New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Letter from Connectieut-The Recon,
Election.


Election.
Hartford, CoNN., April 6, 1870.
10 the Editor of the Nc,o National Era:
The splendid fight just made by the Republi-
can party Of this State is history, and truly it
is one of the brightest victories to be found in
the political annals of this country. For truly
no party ever entered upon political contest
under more discouragng circumstances. 10
the first place, a violent quarrel was raging
between General Grant and Senator sumner
the latter gentleman has a large number of
warm friends in this State, and they were very
violent in their denuneiations OF General
Grant. The Democratic victory in New lamp
shire came down upon US like an avalanche,
sending an lev chillness through the Republl'
can ranks for, after sixteen consecutive vic
tories for the right, we had become accustomed
to look upon the Republic an party OF that State
as immovable as her granite hits; and when
the telegraph flashed to US the news that New
Hampshire had turned her back upon freedom,
justice, aud right how bitter was our disap
pointment! The circumstances, as l have said
before were adverse for. in the first place, we
had to meet an enemy flushed with victory,
who held the State, and majority from 500 to
900 to wipe out The Democratic candidate,
Mr.. English, was personally a very popular
man, and possessed of great wealth, which he
did not hesitate to use freely in any way that
would further his own ends; and, furthermore,
his war record was comparatively clean and
last, but not least, that great political ana
conda that is endeavoring silently to encrcle
in its coil the whole political fabric of this
country-the great Tammany ring of New
York. Truly it may be said our task was
gigantic one.
Now, one word as TO the colored vote. The
Sd of April, 1871, will long be remembered by
the colored citizens of the State as day when,
for the first time, they exercised the full rights of
citizens. According to our laws no one can vote
unless he is able TO read any portion of the State
constitution, and consequently We lost some
votes but still think that there must have been
at least ], 200 voters in the State who had the
necessary qualifications a powerful auxiliary
In so closely balanced a State as this. ] think
the Republican party rather moderated our
"a y,
that, owing to the large conservative element
in this State, we might prove too big load
for them TO carry. The Democratic party, with
consistency which has been characteristic
of their party in this State FOR years, silently
ignored us, and in only one instance, which
shall shortly name, did they endeavor to OBJ
tain openly the suffrages of the colored people
In my native city, Hartford, lG7 colored votes
were polled In New Haven over 300, and so
on through the State. So FAR / have heard of
only one man Of color who voted The Demo
cratic ticket, and nc voted for the man. and not
for the principles. In only one instance as
have said, did the Democratic party openly
endeavor to obtain the vote Of the colored
man. The Hon. X. ID. Gallagher, of New
Haven, notorious politician being furnished
with ample funds, went so far a. to issue an
address 10 the colOred citizens of his city.
giving thom instructions as to their rights and
duties as newly-made citizens. lie even hired
hall and colored band of musicians. and
with the most brass mounted insolence con
ceivable proceeded TO address the coored men
but, for the glory of my people, only seven
were found mean enOssh to attend. Governor
English about that time felt very charitably
disposed toward the colored people and their
various institutions, and it is said that he con
tributed quite freely toward them.
The colored men are beginning to feel that
they are power not TO he despised in this
closely balanced State. We mean to do still
better next year we mean to have every col
ored man in this State qualified, SO that they
can take part in the great campaign of -
The Importance Of this victory cannot be ex-
pressed IN words. Would / say too much if
should say that this victory has saved the Re
publican party in very critical time so that
that party presents a holder front to the enemy
today than ever and from the encomiums
that are daily showered upon US by the loyal
press of the country, j DO not think my Ian
gaage extrayagant. Allow me here to make
the following extract from the Hartford Con-.
rant, edited by Cen }. r. Hawley, lifelong
friend to the black man
There is one other thing settled for Con
necucut, and that is, that the colored people
are, as was TO he expected, and in spite of the
demagogue promises Of the Democrats, almost
unanimously Republican IN politics The new
voters OF that race gave TO that party nearly
their entire vote. We do not care hereafter to
make any distinctions Of black and white we
hope to see the colored men everywhere remcm-
bering only that they citizens with equal
political rights, mingle with the great body of
voters, drawing no lines of caste or color. But
1t rs proper that we should say now in this
first exercise of the glorious rights of freemen.
that we are profoundly sensible of the debt of
the Republican party in Connecticut TO the
colored voters for the result of Monday. In
one sense the debt is mutual for we are all
Republicans, voting for a common object. Yet
this acknowled sment is due to our colored
voters the result would have been different
WITHOUT ThEM. And We congratulate them
and the whole party that i'm this, the first exer
else of the rightof voting, they have chosen so
wisely. The eOlorcd men vote, and as we'll
as they fight This is commentator enough
for anybody"
The above speaks for itself; no comment
from me is necessary. YERIrAs.
Letter from michi; An.