The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-05-14
Ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment

side of her who had given her life for the child
for whom his own proved a second sacrifice.
Ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.
proclamation by President Grant.
Following is the full text of the Proclamation
by President Grant Of the Ratification of the Eff
teenth Amendment, together with the promulga-
ton order by the Secretary or State:
To the Senate and House of Representatives =
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses of Congress
by message OF the PRONUNCIATION by proclamation
of the Secretary Of State of the ratification of a
constitutional amendment. In view, however, of
the vast importance of the Fifteenth Amendment
to the Constitution this day declared a part of
that revered instrument. L deem a departure from
the usual custom justlfiable. a measure which
makes at once four millions OF people voters, who
we're heretofore declared by the highest tribunal
in the land not citizens of the United States, nor
eligible TO become SO, with the assertion that at
the time of the Declaration of independence, the
opinion was fixed and universal in the civilized
portion of the white race, and regarded as an Ak
iom i'm morals as well rs in politics, that the black
men had no rights which white men were bound
to respect, is indeed Il measure OF grander impor-
lance 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 power
is derived directly from the people, must mainly
depend upon their Intelligence, patriotism, and
industry. i call .he attention, therefore, of the
newly enfranchised 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, 1 would say Withhold no legal privilege
Of advancement TO tine new citizens. The trainers
of our Constitution firmly believed that's repubIi-
can form of government could not endure without
intelligence and education generally diffused
among the people. The Father Of his Country,
in his Farewell Address, used this language:
- Promote, then, as Il matter Of primary impor-
tance, institutions for the general diffusion of
knowledge. In proportion as the structure Of the
Government gives force to public opinion, it is
essential that public opinion should be enlight-
ened."
In his first annual message to Congress, the
same views We're fOrcibly presented, and were
again urgued in his eighth message. | repeat
that the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment to
the constitution completed the greatest civil change
and cons litutes the most important event, that
has occurred since the nation came into life.
The change will be beneficial in proportion to
the heed gwen to the urgent recommendations of
Washington. If these recommendations were i'm
portant thea. with a population OF but a few mill
ions, how much more important now, with a pOpl-
latiOn OF forty millions, and increasing IN a rapid
ratio. | would, therefore, call upon Congress to
take all means within their constitutional power
to promote and encourage popular education
throughout the country, and upon the people
everywhere TO see to it that all who possess and
exercise political rights shall have the opportunity
to acquire knowledge which will make their
share in the government a blessing, and not a
danger. By such means only can the benefits
contemplated by this amendment be secured.
(Signed) T.. ). GRANT.
ExEcUrIye MANSION, March 80, 1870.
HAMILTON FISH,
Secretary of State of the United States.
THE PROCLAMATION.
To all IDhOD1 these presents may come, greeting:
NOW We that the (NOnprpSS of thp -uirp1 States 3
on or about the 9th day of February, III the year
1869, passed a resolution in the words and figures
following, to wit A Resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States.
Resolved, BY the Senate and House of Repre-
of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses
concurring, that the following article be proposed
to tho Constitution of the United
States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of
said Legislatures, shall be valid as part of the
namely
Act Is, Sec. 1.-The rights of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States, or any State, On
account of race, color, or previous condition of
"Sec. 2.-Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation
and further, That it appears on official docu-
ments on file in this department, that the amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States,
proposed as aforesaid. has been ratified by the
Legislatures OF the States of North Carolina,
Vest Virginia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Maine.
Louisiana, Michigan, Sonth Carolina, Pennsvlva-
Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa,
Indiana, New York, New HAMPSHIRE, Vermont,
Missouri, Virginia, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi,
Ohio, Rhode Island, Nebraska, and
Texas, in all % States and further, that the
States whose Legislatures have SO ratified said
constitute three-fourths of the whole
humber of States in the United States and fur
her, that it appears from an official document on
lie in this department, that the Legislature Of
he State of New York has since passed resolutions
TO withdraw said ratification of said
amendment, which had been made by the Legis.
allure of that State, and of winch Official notice
lad been filed in this department and further,
hat it appears from an official document on file
n this department, that the Legislature of Geor-
ia has, by resolution, ratified said proposed
NoU, therefore, Be it known, that I, Hamilton
fish, Secretary OF State of the United States, by
irtue and in pursuance of the second section of
he Act of Congress approved on the Goth day of
April, in the year 1918, entitled sAn Act to
rovide for the publication of the laws of the
United States, and for other purposes, - do hereby {
Gritty that the amendment aforesaid has become
aid to all intents and purposes as Il part of the
Constitution of the United States.
In testimony whereof, L have hereunto set my
and, and caused the seal of the Department Of 4
tate to be affixed. I
)one at the city of Washington, this Both day
of March, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight hundred and seventy, and of the 4
independence of the United States the ninety I
fourth. (Signed,O HAMILTON FISH.
President Grant and San Domingo.