The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1870-04-14
PRuCI AVIATION or THE FIF.
TEENTI AMENDMENT.
WASHINGTON, D c.,
March 80. 1870.
~ n .yenals az A0NIe q llepIe.enla .

70 ME Senate and HoNss Of Rspressnta.
tires:
lis unusual TO nolfg the two Houses
Of Congress By message Of The promuI-
.gslion By proclamation Of the Secrs'
~ Of State Of the nt,frslion Of . con.
slitu.ioDal amendment H. view, how
ever Of The vast importance Of the 10 b
Appointment oflbs Constitution this @sy
declared pprt Of thai revered iOslru.
meut. deem departure from the usual
custom julii6oble. A measure which
makes u once fonr millions Of people
voters who we're heretofore declared BY
The highest tribunal in The land not citi
zsns oftbc United States, nor eligible TO
become 60, with theasSenion that Of the
lime SfEhe Declaration Of lDdepe 6dpnce
the opinion was Gyed and universal 10
the civilized portion Of The white race,
ond regarded So on axiom in morals as
we'll as in politics, that The black man
had no rights which white men were
bound 10 respect, is indeed measure Of
gtander importance than any other sct
Of the kind from The foundation offree
Government TO the present! lime. In
stil1tious like ours,in which all power
ia derived lsom the people, must depend
mainly Upon Intelligence, patriotism and
industry ] call tho attention, therefore,
Of the newly enfrancbi,sd race to the
imporanoo Of their striving. in every
honorable manner, to make themselves
worthy of their new privilege. To the
race more favored herotoEore'by our laws,
i would say withhold no legal privilege
Of advancement TO the new citizens. The
Ftamers Of our Constitution firmly b..
lieved that Republican form ofGovern.
meut could not endure without intelli
gcnce and education generally ditfased
among the people. The father Of his
country in his farewell address used this
language: Promote then ss a matter
Of primary importance, institutions for
the general diffusion Of knowledge. In
proportion ss tie structure Of the'Gov
eminent gives force to public opinion, il
is essential that public opinion should be
enlightened. In his irst annual mes
sage 10 Congress, the same views we're
fofribly presented, end are agaiu urged
in bus eighth message. ! r5p-al ihs:
the adoption Of the 18Th Amendment to
the Constitution completes the greatest
civil change, and constitutes the most
important event that has occurred since
the the nation came into life, The
change will be beneficial in prOportoo
TO tho heed that is given TO The urgent
recon meDdaiions Of Washington. III
thess recommendation we're important
then. With ,popUl,tion Of bnl 3 few
millions, how much more iihpbFtant
now with q population Of 10000, 600
and increasing 10 a rapid ratio. would
therefore. call upon Congress to take all
tho means within their constitutional
power to promote and encourage popu.
lar education throughout the county,
and upon the people everywhere TO see
to it that all who pcSes5 and exercise
political rights shall have opportunity to
acquire knowledge which will make
their share in the Government a
blessing and not danger. By such
means only can tho benefits oontempla
ted by this amendment to the ConsIitu
tiOn be secured. [Sjgnedl
U. s. GRANT.
HAMILTON FlsB,
Secretary Of State.
ExEouT,vE MASsloN, March 80, 1870.