The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-31
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.

Its Complete Rntiicntion -AIessnEc of PresI-
dent Grant una Proclamation OF the secre-
tary of StUte.
The following message and accompanying
proclamation were submitted to Congress by
the President yesterday
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. c.,
March 30, 1870. To the Senate and House of
Representatives: st is unusual to notify the
two houses of Congress by message of the
promulgaton, by the proclamation of the
Secretary of State, of the ratification of a
constitutional amendment. In view, how
ever of the vast importance of the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution, this day de-
clared part of that revered instrument, 1
deem departure from the usual custom JUS
tifable.
The measure which at once makes four
millions of people voters who were hereto
fore declared by the highest tribunal in the
land not citizens of the United States, and
not eligible to become 50, with the assertion
that at the time of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence the opinion was fixed and universal
in the civilized portion of the white race,
regarded as an axiom in morals as well as in
politics, that the black man had no rights
which the white man was bound TO respect,
is indeed measure grander in importance
than any other act of the kind from the
foundation of our free Government to the
present day. Institutions like ours, in
people, must depend mainly on their intelli-
gence, patriotism and industry L call the
attention, therefore, of the newly-enfran-
chsed race to the importance of their striv-
ing, in every honorable manner, to make
themselves worthy of their new privilege.
To the race more favored heretofore by our
laws / would say, withhold no legal privilege
of advancement to the new citizens The
trainers of our Constitution firmly be-
ont pAt1l1
not endure without intelligence and edu-
cation generally diifused among the peo-
pie. The Father of his Country in
his farewell address uses this language: -
EPromote, then, as a matter of primary inn
portance 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 enlightened" In his first annual
message to Congress the same views are
forcibly presented and again urged in his
eighth message.
1 repeat the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution completes
the greatest civil change and constitutes the
most important event that has occurred since
the nation came to life. The change will
be beneficial in proportion to the heed given
to the urgent recommendation of Washing
ton. If these recommendations were impor-
iant then, with a population of but few
millions, how much more important now
with population of forty millions and in
creasing in rapid ratio.
would, therefore, call on Congress to take
all the means within their constitutional
powers 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 the know
ledge which will make their share in the Gov
ernment a blessing and not danger. By such
means only can the benefits contemplated by
this amendment to the Constitution be
secured U. S. GRANT.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State of the
United States.