Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-08-08

A SPLENDID APPEAL FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
AND RECONCILIATION.
The Letter Of the CoIored Men.
WASHINGTON, July II, 1872.
Sir: We, the undersigned citizens OF
color, regarding you as the purcst ant
best friend Of our race, admiring youl
consistent course in the United States
Senate and elsewhere, as the special advo-
cate Of our rights, and believing that youl
counsel at this critical juncture in the pc
riod of our citizenship would be free from
personal feeling and partisan prejudice,
have ventured to request your opinion as
to what action the colored voters of the
nation should take in the presidential con-
test now pending. The choice Of our
people is now narrowed down to Gen.
Grant or Horace Greeley. Your long ac-
quaintance with both and your obserya-
ton have enabled you to arrive at Il cor
rect conclusion as to which of the candi-
dates, Judging from their antecedentS as
well as their present position, will, il
elected, enforce the requirements Of the
constitution and the laws respecting our
civil and political rights with the most
heartfelt sympathy and the greatest vigor.
We hope and trust that you will favor us
with such a reply as will serve to enlight-
en- our minds upon this subject, and impcl
our people to go forward i'll the right di-
rection. Our confidence in your judg-
mcnt is so firm, that, in our opinion, thou
sands of the intelligent voters of the coun-
try will be guided in their action by your
statement and advice. Hoping to receive
reply soon, we have the honor to be,
with great respect, your obcdient SER
wants,
A. II. AUGUSTA, NJ. D., DAVID FISHER,
SR., JOHN IL. SMITH, and others.
To Hon. Charles Sumner.
Mr.. Summers Reply.
WASHINGTON, July 80, 1872.
Gentlemen and Fellow-citizens: If
| have delayed answering your com
munication of July II, which was du-
ly placed in my hands by your COM
mittee, it is not because the proper
course for you seemed doubtful, but
because | wished to reflect on it and
be aided by information which time
might supply.
Since then.I have carefully consid-
cred the inquiries you have addressed
me, and listened to much ON both
sides, but my best judgment is in
harmony with my early conclusion.
| am touched by the appeal you
make. 1t is true | am q friend Of
your race, and | am glad to be aasur-
ed that, i'll your opinion, | have held
a consistent course IN the Senate and
elsewhere as 4 special advocate Of
your rights. In that course, by the
blessing Of God, | will continue 50
long as life lasts. | know your inf
mite wrongs, and feel for them as for
my own.
You only do me simple justice when
you add a belief that my counsel, at
this critical juncture Of your citizen
ship, would be free from personal
feelings and partisan prejudice. In
answering your inquiries, / can have
no feeling except my earnest desire
for your good, nor can any prejudice
of any kind be allowed to interfere.
The occasion is too solemn. Espe-
cially is there no room for personal
feeling, or for partisan prejudice. No
men or party ask power except for
the general welfare, therefore they
must be brought to the standard of
truth, that they may be seen in life
and act.
You are right in saying that the
choice for the presidency is now mar
rowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One Of these is to
be taken, and assuming my acquaint-
ance with both, and my observation
of their lives, you invite my Judgment
between them, asking me, especially,
which Of the two, judging from their
antecedents as well as present posi-
ton, would enforce the constitution
and the laws securing your civil and
political rights with the most heart
felt sympathy and the greatest vigor.
Here / remark that in this inquiry
you naturally put your rights in the
foreground. So do l, believing most
sincerely that the best interests Of the
whole country are associated with the
completest recognition Of your rights,
so that the two races shall live togeth-
er in unbroken harmony. | also er-
mark that you call attention to two
things: first the " antecedents Of the
two candidates and secondly their
present position" You wish to
know from these which gives assur-
ance of the most heartfelt sympathy
and the greatest vigor in the mainten-
ance Of your rights. In other words,
which, Judging from the past, will be
your truest friend.
The communication with which you
have honored me is not the only one /;
your colored fellow citizens in other
parts of the country, may say in
nearly every state Of the Union, have
made similar request and the same
compliments. ! have thus far kept
silent. | am not insensible to this
appeal, but, if my opinion is given, it
must be candidly, according to my
conscience. In this spirit | answer
your inquiries, beginning with the an
tecedents of the two candidates.
Horace Greeley WAS born to power
ty, and educated himself in print
ing office. President Grant was for
tunate in early patronage, became a
cadet at West Point, and was educa-
ted at the public expense. One start
ed with nothing but industry and a
character the other started with a
military commission. One was train
Al