The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-04-15
letter from Lndgo Chase.

The following important and re-
markable letter from Chief Justice
Chase, was received by the Committee
of Correspondence Of the colored cit
izens of Cincinnati. who were about
to celebrate the ratification of the
Fifteenth Amendment:
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1870.
GENTLEMEN Accept my thanks
for the invitation you have rendered
me, in behalf of the colOred people
of Cincinnati, TO attend their celebra-
ton of the ratification of the Eff
teenth Amendment. Ny duties here
will not permit me TO be present, ex /.
cept by good will and good wishes.
almost quarter of century has
passed since some of you, probably,
heard me declare, on the 9th of May,
1845, in an assembly composed chiefly
of the people whom you now repre-
sent, that all legal distinctions be-
tween individuals Of the same com
munity founded on any such circum-
stances as color, origin aud the like,
are hostile to the genius Of our insti-
tukions, and incompatible with the
true theory of American liberty that
true Democracy makes no inquiry
about the color Of the skin, or the
place Of nativity, or any other similar
circumstance OF condition; and that
the exclusion of the colared people.
as body, from the elective franchise
is incompatible with true Democratic
principles.
4 congratulate you on the fact that
these principles, not then avowed by
me for the first time, nor ever since
abandoned or compromised, have
been at length incorporated into the
Constitution and made part of the
supreme law of the land. t
Many, no doubt, have been glad.
as / should have been, had the great
work consnmmated by the ratification
of the Fifteenth Amendment, could
have been accomplished by the States.
tutIons. and through appropriate
State legislation but the delay
and uneertaintiess prejudicial to
every interest, inseperable from
that mode of proceeding, seemed
30 necessitate the course actually
adopted. Nor does the Amendment
impair the real rights of any State.
It leaves the whole regulation of
suffrage to the people. of each State,
subject only to the fundamental law,
that the right of no citizen to vote
shall be denied, or abridged, on ac-
count OF color, race or previous con-
dition of seryitude. It is to be hoped
that each State will so conform
its Constitution and laws to this
fundamental law that no occssion NAV
be given to legislation by Congress. 4
But the best yindication of the
wisdom as well as justice of the
Amendment must be found In the
Fonduct Of that large class of citizens
whom you represent. On the ocoa-
sion to which / have referred, ven-.
lured TO say that the best way to in
sure the peaceful dwelling together of
the different races, is the cordial re-
ciprocation of the benefits, not the
mutual inhiction of injuries; and i
can not now give you better council
than Iaeoffered then: Go forward,
having perfect faith In your own man
hood, and in Gods providence, add
ing to your faith virtue; and to virtue,
knowledge; and to knowledge. pa
tience; and to patience, temperance;
and to temperance, brotherly kind
ness; and to brotherly kindness,
charity. -.-.-.a a-a
d 'sWhynot signalize your rejoicing
in the right secured under the Fif-
teenth Amendment. by urging upon
Congress the prompt removal OF all
political disabilities, imposed upon our
fellow citizens by the Fourteenth
laAmendment?-so that, through uni
versal suffrage and universal amnes-
ty,. peace, good will and prosperity
may he established throughout our
country. II bT9 BesoE
Every good man must rejoice in
the progress which the colored- cit
fizens Of the United States have made
in education. in religious cul-
ture, and in the general i'm
provement of their condition.
Every good man must earnestly
desire their continued and aocel-
Grated progress in the same direction.
All public and all private interests
will be promoted by it; and it will IN
sure, at no distant day. cordial recog-
milton of their rights. even from those
of their fellow-ei citizens who have most
earnestly opposed them. =
No man can now be found who
would restore slavery; a few years
hence, If the coIored men arc wise, i
will be impossible to find 4 man whe
will avow himself in favor of denying
or abrldglng their right to vote. ss
Very respectfully yours,
& sksS y fHuacEs -