Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-05
wAsHINaToN, MARCH sO, $50.


wAsH1NaToN, March 80, 1870.
The following documents were sent in to
Congress to day:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
1t is unusual to notify the two Houses of
Congress by message of the promulgation by
proclamation of the Secretary of State of the
ratification of Constitutional Amendment.
In view, however, of the vast importance of
the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution,
this day declared part of that reyered instru-
ment, 1 deem departure from the usual
custom justifable. A measure which makes
at once four millions of people voters who
were heretofore declared by the highest TIN
bunal in the land not citizens of the United
States, nor eligible to become so with the
assertion that sat the time of tho Declaration
of Independence 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 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 foun~
dation of our free Government to the present
time.
Institutions like ours, in which all power is
derived directly from the people, must depend
mainly upon their intelligence, patriotism and
industry. ] call the attention, therefore, OF
the newly enfranchised race to the Importance
of their striving, in every honorable manner,
to make themselves worthy of their new priv
ilege. To the race more favored heretofore
by our laws [ would say, withhold no legal
privilege of advancement to the new citizen.
The trainers of our Constitution firmly be-
lieved that republican form of government
could not endure without intelligence and edu-
cation generally diffused among the people,
The Father of his country" in his Farewell
Address, uses this language:
"Promote then, as matter of primary I'M
Tortance, institutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge. In proportion as the structure
of 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 were forcibly presented, and are
again urged in his eighth message.
repeat that 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 into life. The change will be
beneficial in proportion to the heed that is
given to the urgent recommendations of WASH
ington. If these recommendations were I'm
portant then, with a population OF but few
millions, how much more important now, with
population of forty millions, and increasing
in rapid ratio
would therefore call upon Congress to take
all the means within their constitutions
powers to promote and encourage popular edu-
cation 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 knowledge
which will make their share in the Govern
ment blessing. and not danger. BY such
means only can the benefits contemplated by
this amendment to the Constitution be secured.
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, March 80, 1870.