, 1870-04-14
JUDGE CHASE.
Letter from Him IN Regard to tho
EiEtecuth Amoudment-.f4c AdFos
cn1eR UuETcfanI ATuucfty,

Letter from Him IN Regard to tho
Fistecnth A1noudment-.f2cA Adros
cntes Universal Arnncrty.
From Ae Cincinnati Commercial Ap,A1s
The following important and remarkable
1etter from Chief Justice Chase has been re-
the colored citizens Of this cit. who are about
to celebrate the ratification Of the Fifteenth
Amendment:
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1870.
"QES1In1s-Accept my THINKS Tor the In
yitahun you have teudesnd me, in behalf Of
the colured people OF Cincinnati, 10 attend
their celebration Of the ratification Of the Fiji
teenth Amendment. Ny duties here will not
permit nc to be present except BY good will
aud good wiAheA.
"1imoat = quarter Of century has passed
aincs some Of son, probably, heard mo declare,
On the eth OF May, 1875, IN an assembly COM
posed chiefly Of the people whom you NOW
represent, that s1llegal distinctions betveenin-
dividus3s Of the ssmesconnunity, founded on
any such circurnstances as color, origin, and
the Ike, are hostile to the genius Of our insti-
tutions, and incompatible with the true theory
Of Amercan liberty; uAt true democracy
makes no inquiry about The color OF tho akin,
or the place Of nativity, or any other similar
c!tcumst4nce t, ot condition and thst the e1clu-
sion OF the colo1ed people. u body, from tho
elective franchise, is Incompatible with true
democratic principles
II congratulate ou on the fact that these
principles, not then aroved by mo ms for tho
hr6t time, nor ever since abandoned or com
| promised, have been Ut length Incorporated
| into the constitution and mAda part Of The ST.
pre1ne law Of the land.
"Many, no doubt, would havo been glad, as
should have been. il the great work eon-
surnated BY the ratification Of the Fifteenth
Amendment, could have been accomplished
| by the States, through amendment Of
State constitutions and through the np-
| prop1iAte State legislation; bnt the de-
| lays and uncertainties. preiudicia1 to
overy interest, tnHeparable from that mode OF
proceeding, seemed TO netesaitata the coucse
actually adopted. Nor docs the amendment
the whole regulation Of suffrage to the whole
people Of Zach state. subject only to the fun-
d1mentI Law, that the right OF no citizen 10
vote shau be denied or abr7dged, On account Of
It is 10 be hoped that each State will 80 cou-
form it's constitution and lawe to this fonda
| mental law that no occasion may be given to
legislation By Congress.
''But tho best siudication Of the wisdom
as vol ~ justice Of The amendment, must be
found inEthe conduct Of that large class Of
citizens whom you represent On the occA-
aion to which / have referred, ventured Ia
say that the best way to insnre the pcaceful
dwelling together Of Tho different races, ia the
cordial reciprocation Of benefits, not the
mutual infection q injuries; and ! esnno!
l
then; 'Go forward, having perfcc. faith il
your own manhood. and in Gods providence,
adding to your faith, yirtuo; and to virtuc
knowledge; and to knowledge, patience ant
to patience, Temperance and To temper
ance, brotheSay Kindness; and to hzashesl.
! kindness, charity
"Thy not Egnslize your rejoicing in th
rights secured under the Fifteenth Amend
mcpt, by urging upon Congress the prompt re
movA Of all political disabilities, imposed upo1
.. our fellow-citizena by tho Fourteenth Amend
! ment 7--eo that, through universal sunraE
; and universal aynneaty, peaeo, good will An
prosperity may be established througAou
our country.
Every good naan must rejoice in the psc
sTess which the colored citizens OF the Uaite
Statea have made IN education in 1eligiou
!, culture, and in the general improvement 6
0 their condition. Every good man must catncssl
9 desirc their continued and accelerated pr
; Ercss in the same direction. All public and a
i private interests will be promoted by it; sn
: It will insure, at no distant day, cordial Tecot
o nition Of their rights, even from those OF the
fellor-citizens, who hAve most earnestly o.
posed them.
mo man can now he found who would +
etore slAve1y; = few years hence. Il the ca
d ored men are wise, it will be impossible to ft
- nan who will avov himself IN favor OF
a nying OF ab1idging their right TO vote. ve
:. respectfully yours, s. P. CHASE.
= "Iesars. i,E7Eu II. CLARK, Dc, Committee
- This ia letter that commands study, At
will repay investigation. When VIC consid
all the circumstances. ne uaust call it Al eyer