The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-31

in politics, that black men
had no rights which white men were
bound to respect, is indeed measure OF
grander importance than any other one
act of the kind from the foundation OF
our Government to the present time.
| Institutions like ours, in which all
mower is derived directly from the peo-
ple. must depend mainly upon their in
| telligence, patriotism and industry.
cali the attention, therefore, of the
newly enfranchised race to the import
ance of their striving in every honor
able manner to make themselves worthy
of this new privilege. To the race more
favored heretofore by our laws, i would
say, withhold no legal privilege OF ad-
vancement to our new citizens. The
trainers of our Constitution firmly be,
lieved that a Republican form OF
Government could not endure
without intelligence and education
generally diffused among the people.
The Father of his Country in his fare
we'll address uses this language: FRO
mote them as a matter of primary I'M
portance; institutions for general diff
fusion of knowledge, in proportion as
the structure of Government gives
force to public opinion; it is essential
that public opinion should be enlight-
eued. In his first annual message ia
Congress the same views were pre-
sented, and are again urged in his eighth
message. Irepeat, that the adoption OF
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Con.
stitution completes the greatest civil
change and constitutes the most import
ant 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 recommend
atoms of Washington. If these recon-
Iaendations were important then, with q
population of but few millions, now
much more important are they cow
with population of forty millions and
increasing in a rapid ratio. l would
therefore, call upon Congress to take
all means within their constitutional
power to promote aud encourage pOpu.
lar education throughout the country
and upon the people everywhere to see
to it that all who possess and exercise
political rights shall have an opportu,
nifty to acquire knowledge, which will
make their share in the Government Q
blessing, not danger. BY such means
only can the benefits contemplated by
this amendment to the Constitution bt
secured.
[Signed,] U. 5. GRANT
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 30, 1870.
Hamilton Fish, Secretary Of State Of tn
United STATES:
The President states that the amend
ment has been ratified by the Legisla'
lures of the States of North Carolina
West Virginia, Massachusetts, Wiscon'
sin, Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, South
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Con
necticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,
New York, New Hampshire, Nevada,
Vermont, Missouri, Virginia. Alabama
Kansas, Mississippi, Minnesota, Ohio
Rhode Island, Nebraska, and Texas, in
all 90 States; and further, that the States
whose Legislatures have ratified said
proposed amendment constitute three.
fourths Of the whole number of States
in the United States; and fur
Their, that it appears from
au official document on file in this
Department that the Legislature of the
State of New York has since passed 6
resolution claiming to withdraw sucl
ratification of the amendment which
had been made by the Legislature oil
that State. and of which official notice
had been filed in this Department.; and
further, that it appears from all oilicia
document on file in this Department
that the Legislature of Georgia has, by
resolution, ratified the said amendment