The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-15
To the Friends Ofthe Right OfsuRraxe
to the COIOred People of United
states ia OuyahOga County.
- --.- .

GENTLEMEN: You need no suggestions,
IN this subject, from me, or any one else,
ls to its rights and justice. The general
government offered to the cOlored man, or
slave, his freedom; freedom to his race, in
The Republic, if he would cOme to our aid
in saving the Union, and putting down
the wickedest rebellion against hum an
government that history records.
The colored man, under this pledge, came
forward, put himself into the front of the bat
tie ;as bravely fought, and as brsvely died
the battle field, as the white soldier; and
thus, with his aid, was the Union, with all
its privileges and blessings ssvedto US and
TO succeeding generations. The white sol.
diers did not fight only for himself, bnt for
the country, his race and color. The col.
ored men, too, did not fight merely for
himself, but for his race and color, as well
IS for US.
On the simplest snd plsinest rules of
Justice and right, should he not have n
Uoice in the Government he fought for and
helped to saver
w ltlOub bu0 IlRAt vi EuAAN5S1 au . lOl
fully emsncipsted. This was promised
him on conditions that he has fully and
faithfully complied with, and nov clsims
the fuliilment of that solemn pledge-snall
that pledge be redeemed? Right and JUS
tice demand 1t.
Unfortunately for the honor of the
State of Ohio when we consider tha.high
position she attsinSd by her brave SOL
diers and gallant officers during the war,
the Union State Convention, at Columbus
last month, through the influence of time
serving politicians cowsrdly ignored this
important question by silence, and have for
q time placed Ohio in the same category
with mean, narrow minded, eopperhead
New Jersey, while Vermont, Iowa aud
New Hampshire have st their State Con-
ventions demanded for the colored man
(who was always loysl) the rights that
have been solemnly pledged to him by the
General Government.
To place our noble State where she is, as
1 believe, there is no way left to pursue,
but to require that we elect to the Legisls-
ture of the State, and all county offices,
men who are openly, decidedly and un-
dinchingly pledged to support this princi-
pie; and in this way show to the colored
men and to the world that we are not re-
pudistors, nor in favor of r~epudisting SO
solemn 8 contract, after its fulflment, as
from the action of our State Convention
one would be led to suppose.
To accomplish this, 50 far as old Cuys-
hogs is concerned, let those friends of
justice who are opposed to Reputation turn
out in their full strength at the primary
meetings in their respective wards and
townships, on Thursday, the 18th inst, and
elect good, true, firm and C pable delegates
to the County Convention on the 18th inst,
who will support no man for u office
who is not openly and decidedly pledged
to support this measure; select for dele
estes men of character, energy, decision
and experiences; men that, when they
come up to the convention, will not have
TO unto editors of newspspers,t to the county
Central Committee, or the office holders at
the Court House, to know how to vote,
and who TO vote for; delegates that have
minos of their own, and do not come to
the city for instruction but can stand up,
and, in the face of lawyers, doctors, or
city demsgogues, speak out like freemen,
and not be wheedled and csjoled about like
serfs and slaves. If you fail in your duty
at your primary meetings, then do not
complain of the doings of the Convention.
By nominating officers at the County
Convention pledged to this measure,
we will redeem our county, at least, from
the disgrace and stigma inflicted upon it
by the delegates to the State Convention al
Columbus in July, in this respect. Let us
strike, everywhere and every time for lib
cry, and against slavery; and let us KEEP
| IN rnTnA that olaun-- nrEgnI hAllauh Aann-
nsble humsn slavery-has been the cause
of all our late troubles and woes. Remem-
Der that slavery begat State rights, State
rights begat notification, notification be
gat secession, secession begst treason, anc
treason is rebellion, the greatest crime
known to our Constitution, and which the
SenssftatIeH sBys-sHeuIaaS1aPunIssoaL
death. See 70 it, friends of right snC
justice, therefore, that you send true anC
reliable delegates on this question to the
County Convention in tbs city, on Sstur
day next, and remove the cloud of dis
grace that hangs over old Cuyshogs, OF
this matter. As the venerable John Q1in
cy Adams once said on the floor of Con
gress, On almost an identical question
Let justice be done though the heavens
should fall" HOWARD
CLEVELAND, August IL, 1862.
A Southern Portrait of General Grant
The Richmond Times, in noticing tn,
ovation to General Grant in Boston, hai
the following sppreciative remarks:
at is not every man, nor is it aver
event, that can kindle warmth in the heart
Of the BostOnisns. 1t requiie s an extrsor
binary man, or an event of uncommon i'm
p~ortance to do 30. 1t is not surprising tina
the people of the North should turn out il
great numbers to meet General Grant
Sucha man is not TO be- met with every
day or every year. He is one OF the frs,
commanders of this age, and, IS a man, b,
has displayed qualities that must attrsc
universal respect. Plain and unpretend
ing in his address, of modest speech anC
manners, disdRining 10 court attention by
the trsppings of office, he pursues the ever
tenor Of his way like a quiet, private gen
tlemsn. To the skill and courage of the
soldier he unites that solid integrity which
is oftener found in private station than il
the hsunts of public life. The South doe
not yield 70 the North in respect for anC
appreciation of General Grant. Will,
the Southern people are far less excitablt
and demonstrstive than the people of the
ANOlsDf WO Do1lOho bAab lucy lOoh upon 06D'
eral Grant with ss much interest and res
admiration as be excites among them
Richmond fell before him, and with it tbs
government Of which it was the capital
but to this day that noble eonquerer has
never entered its gates. Whether this
proceeded from delicacy of feeling, from 8
generous and respectful consideration for
the people, or from any other cause, it must
always present him in a most favorable
light. A vain, weak, egotistical man would
have delighted to exhibit himself under
such circumstances, ond to be pointed out
as the hero of the occasion. General Grant,
from the close of the war up to this hour,
has maintained a diinided silence, reserve,
and seclusioD, that contrasts most favorsblv
with the p~retentious airs and pompous dis
play exhibited by many men of greatly in
ferior mark and merit. While thew swell.
and strut like the vain peacock, he shrinks
from observation. He cannot, of course.
be expected to bury himself, but IS far as
1t Is possible he appears 10 keep himself
out OF the range of observation. We do
not doubt that it would be far more agree.
able to him to be permitted to make his
present tour ike q private ordinary citizsp;
but this is out of the question. There is a
universal desire 10 see, shake hands With,
and bestow public honors upon the great
General who has won the proudest name
and fame of all the Northern Generals,
ana Wo, IN his great place, has borne aim