Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1870 — The Chicago Resolutions. [ARTICLE]

The Chicago Resolutions.

Tin following am titerMohrtions adopted ty the tolored dtiaena of Chicago, on the occasion of their recent celebration of the Fifteenth Amendment: Vnuil, Th* ratlfltetlon Of th* Fifteenth OneaOewatto th* OoMUtatlon or the United Stets* tar ths Moaaary number of BUte*. making , Who** nftac*. inwpcctlve or color, race, or amt. a ra« nrlb* Nauooal OoMtltaSen; and, Wubma*. The cairned dttaeea or the Halted < Stets* who have heretofore been deprived of lhl» lM*UmabM right, deu to every Americanoitlarn, i ar* bow invested withit and all th* right* of Amortarn citiaeiiabip; therefore, >m*liig. By the colored citizen* of Chicago, In ■a** meeting amembled. that we recognize In thlr Anal triumph ot right over wrong, of justice over Injustice, oppiemlon, and prejudice, the hand of an all-wte*, merciful, and Ju»t God, who h»* purged thia nation of ite aln* ot oppression and prejudice, through blood, but mercifully epored Ite national existence when It consented to break every yoke and tot the oonreaaed go fte*. ' Jtaasieed, Hat in the enactment of thia amendmast to th* Constitution, the cardinal principle* of th* American Declaration of Independence arc IMHy vindicated: that government* derive their JaM powers from th* consent of tt>o governed, and taxation and representation arc inseparable. I Asaofesd That we rejoice tn thia foil and complete vindication of the eternal principle* upon which thia government la founded, not merely becaus* we are the henadcianea of it, but for the reansn that we believe them to be In harmony with the relationship of men to tbeir Maker ; In narmo ny with the reason and conwicno* of men,' and a* a consequence, better capable to promote th* bighorn type of civilization and Christianization, and thereby secure the establlabteent of liberty, jus tic*, and rlrirteonsncrw throughout the world. Jtaaofead, That we ar* fully cognisant <if the fact that the ballot!* the great power in a republican government; that thia power, when influenced by bribery or exercised in the intereat of connpt dealna, la detrimental to the general welfare and subversive of the good order of society ; tiiat it may be on used a* to undermine the very cxlatrace of the government itself: therefore we >-liall over hold this high prerogative of the Anx-rican citiken as a raSrrd trust, to be kept pnre from In trtgne of every kind, and to be always exercised a* th* safeguard of liberty, equality, fraternity. Jtasofnad, That we congratulate our white fellowcitlzen*. irrespective of nationality or creed, that this vexed question of oolor is taken out of the polities of the country, and cannot any longer bemads an instrument in Ute hand* of demagogues to foist themselves into posit ion and place through the boo instrumentalities of ignorance and prcjudloe. Jtssofesd, That we congratulate th* lovers of republican inflfitaUon* throughout the whole world on this greaymteal triumph of the geniusot repuh Itcanism. audThc establishment in thi* country of a government a* enunciated by Lincoln, of ths people, by the people, and fur the people, irrespectIV* of color, nationality, or creed. BssolmX. That the fullness of our joy on the completeness of the victory for the right Is largely modified by the recollection that the groat champion of ths right, the emancipator of our race, the Christina statesman, the unsullied patriot , our be. loved President, Abraham Lincoln, was martyred by the slave power for his devotion to his country andtohutelHty Reeoltvd, That, for this great moral-triumph of the century, the nation is largely indebted to that noble headed patriot and philanthropist, William Lloyd Garrison, who, to use his own graphic language. "Mzed the truni|>cl of God and blew a blast that awoke this nation, then slumbering in the lap of mortal death." jßmaiosd, That we recognize in the great Itepnltlican partybf the country the party ot the Union, of liberty, and the political equality of all men. aad the Ipstvnment In the hand of God, in crushing treason, rebellion and slavery. Jtefoftvd, That the thank* of th* colored citizens of the country are justly due, and, on our part, are gratefnlly- tendered, to President Grant for his recognition of our political equality, as evidenced in his appointment of colored men to office under the government, and for hi* pen-fsieni advocacy aad tofleoftie support of the Fifteenth Amendment, thereby securing Ills memorable and patriotic admonition to hl* countrymen, " Let n» have peace.” •