The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-11
Summers Advice 10 tho colored People.
WAaH1NoroN. d. O.. July %. 1872.

WARRINGTON, D. O.. July 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: =
I am touched by the appeal you make. It is
true that em the friend OF your race, and
am glad to be assured that in your opinion
havo held consistent course in the Senate
aud elsewhere as the special advocate OF your
rights. That course, By the bles. ing 81 God,
mean to hold 30 long as life lasts. know
your infinite wrongs. and feel them as for my
own. You only do me simple justice whom
you add belief that my counsel. at this criti-
cal juncture Of your citizenehip, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
In answerinR your inquiries. can have 10
fueling except for your good, which most
sa!n1icusly az! seek; nor can any prejudice OF any
too solemn. Especially is there no room for
porsonal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
NO man or party can expect power except for
the general welfare; therefore, they must bo
may be seen i'll lifo and act. You arc right in
saying that tho choice for tho Presidency il
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. Ono of these il to bo taken;
and my observation OF their livee, you invite
my judgment between them, asking me espe.
ciaIly which OF the two, judging from their
antccedents, as well as present position,
would enforce tho Constitution and laws, &C.
curing your civil and political rights, with tho
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here remark that, in this Inquiry,
you naturally. PUT your rights in tho fore
that the best interests of tho whole country
are associated with the oompletest recognition
OF your rights, 40 that the two races shnll live
together in unbroken harmony. I xlso re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "antecedents" OF the two candidates; and
secondly, thti ''present position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance of
the most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor in the maintenapce Of your rights; in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your trueet friend.
The communication with which you havo
honored me is not alone. Colored fellow. citi-
Gems in other parts Of the country, 1 may say
in nearly every State Of the Union, have made
q similar request, and somo complain til hat
have thus far kept silent. lam not insensible
to this appeal. But ii my opinion ia given, it
muet be oandidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the auteeedents OF the candidates.
1. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage. be-.
came cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public EXPENSE, One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started With military commission.
One was trained as q civilian; the other as q
SOLDIER Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
listed as pro slavery. Democrat, and, Mt the
election of James Buchanan, fortified by his
vote all tho pretensions Of slavery, including
the Dred Scott deoision. Horace Greeley
from early life was earnest and constant
against slavery, FULL Of sympathy with the
colorcd race, and always foremost in the
great battle for their rights. President
Grant. except as q. soldier, summonod by the
terrible accident Of war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has ho at any time
ahown any sympathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that oolored
citizena should vote and ably. championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the other side. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, it cannot be forg gotten that Horace
Greeley is q person Of large heart and large
human rights, always benefcent with the
poor. always ready for any good cause, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years he befriended your peo.
pie. Add to these qualities conspicuous In
his life. untirinR industry, which leaves no
moment without it's srpit-abundant political
neutrality-suspicious. with history-the
instinct and grasp OF .statesmanship-an
amiable nature-a magnnnimous soul, and,
touched, and you. have brief portraiture
OF what are the antecedente Of Horace Gree
ley. Few Of these things appear In the Pre-
eident. His great success In war, and the
honors he has won, cannotschange the record
Of his conduct toward your people, especially
In contrast with the lifetime fidelity OF his
competitor. while there are unhappy 'snte-
his plans he cares nothing for the colored
race. The story is painful, but 1t must be told.
Hayti. with ita .s00, ,6c6 -blacka,. engaged. in
the great experiment. OF self-government.
Hero ia . most instructive .sntecchent." re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole is attested by documentary evil
denoe. Conceiving the idea Of annexiDg Do
vua a uvrn On a - m -meoi> n 3n~-