National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-17
the FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT

Interesting "Reminiscences by II Proni-
incnt Journalist Formerly on "rho
Republican" staff.
Cen Grant had been elected President
fer the first time, aud IL was within six
days Of Lis Inauguration, IN 1889, when
Congress proposed the fifteenth amcnl.
iGcrt to the several states for ratification.
A little over one year from the time Of
Grants first taking the oath Of Office the
fifteenth amendment became a part Of the
constitution. The proclamation was issued
March So 1870, Mr. Fish then being Scrre.
tary Of State, ana his compliance with tn,
law, aud the evidence on which TINT
proclamation was based are matters of
record in the archieves of the State
than the pcriunctory proclamation
hcrcldcd the ratification of the fifteenth
amendment, which ought TO he hereafter
remembered by every adult cOlOred person,
ard taught TO the rising and future genera
tiCns Of COlored children, us q perpetual
lCnCr to the memorysof GEN Grant.
Whatever the einancipatCd race may
think Of the fifteenth amendment, 1t Is
scarcely known that Gen. Grant ranked Its
adoption as the most important event that
had occurred since the nation came into
life. This, too, from the pen Of one who
had put aside the conquerOr's sword TO
serve his country in It's highest civil office,
deserves to he remembered above all other
uttcrances of Gen. Grant.
The Secretary Of State was already In
possession of the necessary documents au-
| thori2ing the proclamation some time he
| fore IL was issued. The leaders of the Re-
| publican party regarded the amendment
| ns the browning event OF their party's
history. Mr.. George L. uoar, nov senator
lpt tbn,, -, hasg,ul,,
sets, urged President Grant to do some
thing to impress upon the nation the gran
| deur Of the great victory. IL was de-
| termined between the President aud the
Secretary of State that the PRONUNCIATION OF
the proclamation should be simultaneous
with the sending of n special message to
| the Senate and House announcing this i'm
portant point.
President Grant had heard the fervid words
| Of Mr.. Hoar, but he relied upon his own
sentiments to furnish the substance of the
special message. IL was roughly drafted
| by President GraHtin lead pencil, copied by
one Of the clerks. revised by the general,
and two copies madeleine for the Senate, the
| other for the House. On the afternoon Of
| March 30, 1870, Secretary Fish called at the
| executive mansion with the proclamation.
| The undersigned messages were on the Pres
| idents table. Manifold copies were prepared
for the press and only awaited the Pres
ident's name to the official communication
| to Congress, and in the Office of Col. Dent,
then one Of the Presidents secretaries, u
number Of correspondents awaited the final
act, and among them was representative
of The REPUBLICAN. Through the col
onel the request was sent TO the
President that IL he would give the
pen with which he signed the messages to
THE REPUBLICANS representative 1t should
be carefully preserved as memento of the
great event. 1t was handed to Mr.. Charles
Loefer, then as now the Presidents trusted
| messenger aud doorkeeper, who asked the
President to first give him his autograph
with the ink then on IL before he took 1t to
Col. Dent. The pen is still in possession of
THE REPUBLICANS former representative.
The steel nibs are slightly corroded where
the ink dried. The pen is an ordinary COM
mercial pen; the holder is OF French gilt,
and the black handle lodger than n Faber
pencil, with n tapering end. With this
precious gift letter was given by Col.
Dent, stating the fact and the occasion, all
of which have been carefully preserved by
the owner.
Tie special message which reveals the
depth Of Gen. Grants estimate of tho iif-
teenth amendment has probably been for
gotten by the generation of co!ored people
fifteen wears ago, while men and women
now were only children then and may
never have heard that such a message was
written by President Grant. 1t was a rev.
elation to many men in public life when
Blanche X. Bruce ended his senatorial
career two years ago, and probably was
never heard of by eminent men among the
colored race. Its publication now is an
honor to the memory Of Gen. Grant, for of
all his deeds OF sword or pen-MATcH 1T.
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-.
TVS 1t is unusual TO notify the two houses of
Congress by message Of the PRONUNCIATION, by
proclan alton OF the Secretary of State, OF the
ratification Of q constitutional amendment.
In view, however, of the vast Importance OF
| the fifteenth amendment TO the constitution,
this day declared u part of that revered in
strument, deem departure from the usual
custom iustiliable. measure which makes
ut once four millions of people voters,T who
were heretofore declared by the highest tri-
bunal IN the land not citizens of the United
States, ineligible to become 30 with the us.
sertiUn that "at the time of the declaration Of
independence the opinion was fixed and uni
Ncrsnl In the civilized portion of tho white
| race, regarded as All axiom in the morals rs
we'll as IN politics, that black men had nc
specify, is indeed measure of grander I'M
porancc than amy other one act of the kind
from the foundation OF our free government to
institutions like ours, in which all the power
is derived directly from the people, must dc
pend mainly upon their M inioiiiSenGo patriot a
fore of tho ewly-enfranchiscd race to the I'm
portance of their striving In every honorable
manner TO make themselves worthy OF theii
new privilege. TO the race more favored here
tofore by our laws would say, withhold nj
legal privilege OF advancement to the new citi
zen. The trainers of our constitution firmly
believed that Republican government coult
not endure without intelligence and education
generally diilused among the people, TIT
father of his country" in his farewell I'D
dress, uses this language: Promote, then, as
the general dihufion OF knowledge. In proper
tion as the structure of the government give
force 10 public opinion, 1t is essential that pub
. lie opinion should be enlightened, In hi
first annual message to Congress the sam
views are foreibly presented, and are agiii
urged in his eighth message.
= repeat that the adoption OF the fifteenth
3 amendment TO the constitution completes tn,
2 greatest civil change and constitutes the mos
\ important event that has oc Cured since tn
b nation came into life. The change viii b
: beneficial in proportion TO the heed T. hat
given TO the urgent recommendations oil wash
ington. If these recommendations were III
portant then, with Il population or but &c,
millions, how much more important now,witl
a population Of forty millions, and increasing
in rapid ratio.
would therefore, call upon Congress /
take all the means within their constitutions
= powers TO promote and encourage poplla
education throughout the country; and upo
the people everywhere TO SEQ to 1t that all VII
possess and exercise political rights shall hay
the opportunity to acquire the knowledg
which shall mako their share In the govern
ment Il blessing and not q danger. by ruc
n means only can the benefits contemplated b
!. this amendment to the constitution be Nc
/ cured. u, ) GRAST
' EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 80, 1870.
n "When President Grant wrote the message
: lie must have COMPOUNDED the rights OF CIT
: zen with those of the voting population. Tn
: entire number of the coloTed race, men, womo
i and children, male and female, was only ab)u
! four millions. Tho error, however was solel
| universal suffrage,