Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-04-12
Ratification Of the Fifteenth A
mendment.

mendment.
Below We give our readers the Messag'
of the President to Congress, relative tC
4 the ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
, ment:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses
of Congress bwa message Of the promul-
cation Of the proclamation by the Secrc-
tary of State Of the ratification of the
] Constitutional amendment.
In view, however, of the vast impor-
lance of the fifteenth amendment Of the
Constitution, this day declared part of
that revered instrument, | deem "a depart
ure from the usual custom justifablc. The
measure which makes at once four millions
Of people voters, who were heretofore de-
clared by the highest tribunal In the land
not citizens Of the United States, nor eligi.
bic to become so, with the assertion that
at the time Of the Declaration of indie
pendence the opinion was fixed and uni
vorsal in the civilized portion of the
world, regarded as an axiom in morals as
well as in politics, that black men had no
rights white men were bound to respect,
is indeed a 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 rower is derived directly
from the people, must depend mainly up
on their intelligence, patriotism, and in
dustry.
| call the attention, therefore, of the
newly enfranchised race to the Importance
of their striving in every honorable man
ner to make themselves worthy Of their
new privilege. To the race more favored
heretofore by orr laws, would say,with-
hold no legal privilege Of advancement to
the new citizens.
The trainers of our Constitution firmly
believed a Republican form Of government
could not endure without intelligence and
education were generally dffused among
the people, The Father Of his country,
in bis Farewell Address, uses this Ian
guage; promote, then, as n matter of
primary Importance, Institutions for the
general diilasion Of knowledge. In pro-
portion AS the structure Of government
gives force TO puS!ic opinion, it is essen.
tial that public opinion should be enlight-
cned" In his first annual message to
Congress, the same views were forcibly
expressed, and again urged in his eighth
message.
l repeat, the adoption Of the fifteenth |
amendment completes the greatest civil |
change, and constitutes the most impor-
tant event that has occurred since this
government came into life. The change
will be beneficial in proportion to the heed
given to the urgent recommendations of
Washington. If these recommendations
we're important then, with a population of
put few millions, how much more i'm
'ortant now, with a population Of forty
Millions and increasing in rapid ratio.
| would therefore call upon Congress
% take all means within their constitu-
ional power to promote and encourage
popular education throughout the country
md upon the people everywhere to see to
t that all who possess-and exercise pollti-
,al rights shall have the opportunity to
'cquire the knowledge which will make \,
heir share in the government a blessing
md not danger. BY such means only
IAN the benefits contemplated by this a.
ncndmcnt to the Constitution be secured.
Signed, U. S. GRANT
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
March 80.