Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-04-06
Fifteeuth Amendment Ratified.

Congress by message of the prcmulgation
by proclamation of the Secretary OF State oi
the ratification of constitutional amend
ment. In view, however. of the vast I'M
portance of the Fifteenth Amendment OF
the Constitution, this day declared part
of that reversed instrument, | deem de-
parture from the usual custom justifiabie
A measure which makes at once four mil
lion 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 Indepen-
dence the opinion was fixed and universal
in the civilized portion of the white race, re
garded as an axiom in morals as we'll as in
politics, that black men had no rights which
white men were bound to respect-is indeed
measure of grander importance than any
other act of the kind, from the foundation
of our free Government to the present time
Institutions like ours, in which all power
is derived directly from the people, must
depend mainly upon their intelligence, pa
triotism, and industry l call the atten-
ton, therefore, of the newly enfranchiscd
race to the Importance of their striving In
every honorable manner to make them
selves worthy OF their new privilege. To
the race more favored heretofore by our
laws l would say, withhold no legal privi
lege of advancement to the new citizens.
The trainers of our Constitution firmly be-
lieved that republican form of Govern
ment could not endure without intelligence
and education generally diffused among the
people. The father OF his country, in his
Farewell Address, uses this language Pro
mote, then, as matter of primary impor-
tauce, institutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge. In proportion as the struct-
ure of government gives force to public opin-
ion, it is essential that public opinion,
should be enlightened In his first annual
message to Congress the same views we're
| forcibly presented, and are again urged in
his eighth MESSAGE. l repeat that the
doption of the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution completes the greatest civ
il change, and constitutes The most impor-
tant event that has occurred since the ma
ton came into life. The change will be
beneficial in proportion to the heed that is
given to the urgent recommendations OF
Washington. Ii these recommendations
we're important then, with population of
but a few millions, how much more inpor-
tant now, with population Of forty millions,
and increasing rapid in ratio. would
therefore call upon Congress to take all the
means within their constitutional power to
promote apd encourage popular education
throughout the country, and upon the peo-
pie everywhere to see to it that all who
possess and exercise political rights shal
; have the opportunity to acquire the knOwl
edge which will make their share in th.
} Government blessing and not danger
by such means only can the benefits con
templated by this amendment to the Con
stitution be secured. U. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March so, 1870.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of States of tn,
United States:
To all uhom these presents may come greet
ing:
. Know ye that the Congress of the United
States on or about the 9th day of Februa
ry, in the year one thousand eight hundre,
and sixty nine, passed resolution in th
words and figures following, to wit:
J. "A resolution proposing an amendment t.
: the Constitution of the United States:
'Resolred, by the Senate and House O
Il Representatives Of the Un,ted States of a
. naerica IN Congress assembled t,co third
<lf hath hat ha fall lnyu
ing article to be proposed to the Legisla
: lures of the several States, as an amend
,aent to. the Constitution of the Unitet
, ! States, which, when ratified by three fourth
f of san, Leg :slatures shall be valid as par
, of the Cons.: :'uticn. viz: Article l5.
SECTION l. The lights Of citizens o
the United States to vote Shall not be de
MED or abridged By the United States or by
any State on account OF race, color, or pre-
yious condition of servitude.
SECTION . The Congress shall have
, power to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
And further that it appears from officia
documents on file in this department thai
the amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States proposed as aforesaid, ha.
been ratified by the Legislatures of the
States of
North Carolina. West Virginia, Maine
Wisconsin. Michigan, Louisiana, Pennsylva
MIA. South Carolina. Connecticut, Arkansas
Illinois, Florida, New York, Indiana, Neva
da. New Hampshire, Virginia, Vermont
Missouri, Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi. Kan
sas, Iowa, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Massa
, chusetts. Nebraska, Texas,
} in all twenty nine States. And further
that the States whose Legislature have 81
ratified the said proposed amendment con
stitute three -fourths of the whole numbe
of States in the United States. And fur
ther, that it appears from an official docu
ment on file in this department that tn,
Legislature of the State of New York ha
since passed resolutions claiming to with
draw the said ratification of the said amend
ment, which has been N ade by the Legisla
ture of that State and of which official no
tice had been flied in this department
And further. that it appears from an of
fetal document on file in this department
that the Legislature of Georgia has by res