Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-06

BY the democrats; and this Is the pledge Of
ue union, beyond anything in our history
1t Is victory Of ideas, without which, all other
victories must fail. TO intensity your allie
CATION, you insist that l am ranged with jeff
Davis and Robert Toombs but pardon me,
nohody knows how the former will vote,
while Robert Toombs is boisterous against
Horace Greeley, and with him Steven, Wise,
ana Mostly. This 10 all very poor, and
mention il to exhibit the character of your
attempt In the same spirit you seek to avoid
the real issue, by bolding up the possibility of
what you call democratic administration. and
Ioi have the courage to assert, as within my
knowledge, that by the election of Horace
Greeley, Congress is handed over to the con
troll OF the party who have positively denied
the rights of the black man. You say |
know this, Mr.. Speaker. l know no such a
thing. And you should be sufficiently
Thoughtful not to assert it. | am entirely
satisfied that canvass like the present where
the principles declared at Cincinnati are
openly accepted on one side and not contest
ell on the other, must result in a larger mum
Der of Congressional Representatives sin
cerely voting h rights of the colored C items
thanaev,r tetore. The democrats will be
pledged as never before to the ruling princi
pie that all men are tree and equal before the
ments, with the clause in each empowering
Congress to enforce the same by appropriate
legslation; but besides the democrats there
will be liberal republicans pledged likewise.
and also your peculiar associates, who trust
viii not betray the cause. Senators and Rep
resentatives calling themselves republicans.
have been iaterly In large MAORI y in both
Houses, but the final measure of the civil
rights to which you refer, though urged by
me almost daily, has failed to become law,
less, | fear from democratic opposition than
from republican luke-warmness ANA the want
of support in the President. The great issue
which the people are called to decide in No
vember,is on the President, and nobov knows
better than yourself that the House of Rep
resentatlves chosen at the same time, will
naturally harmonize with him. So it has
been in our history. Now harmony with
Horace Greeley involves what most desire.
With such a President, Congress will be
changed for the first time since the war, the
equal rights Of all will have declared rep
resentative at the head of the Government
whose presc nee there will be of higher sig
nlficance than that of any victor of the war,
being not only testimony, but a constant
motive power in the great cause. Opposition,
whether in open hostility or more subtle
treachery, will yield to the steady influence
OF such Il representative. Therefore in look
ing to the President, look also to Congress,
which will take its character in a large measure
from him. In choosing Horace Greeley, we
do the best we can for the whole Government,
not only in the executive, but in the legisla-
tive branch. While we decline to support
nepotlsm, repayment of personal gifts by
official patronage, seizure of the war powers
and lndlgnlty to the black republic, and va
rious incapacities exhibited by the President
and the rings by which he governs, none OF
which can you defend. You know well that
the rings are already condemned by the
American people. For myself, say plainly
and without hesitation, that prefer Horace
Greeley with any Congress possible on the
Cincinnati platform 10 President Grant with
his pretensons and his rings, vote for whom
involves the support OF all his pretensions
with prolonged powers in ali the rings There
must be another influence and another exam
pie. The administration in all its parts is
imposed by the President. Let his soul be
enlarged with the sentiment of justice. quick
ened by industry, ard not only the two
Houses of Congress, but the whole country,
will feel an irresistible authority overspread-
ing and pervadlng everywhere. Therefore in
proportion as you are in earnest for the rights
OF the colored citizens and place them above
all partiZan triumph, you will be glad to sup
port the candidate whose heart has always
threbbed for humanity. The country needs
such motive power in the White House, it
needs generous fountains there; in one word
it needs somebody different from the present
incumbent, and nobody knows who is better
than Speaker Blaine. The personal mputa-
ton you make upon me, | repel with the in
dignation of an honest man. | was a faithful
supporter of the President until, somew hat
tardily, awakened by his conduct on the Isl
and of San Domingo involving the seizure of
the war power in violation of the Constitu-
ton, and indignity to the black Republic, in
violation of international law, and when re
monstrated against these intolerab!e outrages
| was set upon by those acting in his behalf.
Such is the origin of my opposition. l could
not have done less without failure in that duty
which is with me the rule of life, Nor can |
doubt that when partisan sentiments are less
active you will regret the wrong you have
done me. Meanwhile, / appeal confidently
to the candid judgment of those who, amidst
all present differences of opinion unite in the
great subjects far above party or President,
to which my life is devoted | am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,