New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-31
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
II is unusual TO notify the two Houses of Congress
by message of the promu CATION, by proclamation OF
the Secretary of State of the ratification OF Constr
tutional Amendment. In view, however. OF the vast
importance of the Fifteenth Amendment of'the Con-
stiution this day declared part OF that revered IN
strument, deem q departure from the usual custom
iustifable. A measure which makes at once Tour
millions of people voters, who were heretofore de-
clared by the highest tribunal in the land not ctl-
zeps of the United States nor eligible to become So
with the assertion that at the time of the Declare
tion of independence the opinion was fixed and uni
yersal-in the civilized portion of the white race,
garded as an axiom in morals 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 foundation of our free Govern
ment 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. l call
the attention therefore of the newly-enfranchised
race TO the importance of their striving, in every
honorable manner, 10 make themselves worthy Of
their new privilege, To the race more favored here
tofore by our laws. / would say withhold no legal
privilege of advancement to the new citizen. The
trainers of our Constitution firmly believed that a
republican form Of government could not endure
without intelligence and education generally difused
among the people The Father of his Country in his
Farewell Address uses this language: Promote
then as matter of primary Importance institutions
for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proper
ton as the structure Of the Government gives force
to public opinion ii is essential that public opinion
should be enlightened In his first annual Message
10 Congress the same views were forcibly presented
and are again urged in his eighth Message
repeat that the adoption of the Fifteenth Amend
ment 10 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 10 the urgent recommendations of
Washington. II these recommendations were inn
pOrtant then, with population of but few mil
lions how much more important now, with a popu-
latOn of forty millions, and increasing in rapid
ratOl would therefore call upon Congress to take
all the means within their constitutional power to
promote and encourage popular education through
Out the country, and upon the people everywhere
10 see to il that all who possess and exercise poti-
cal rights shall have the opportunity to acquire the
knowledge which will make their share in the Gov
eminent q blessing and not a danger. BY such
means only can the benefits contemplated by this
amendment TO the Constitution be secured.
Executive Mansion March 80, 1870.
HAMILTON Fish, Secretary Of State Of tie United
States.
in all Of the States engaged in the Rebellion
negroes already recognized voters by virtue OF
the terms of the Reconstruction acts, and the ac-
ceptance Of these by the States in question In most
of the other States however, their exercise OF the
franchise has either been denied limited bv proD-