The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-04-08
XvTH AMENDMENT.

AEssAeE OF PRESIDENT GRANT TO CONGRESS-.
To Tie Senate and House Of Representa-
tfscs:
II is unusual to notify tho two Houses OF
Congress, BY message, Of the promulSation, by
proclamation Of the secretary Of state, of the
ratification Of a constitutional amendment.
In view, however, of tho vast improvement of
the constitution, This day declared q part of
the revered instrument, deem departure
nom the usual custom justifable A measure
which makes ut oneo 100000 Of people 70
ters who were heretofore declared by the
highest tribunal in the land not citizens of the
United States, our eligible to become 90, with
the assertion that at the time of the decIara-
hon of Independence the opinion was fixed
and universal In the civilized portion Of the
white race, and regarded as az axiom in NOR
ais as well as in politics, thst ''black men had
no rights which white men were bound TO re-
spect," is, indeed, measure Of grander impor.
tanca than any other act Of the kind, from the
foundation Of our free government down Ia
the present time. Institutions like ours, In
which all power is derived directly from the
people, must depend mainly upon their intel.
Ggenee, patriotism and industry. call the
attention, therefore, Of the newly enfranchised
raee, 10 the Importance Of their striving, in
every honorable manner, to make themselves
worthy Of their now privilege. To the race
more favored before by our laws, 1 would say
withhold no legal privilege of advancement
to the new citizens. The trainers Of our con-
stitutIon firmly believed that a Republican
form Of government could not endure without
intelligence and education generally diffused
among the people. Tho father his country
in his farewell address, uses this language
'Promote then, as matter Of primary impor.
tanee, Institutions for the general diffusion ot
knoWlsdge~in proportion as the structure Of
the government gives foree-public opinion
should be enlightened" In his first annual
message to Congress, the same views wert
forcibly presented and are again urged in his
eighth message. repeat that the adoption Of
the fifteenth amendment to tho constitution
completes the greatest civil change and con-
st3tutes the most important event that has oc-
CURED since the nation came into life. The
change Will be beneficial in proportion to the
heed that is given to the urgent recommends.
tons Of Washington. II these recommenda-
tons were important then with population
Of but few millions, how much moro impor-
tant now with population of forty millions,
and increasing in rapid ratio?
Iwould therefore call upon Congress to take
all means within their constitutional power to
promote and encourage popular education
through out the country, and upon the people
everywhere to see to it that all who possess
and exercise political rights shale have an op-
portunity to acquire that knowledge which
will make their share in the government q
blessing and not a danger. By such means
only can the benefits contemplated by this
amendment to the constitution be secured.
(Signed) Q. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, March 80, 1870.
HAMILTON FISH,