Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-31
WASHINGTON
OfficiaI.


lures of several Stats as amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, which
when ratified by th-ee-fourths of said Legis-
latures shall be valid as part of the Consti-
tuition, namely:
Article XIV, section l. The right of citi-
zens of the United States to vote shall not
be denied or Abridged by the United States
or any State on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude.
Sec. =. Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Further, that it appears from official
documents on file in this Department that
the amendment to The Constitution pro-
posed as aforesaid has been ratified by the
Legislatures of the States of North Caro-
lima, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Wis
consin, Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, South
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, SCcnnec-
ticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New
York, New Hamphire, Nevada, Vermont,
Missouri, Virginia, Alabama, Kansas, Missis-
sippi, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Ne
braska and Texas-in all twenty nine States;
and further that States whose Legislatures
have SO ratified said proposed amendment
constitute three-fourths of the whole
number of States in the United States and
further, that it appears from an official doc
ument on file in this department that the
Legislature Of the State of New York has
since passed resolutions claiming to'with-
draw said ratification of said amendment,
which has been made by the Legislature of
that State, and of which official notice had
been filed in this Department; and further,
that it appears from an official document
on file in this Department that the Legisla-
ture of Georgia has by resolution ratified
said proposed amendment:
Now, therefore, be it known that l,
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State of the
United States, by virtue aud in pursuance
of the second section of the Act Of Con-
gress, approved the goth dayof April, in the
year 1918, entitled San Act to provide for
the publication of laws of the United States,
and for other purposes, do hereby certify
that the amendment aforesaid has become
valid to all intents and purposes,
as part of the Constitution Of the United
States, in testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand and caused the seal of
the Department of State to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington on the seth
day of March, in the year of our Lord,
1870, and of the independence of the
United states, Tie 94tn-
HAMILTON FISH.
Presidential Message.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
WASHINGTON, March 3O.-It is unusual
TO notify the two houses of Congress, by
message, of the PRONUNCIATION by procla-
nation Of the Secretary of State of the
ratification Of Constitutional amendment.
In view, however, of the vast importance
of the Fifteenth Amendment of the Con-
stitution, this day declared part of that
revered instrument, | deem departure
from usual customs iustifiable.
A measure which makes at once four mill
lions of people voters, who were heretofore
declared by the highest tribunal in the land
not citizens of the United States, nor eligi-
BILE to become so, with the assertion that
at the time of the declaration of indie
pendence the opinion was fixed and univer-
sal in the civilized portion of tie white
race, and regarded as an axiom in morals as
well as in politics, that black men had
no rights which white men were bound to
respect, is indeed a measure of grander
importance than any other act Of the kind
from the foundation of our free Govern
ment TO the present time.
Institutions like ours, in which all power
is derived directly from the people, must
depend mainly upon their intelligence
patriotism and industry. l call the atten-
ton; therefore, Of the newly enfranchised
race to the importance of their striving IL
every honorable manner to make them
selves worthy of their new privilege. IL
the race more favored heretofore by on
laws, | would say Withhold no legal priv
lege of Advancement TO the new citizens.
The trainers of our Constitution firml!
believed that republican form of govern
ment could not endure without intelligence
and education generally diffused among
the people. The Father of his country IL
his farewell address used this language
Promote, then, as a matter of primary
importance, institutions for the diffusion Of
knowledge. In proportion as the structure
of the Government gives force to public
opinion, it is essential that public opiIio1
should be enlightened In his first annUa
message to Congress the same views wer,
forcibly presented, and are again urged il
his eighth message.
/ repeat, that the adoption of the Eff
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
completes the greatest civil change, ant
constitutes the most important event tina
has occurred since the nation came int
life. The change will be beneficial in pro
portion to the heed that is given TO the III
gent recommendations of Washington.
these recommendations were importan
then, with population of but a few mi
lions, how much more important now, wit
population of forty millions increasing
in a rapid ratio.
would therefore call upon Congress t.
take all the means within their constitu
tional power to promote and encourag
popular education throughout the countr
and upon the people everywhere to see
it that all who possess and exercise pc
htical rights, shall have an opportunity (
acquire knowledge which will make theI
share in the Government blessing an
not a danger By such means only ca
the benefit contemplated 10y this amend
ment TO the Constitution be secured.
o. S. GRANT,
EXECUTIVE. MANSION. March 80, 1870.
Tell us not in 1IOurnfuI Numbers.
The. Senate to-day confirmed The nom
nation of DIR. Samuel Bard, of Georgia, ;
Governor of Idaho. The commission
Gov Ballard, the present incumbent, e.
pires April 10.
The san Domingo Discussion.
The consideration of San Doringo WI
resumed by the Senate this afternoon.
Mr.. Casserly spoke about three hour
taking physiological vieg of the questic
and arguing against territorial expansion
especially towards the tropics.
MIR. Stewart favored the treaty, maintain
ing that the American people were oppose
to standing still policy and desire ten
torial expansion as their inevitable dest'n
No action, whatever, was taken on q
treaty, which will probably be laid ash,
tomorrow in order TO dispose of Il
Mississippi Senatorial question. Thefrien
of the treaty express confidence that Il
delay will gain friends for its ratiticatlo
the prospect for which, however, at pre-
emf, is far from favorable.
PHILADELPHIA.
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