Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-31

the following message from the President was
read
Executive MANSION.
March 30. 1910.
To tie Senate anu House Of Representatives.:
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses Of Con.
gress by message of the PRONUNCIATION, by proc
lamsLiOn Of the Secretary of State, II the ratlh-
cation of q Constitutional Amendment. In
wow. however, of tho vast importance OF the
Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution, this
dsy declared q part of that roverod Instrument,
deem a departure from the usual custom JUS
tiiiable. a measure which makes at once four
millions of people voters who were heretofore
declared by tho highest tribunal in the land not
citizens OF tho United States, nor eligible to be.
como so with tho assertion that "at tho time OF
the Declaration Of Independence tho opinion
was liked universal in the civilized portion OF
tho white rsc0, regarded rs al axiom in morals
rs well as in politics, that black men had no
rights which white men were bound to re-
%spcct,") is indeed q measure of grander impor-
tunco than any other one act OF the kind from
the foundation Of our free government TO the
present time.
r institutions like ours, in which all power is
derived directly from the people, must depend
mainly upon their intelligence, patriotism ana
industry. l call the attention, therefore, OF the
newly enfranchised race TO the Importance OF
their striving in every honorable manner TO
make themselves worthy OF their new privilege.
| L % lUB y llol " SJS
laws l would say, withhold no legal privilege
or advancement to the new ~citizsn. The frs
mers of our Constitution firmly believed that q
republican !orm Of government could mol On
durc without intelligence and EDUCATION gener-
s!ly d;ffused among the people. The rather
Of his Country" in his Farewell Address, uses
this language:
"Preincte, then. as a matter of primary i'm
portance, institutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge. In proportion as tho structure
| ,f 4. nvnrur n ont riyoS lDrcb 10 DuDllC opinion, 1t
is e~ssentis! that public opinion should be o.
lightCned.'
In his Gsst Annual Message to Congress the
same views were forcibly presented and arc
again urged in his eighth Message.
l repeat that tho adoption of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution completes the
greatest civil! change and constitutes tho most
important event that has occurred since the ns-
ton came into life. The change VIII Dc Dehe-
fcinl in proo0tion 20 tho heed that i given to
the urgent recomm cndations Of Washlngton.-
If these recommendation wore important then,
with a population of bat ! fow millions, how
much more important COW, with 4 popuiation
offorty millions, and increasing IN 81 rap'd r"-
ito
| would, therefore, call upon Congress to
take all the means within their constitutions
powars to promote and encourage popular edu-
cation throughout the country. an upon inc
peup!o everywhere to see to it that All VINO pos
sess and exercise political rights shall nave Inc
| ~ aLlNllS ~
will mako their share in tho Government q
blessing and not q danger. By such means only
can the benefits contemplated by this Amend
men! to tho Constitution be secured; 1r
The following is the Proclamation of the
Secretary G! State, referred to in the Message
| OF the President {:
To al to whom those Presents may como, Greet
Know yc, that the Congress Of the United
States, on or about the tWenty-sevonth day OF
February, in tho year one thousand eight hun
| drcd ard sixty-ninc, passed y resolution IN the
words and figures following. to wit:
| A Eo,ulution Proposing an Amendment to tho
Constitution of the United States.
Resolved, SC, Uwo-thirds Of both Houses
concurrine.) That tho following article be pro-
| nosrd to tho Legislatures of tho several States
~ an amendment TO tho Constitution of the
fourths OF said Legislatures, shall be valid $
part Of the Constitutions, namely:
Article XIV. Section ]. The right Of citizens
of tho United States TO vote shall not BIO denied
| or abridged by the United States or by any
State. on account of race, color or previous con-
dition Of sorvitude.
Section =. The Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
And further, that it appears from official doc
u,ncnts on fic in this Department that the
amendment 10 inc OOllSLlLuIibil Ot Ut Illte
States, proposed as aforesaid, has been ratified
by the Legislatures Of The States Of North Car
oiina. WcS: Virginia. Massachusetts,, Wiscon-
sin, Maine, Louisiana. Michigan. South Caro-
linn, Pennsylvania. Arkansas, ConEeclicut'
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Io!k, New
Hampshire, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, Ala
bama, Missouri. Mississippi, Ohio. !owH, Kan,
sss, Minncsota, Rhode Island, Nebraska and
Texas. in all twenty-nino States.
And further, that tho States whose licglsl9-
,uros lave so ratified the said proposed hmend-
men. constitute thrco-fOurths Of the whole num-
Der of States in the United Ststes:-
And further. That it appears from An omcihl
IocumeG: on flo in this Department., that the
Legislature OF the State OF New York has since
passed resolutions claiming, TO Withdraw Inc
suid ratification Of the said Amendment which
had been made by tho Legislature OF that state,
and Of which official notice had been filed in
this department. and further, that it appears
from IN official document on Ge III this De-
partment that the Legislature OF Georgia mas
by resolution, ratifedtho said proposed Amend
ment-
Now, therefore, be it known that Hamilton
Fish, Secretary Of State Of tho United States,
by virtue and in pursuance OF thh second sec
ZION Of the Act Of Congress approved the tWoil-
tieth day OF April, in tho year eighteen nun
drcd and eighteen, entitled An act to provide
for tho publication OF the laws Of tho United
States and for other purposes" do hereby cor
tiry that tho Amendment aforesaid has become
valid TO All lnLenLS Hlu purpOSOS us palL VI Lic
Constitution of the United States.
In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set
nv hand, and caused the seal Of the Depart
men! Of State t. be affixed. [Attestfd March
70, 1870.
~(>isncd) NAMlLlOH FISH.
Ait>r the message of the President and The
Proclamation had been read in the House Of
Representatives,
Mr. Peters, vi blaine, moved to refer the
papers to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Iloar, Of Massachusetts, hoped that
part relating TO education would be referred to
the Committee on Education and Labor.
Mr.. Wood, of New York, opposed any re-
ference without debate. He said it was not
true as stated in the Proclamation that the
State OF New York had ratified the Amend:
r.1cnt. That State bad not done 81, Dor would
it do So.
Mr.. Peters We'll, ": !hinI; il Iia1, and that
is sufficient.
Mr.. Niblack, Of Indiana, said the statement
IN jhn proclamation that Indiana had ratified