Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-04-14
Message and Proclamation Announce
ing the Ratification of the XIV Amend
1nent.
WASHINGTON. March 8

WASHINGTON, March 80.
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives:
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses
Of Congress, BY message, of the pro-
mitigation by proclamation of the Secre-
tary of State of The Ratification of a
constitutional amendment. In view,
however, of the vast importance Of the
fifteenth amendment of the Constitution,
this day declared part of that revered
instrument, l deem departure from
the usual custom justifable. A measure
which makes at once four millions of PEG
pie voters who were heretofore declared
by the highest tribunal in the land not
citizens of the United States nor eligible
to become so, with the assertion that at
the time of the declaration of indepen
dence the opinion was fixed and univer-
sal in the civilized portion of The white
race and regarded as an axiom in morals
as we'll as in politics, that 'black men
had no right which white men were
bound to respect, is indeed measure of
grander importance than any other one
act of the kind from the foundation of
our free Government to the present time.
Institutions like ours, in which all pow
er is derived directly from the people,
must depend mainly upon their intelli-
gence patriotism and industry. l call
the attention, therefore, of the newly
enfranchsed race to the importance of
their stirling, in every honorable man.
ner, to make themselves worthy of their
new privilege. To the race more fa,
vored heretofore by our laws, l would
say, withhold no legal privilege of ad.
vancement 10 the new citizens. The
trainers of our Constitution firmly be-
lieved that a republican form of govern
ment could not endure without intelli-
gence and education, generally diffused
among the people. The Father of his
country, in his farewell address, used
this language. @
Promote, then, rs n matter of pri-
mary importance, institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge. In pro-
portion as the structure OF the Govern
ment gives force TO public opinion, it is
essential that public opinion should be
enlightened
In his first annual message to Con-
gress the same views were forcibIy pres
ented, and are again urged in his eighth
message. | repeat that the adoption of
the fifteenth amendment to the Consti
tuition completes the greatest civil change
and constitutes thclnost important event
that has occurred since the nation came
into life. The change will be beneficial in
proportion TO the heed that is given to the
urgent recommendations Of Washington.
If these recomme dations were important
then, with population of but few
millions, how much more important
now, with population Of forty millions
and increasing in q rapid ratio.
l would therefore call upon Congress
to take all means within their constitu
tioual power to promote and encourage
popular education throughout the coun.
try, and upon the people every where to
sea to it that all who possess aud exer-
else political rights shall have an oppor-
tunity to acquire the knowledge which
will make their share in the Government
blessing and not danger. BY such
means only can the benefits eontempla-
led by this amendment to the Constltu
ton be secured. (Signed)
u. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Mar. 80 1870.
PROCLAMATION OF THE SECRETARY OF
l.a ti STATE.
To all phon, these presents may come, greeting:
Know We, that the Congress of the United
States, on or about the 9th day of February
i'm the year 1869, passed a resolution in the
words and figures following, to wit:
"A RESOLUTION proposing an amend ment
to the Constitution of the United States:
RESOLVED BIZ the Senate ond House Of Rep
rcsentatives of the United States of An,erica
in Congress assembled, t,co thirds Of both Hous-
es concurring, that the following articles be
proposed the LEGISLATURES OF the several states
as an amendment TO the Constitution of the
United States. which, when ratified by three
fourths of said Legislatures. shall be valid as
a part of the Constitution namely.
| ARTICLE XV-SEcTIoS 1. The rights of
citizens 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 pre-.
vious condition of servitude.
SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to en-
force this act by appropriate legislation
And further, that it appears from Of
fetal document on file in this department
that the amendment to the Constitution
of the United States proposed as aiore
said, has been ratified by the Legisla
lures of the Of North Carolina, West
Virginia, Massachusetts. Wisconsin,
Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, South Car
DINA, Pennsylvania, Arkansas. Connect
cut, Florida. Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,
New York, New Hampshire. Nevada,
Vermont, Missouri, Virginia, Alabama,
Kansas. Missouri. Minnesota, Ohio,
Rhode Island, Nebraska and Texas-in
all twenty-nine states.
And, further, thit the states whose
Legislatures have 50 ratified said pro.
posed amendment Constitute three fourths
Of the whole number Of the STA cs in the
United States.