A resolution by the Georgia state legislature to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment, February 2, 1870.

Following the Civil War, African Americans had already already claimed voting rights and elected black representatives to Georgia’s constitutional convention and the newly constituted state legislature in 1868. However, white Republicans and Democrats in the state assembly soon allied to expel all the black elected officials. Congress responded with military oversight and, by January of 1870, re-seated the black representatives a month before this ratification was issued. Georgia was the second to last of the required number of states to recognize the fifteenth amendment in order to secure its ratification. Iowa was the last required state, ratifying the amendment the following day, on February 3, 1870. Adoption of the amendment was required before Georgia would be re-admitted to congressional representation. Georgia was the last Confederate state readmitted to the Union.

Transcript:

Whereas, At the session of the Fortieth Congress, it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both houses concurring, that the following Article shall be proposed to the Legislatures of the several states as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which amendment, when it shall have been ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of said Constitution, namely:

Article Fifteen

The right of citizens of the United States to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Therefore Resolved, (if the Assembly House concur), That the said proposed Amendment to the Constitution be, and the same is hereby ratified by the Legislature of the State of Georgia.

Exterior:

Resolution adopting the 15th Amendment

Adopted in Senate Febr[[object Object]]y 2nd 1870

A Resolution

Whereas, at the session of the fortieth Congress it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Article shall be proposed to the Legislatures of the several states as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which amendment, when it shall have been ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part-of the said Constitution, namely,

Article Fifteenth.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race or color, or previous condition of servitude.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by Appropriate legislation.

Therefore, resolved, if the Senate concur, that the said proposed amendment to the Constitution be and the same is hereby ratified by the Legislature of the State of Georgia.

R. L. McWhorter

Speaker, House Reps.

Jno [[object Object]]. J. Newton

Clerk, House Reps

Benjamin Conley

President of the Senate

J. G. W. Mills

Secretary of the Senate

Append Feb[[object Object]]y 2nd 1870

Rufus Bullock

Governor

Exterior:

A Resolution Ratifying the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

In house Read and Adopted Feby 2d 1870

Jno [[object Object]] J. Newton Cl[[object Object]]k House Reps

In Senate Read and concurred in Feby 2d 1870

J. G. W. Mills Secty of Senate