The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-09
Sumner. Advice to the co,ored People.


WARRINGTON, D. c.. July 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
true that am the friend OF your race, and
am glad to be assured that in your opinion
have hold consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate Of your
rights. That course, by the blessing OF God,
I 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 when
you add belief that my counsel, at this criti
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice
In answerinR your inquiries. I can have no
fueling except for your good, which l most
kind be allowed to interfere. Tie occasion il
too solemn. Especially ia there no room for
personal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
NO man or party can expect 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 i'll
saying that tho choice for the Presidency is
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Gre eley. One Of these is to be taken;
and, assuming my acquaintance with both.
and my observation OF their lives, you invite
my judgment between them, asking me espe'
cally which of the two, judging from their
anteoedents. as we'll as present position,
would enforce tho Constitution and laws, BE-
curing your civil and political rights with the
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. So do I-belisving most sincerely
that the best interests OF the whole country
are associated with the completest recognition
OF your rights, 80 that the two races shall live
together in unbroken harmony. Slso re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "antecedents'' Of the two candidates; and
secondly. their ''presont position" You wish
the most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor in the maintenance of your rights; in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your trueat friend.
NIT
honored me is not alone. Colored fellow. citi-
zsns in other parts Of the country, l may say
in nearly every State Of the Union, have made
q similar request. and some complain that /
to this appeal. But il my opinion is given, it
must be oandidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the antecedents Of the candidates.
educated himself in printing Office. Presi
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be-
came cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public expense. One started with
other started with military commission.
One was trained as civilian; the other as a
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
election Of James Buchanan, fortified by his
vote all the preteneions OF slavery, including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early life was earnest and constant
colored race, and always foremost in the
great battlo for their rights. President
Grant, except as soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident OF war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has he at any time
shown any sympathy with the coiored race
Horace Greeley earnestly desir cd that colored
citizens should vote and ably championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the otherside. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, it cannot be forge ten that Horace
Greeley is person OF large heart and largo
understanding, trained to the support Of
human rights, always beneficent with the
poor, always ready for any good cause. and
never daterred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years he befriended your peo-
his life, untiring industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
owledge-acqnaintance with history-the
instinct and grasp of statosmanship-an
amiable nature-a magnanimous soul, and,
above all, an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have brief portrature
of what are the antecedcnts of Horace Gree
sident. His great success in war, and tho
honors he has won, cannotlchange the record
OF his conduct toward your people, especially
in contrast with the lifetime fidelity of his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
cedents" showing that in the prosecution OF
his plans he cares nothing for the colored
race. The story is painful, but it must be told.
Hayti, with it's 100000 blacks, engaged in
the great experiment OF self-government.
Here lis a most instructive "antecedent," re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole is attested by documentary evil
dence. Conceiving the idea Of anne1ing Do
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