of Hamilton Fish, Sec
retary OF State, announcing the ratifica-
ton by the requisite number of States of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Consti-
tuition, is the concluding scene, the happy,
glorious denouement of a grand political
epoch, by which was evolved one Of the
most important victories for liberty till
now recorded in the history of the human
race.
The President, in special message to
Congress on this subject, says the adop-
ton of the Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution completed the greatest civil
change, and constitutes the most impor-
tant event that has occurred since the ma
ton came into life" These are strong
words, memorable for the truth they an
nounce. Not the Declaration of Indepen-
dence itself, not the adoption of the
| original Constitution, not the emancipa-
| ton of our four millions slaves, was so
| important as the ratification of the Fiji
teenth Amendment. By the first, a new
| nationality was led out of the wilderness
to view, but not to enjoy, the promised
| land; by the second, that nationality was
organized into power commanding the
worlds respect, but in the most important
particulars of human right outraging the
laws of justice and of Heaven; by the
third, an act of national benifcence was
| hn min h
have gone down In ruins, suffering the
ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment
every man in the country, guiltless OF
crime, is placed upon his feet, and, not
only in theory, but by the acknowledg
ment of law, made to stand upon q per
! feet political equality with every other
man. The last vestige of the legalized
caste is wiped out of our nationality, anC
the American Republic, from the 3Ott
day of March, 1870, is in law and fact g
genuine democracy. We are hencefortl
a free nation.
No one should fail to observe, in con
sidering the Importance of this great con
summation, that the constitutional pro
vision, now part of the fundamental law
of the land, is of negative form. Such has
/
freedom wrested from tyranny and wrong
The law itself has been the great oppressol
of the human race, and when oppression
| has been removed, it has been by the alb
rogation of unjust law. So this grea
nactment does not atfirmatively say thai
men shall have such and such rights. i
| forbids government to take from men suct
and such rights, among which, in this in
stances is the right of most practical value
to every constituent member of the State
Government is forbidden to practict
political iniquity. The result-equality
The Immediate effects Of this extension
of the sphere and power of freedom will
not be great Old customs, old preju
dices, old education in i'll, will stand il
the way. A nation is not regenerated il
a day. But the effect of old customs, an(
prejudices, and education, will gradually
pass away, and the time will come whe1
the free peoples of the earth will, will
one accord, acknowledge that the day 0
their deliyerance from bondage. wa
greatly accelerated by the freedom of tn
American Republic, as fully consummate'
| by the ratification Of the Fifteenth
Amendment.-C Chicago Post, March 81.