The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-08
THE BLACK MANS FRIEND.
Senator Summers Advice to the COloret
Voters.

requesting his opinion rs to what action the
colored voters should take in the present crisis:
WASHINGTON, D. c., July IL.
SIR-We, the undersigned, citizens OF color,
regarding you as the purest and best friend OF
our race, admiring your consistent course IN
the United States Senate and elsewhere as the
special advocate of our rights, and believing
that your counsel at this critical juncture IN
the period of our citizenship would be tree
from personal feeling and partizan prejudice,
have ventured to request your opinion as to
what action the colored voters OF the nation
should take in the Presidential contest now
pending.
The Choice of our people is now narrowed
down to General Grant or Horace Greeley.
Your long acquaintance with both, ana your
observation, have enabled you to arrive at a
correct conclusion as to which Oh tne canoi,
dates, Judging from their antecedents. as well
as their present position, will, II elected, en-,
the laws respecting our civil and political
rights with the most heartfelt sympathy and
the greatest vigor. 49,, -,
we hope and trust you will favor us with
such reply as will serve to enlighten our minds
upon this subject, and impel our people to go
forward in the right direction. Our confidence
in your Judgment is so firm that, in our opin-
ion, thousands of the intelligent colored voters
of the country 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 obedlent
servants A. r. Augusta, M. D., David Fisher,
ST.. John II. Smith, Edward Cruiser, VIM. II.
A. Wormley, VIM P. Wilson, R. w, Tompkins,
John H. Brown, Henry Lacey, ". Il: Bell, j.
L. N. Bowen, NJ. D., Jacob DeSFitter,S Samuel
Proctor. ]. J. Ketchum, Chas. N. Thomas, VIM.
Fl. Shorter, Henry Hill, Turman S. Shadd, Geo.
d. johnson, Chris. A Fleetwood, Charles f.
Bruce, David Fisher, Jr., David King, VIM.
Palkeny.
Below we print in full Senator Summers an
swer to the above: ~,
WASHINGTON, July %, 1872.
Gentlemen and FelloU- Citizens: If l have de-
layed answering your communication of July
IL, which was duly placed in my hands by
your committee, it is not because the proper
course for you seemed doubtful, but because J.
wished to reflect upon it and be aided by the
information which time might supply. Since
then have carefully considered the inquiries
you have addressed me, and listened to much
on both sides, but my best judgment now is in
harmony with my early conclusion.
I am touched by the appeal you make. 1t is
true that am the friend of your race, and |
am glad to be assured that in your opinion
have held consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate of your
rights. That course, by the blessing of God,
mean to hold so long as life lasts. know youf
infinite wrongs and feel for them as my own.
You only do me simple justice when you add
belief that my counsel, at this critical juncture
of your citizenship, would be free from person.
al feelings and partizan prejudice. In answer
ing your inquiries, can have no feeling except
for your good, which most anxiously seek
nor can any prejudice of any kind be allowed
to interfere. The occasion is too solemn. Es-
pecially is there no room. for personal feeling
or for partizan prejudice. No man or .party
can expect power except for the general wei
fare. Therefore they must be brought to the
standard of truth, that they may be. seen in
life and act - .r.-' ,t'%s- go:
You are right in saying that the choice for
President Grant Or Horace Greeley. One dl
these is to be taken, and, assuming my ac-
quaintance 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 Us we'll as pres
ent position, would enforce the constitution
and Jaws securing your civil and political rights
with the most heartfelt sympathy and the great
est vigor. Here remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the foreground.
So do 1 !; 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 together in un-
broken harmony. also remark that you call
attention to two things, the "antecedents" OF
the two candidates and secondly, the "presept
position" You wish to know from: these which
gives assurance of the most heartfelt sympathy
and greatest vigor in the maintenance of your
rights; in other words, which, judging by the
past, will be your truest friend. '1:4>
The communication with which you have
honored me is not alone. Colored' felow-citi-
zens in other parts Of the country--I may say
in nearly every State of the Union-have made
q similar request and some complain that
have thus far kept silent I 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, begin
ming with the antecedents of the two tcandi-
dates. IL
1. Horace Greeley was born to poverty, and
educated himself in printing Office. Presi-
dent Grant, fortunate in early patronage, be-
came cadet at West Point, and was educated
at the public expense. One started with moth
ing but industry and character; the other
started with a military commission. One was
trained as civilian; the other as soldier.
Horace Greeley stood forth as reformer and
abolitionist. President Grant enlisted as a
pro-slavery Democrat, and, at the election of
James Buchanan, fortified by his vote all the
pretentions of slavery, including the bred
Scott decision. Horace Greeley from early
life was earnest and constant against slavery,
full of sympathy with the colored race and
always foremost in the great battle 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 col,
ored race. Horace Greeley earnestly desired
that colored citizens should vote, and earnestly
championed impartial suffrage; but President
Grant was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts, which are marked,
it cannot be forgotten that Horace Greeley is