The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-08-15
Mr.. Summers Letter. The Democrats
and the Colored People

number Of colored citizens on the issues Of
The presidential campaign, which We pub.
lished exhibited clear comprehension Of
the true spirit Of the great movement for
pac6cation and reconciliation which is now
agilatiug the country. and in its style, as
well as sentiment, may be considered 'c
be the best production Of his pen, It is far
superior in breadth, simplicity aud vigor
to bis late phillippi against Gen Grant IN
the senate, aud in its drectnrss and plain.
css of speech gives evidence Of profound
and sciucere convictions. Mr.. Sumner
shown in this letter the existing ano'
molus state Of things. He takes in intel
! ligeuuy the popular feature of this great
movement, obl,erating as it does old party
boundaries. and having its keynote in the
wards Of Mr. Hendricks, Just Laws and
Public Virtue" or in the words Of Mr.
Sumner. The Uuity of the Republic
and equal Rights Of all, with Reconcil
alton" When Mr.. Sumner says that it
is easy to see that the remarkable, move
,nent that has ended in the double uomin-
alton Of Horace Greeley did not proceed
from politicians. whether at Cincinnati or
Baltimore, that evidently it was the
heart of the people, sOrely wrung by war
and the controversies it cngeudered, which
found this expression" he falhoms the
whole political significance Of the move
mout 10 words tie truth Of which finds an
cello in every rejecting mind In that
single sentence is condensed the whole
philosophy of the situation. We may add
that when Mr.. Sumner recognizes the
good faith Of the Democratic party when
he claims that those Of them who support
Mr.. Greeley may be welcomed with as
much pride as is exhibited by the organs
of the administration toward those who
support General Grant. when he acknowl'
edges as done in good faith the endorse.
meut by the Democratic national conven,
ton of the liberal republican Cincinnati
platform, he exhibits degree Of political
penetration, as well as capacity Of logical
deduction from the past to the present
and future, which we do not hesitate to
accord to bis credit. The democratic par
ty, under the constitution asst was, became
celebrated as the party of strict cons'ruc.
ton, adhering rigidlylo the spirit as well
as letter, and to all the requirements of the
fundamental law. This, in conjunction
With its championship of the extension o Of
popular rights and the privilege Of suit.
rage, and its great and long continued sue
! cess. Daring ahe greater part I. of The !l.
t6aiiohiidl aykis6cs ao&n tcl66O, itshas
lheld through its cL6sen agents, the ad.
ministration Of oatioua aHairs,'the periods
when it did not SO hold them being brief
and exceptional. 1t is needless to recall
what the United States became in its inter 7
ior development, and the respect it com,
mandcd abroad under these vigorous and
conservative impulses 1t was natural
that party of strict construction should
onno,e ,ll violent and irregular agencies
for the change of the constitution. The
meaus which we're employed to that end
they did not like, and have not ceased to
disapprove and condemn Now that time,
with its changes, has brought about mod'
dcations Of the constitution, and they have
formally announced their acceptance o''hesf
notifications, the same feal'y may be ez'
pected to the amended instrument from
the democrats as they showed 'o, it IN its
olden form. They are as likely now as
then to be the straightest and most rigid o.
all constructiouists Their fidelity aud
opposition to radical and irregular changes
in our past history furnish the hest pledr.
cs that can be given oftheir uncomprom's-
ing adherence to it hereafter. When
such party as that sets its seal, as Mr.
Sumner expresses it, to a bond it may be
relied on. The spirit in which Mr.. Sum,
ner meets it is that which must ac'ua'e all
lust and reasonable men. Il do not sec, ;
he says, show it can be regarded other
wise than as peace offering. As much
as it is Of infinite value 1t isa revolu'
ton, and its success in pacifying the
country will be in proportion to its accep.
tauce by US. | dare not neglect the !!,
great opportunity, nor eau stand a'oof'
Would that 50 wise and patriotic an ap.
preciatiou of the significance of the liberal
movement and its democratic endorsement
could pervade all minds.
We are also happy to observe the wise
counsel Of Mr. Sumner to the ce'ored peo.
ple to abstain from acts of violence and
intimidation. and from banding together in
a hostile camp, provoking antngonsm and
keeping alive in our politics the separation
Of rac6 This advice is evidently wise
and proper 10 itself and coming from one
who has been the life long champion of the
colored people, ought to have its effect. =
If the effect of emancipation has only been
to free the bodies aud not the minds Of
those liberated, to convert them into po-