The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-08-14

ner and the colored citizens of the Uni
ted States:
WASHINGTON, July 1lth, 1872.
SIR--We, the undersigned citizens of
color, regarding you as the purest and
best friend of our race, and admifin@
your consistent course in the United
States Senate and elsewhere as the spe-
Cial advocate of Our rights, and beiiey-
ing your course at this critical iunctare
in the period of our citizens would be
free from personal feeling or partisan
prejudice, have ventured to request
yonr opinion as to what action the col
ored voters of note should take in the
Presidential contest now pending. The
choice OF our people is now narrowed
down to General Grant or Horace Gree
ley. Your long acquaintance with both
and your observation have enabled you
to arrive ut correct conclusion as to
which OF the candidates, judging from
their antecedents as we'll as their pres
ent position will, if elected, enforce the
requirements of the Constitution and
laws respecting our civil and political
rights with the most heartfelt svmpa-
thy and greatest VigOr. We hope and
trust you will favor us with such reply
as Will serve to enlighten our minds
upon this subject and inipel our people
to go forward in the right direction.
Our confidence in your Judgment is so
firm that, in our opinion, thousands of
Intelligent colOrcd 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 obedient
servants,
y. T. August, N. D., David Fisher, Sr.
John II. Smith, Edward Cruiser, WIN.
a. Wormley, VIM. Wilson, r. w.
TOmpkins, j. II. Brown, Henry Lace,
W. IL. Bell, j. I. \, Bowen, NJ. D., J.
Dewitter, Samuel Protector, j. j.
Ketchum, Charles N. Thomas, VIM
II. Shorter, Henry Hill, Thurman j.
Shadd, George d. Johnson, Chris. A.
Fleetwood, Chas 7. Bruce, David
Fisher, Jr. David King, Wm. Polk
TO Hon Charles Sumner.
SENATOR SUMMERS LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July Goth, 1872.
Gentlemen and Fellow- Citizens If
have delayed answering your commu-
nication of July 11h, which was duly
placed in my hands by your commit
tee, il is net because the proper course
for you seemed doubtful, but because |
wishedto reflect upon it, and to be
able, to add by information which time
might supply. Since then have care
fully considered the inquiries you have
addressed me, and listened to much
on both sides, but my best Judgment is
in harmony with my hearty conclusion.
| am touched by the appeal you make
1t is true am friend of your race,
and I am glad to be assured that in
your opinion I have held 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. / know your infinite
wrongs, and feel for them as though
they were my own. You only do ne
simple justice when you add a belief
that my counsel, at this critical junct-
ure of your citizenship, would he free
from personal feeling and partisan pre-
JUDGE. In answering your inquiries /
can have no feeling except for your
good, which ! most anxiously seek; nor
can any prejudice of any kind be al
lowed to interfere-the occasion is too
solemn-and especially is there no
room for partisan prejudice.
NO MAN OR PARTY
can expect power except for 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 Presi-
dency is now narrowed down to Presi-
dent Grant or Horace Greeley. One of
these Is to be taken, and assuming my
acquaintance with both and my obscr-
YatIon of their lives, you invite my
Judgment between them, asking me es-
pecially which of the two, judging from
their antecedents, as we'll as present
position, would enforce the constitu-
ton and laws, your civil and political
rights, with the most heartfelt svmna-
my an4 greatest vigor. Here remarks
mat IN this inquiry you naturally put
your rights in the foreground. So do
I; believing most sincerely that the
estinterests of the whole country are
associated with the
CoMpLETEsT RECOGNITION
OF your rights, so that the two races
shall live together in unbroken harmo-
ny. also remark that you call atten-
ZION to two things, the anteceden;s of
tie two candidates, and secondly, their
present position. Yoa wish to know
from these which gives assurance of
most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
Vigor IN themaintenance ofyour rights;
in other words, which, Judging from the
past, will be your truest friend? The
communication with which you have
honored me, is not alone. Colorcd
fellow citizens in other parts of the
country, l may say, in nearly every
State of the Union, have made similar
and some complain that l