The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-12
What Sumner Says.


You are right in saying that the choice
for the Presidency is now narrowed
down" to President Grant or Horace
Greeley. One Of these is to be takeni
and assuming my acquaintance with
both and my observation Of their lives
you invite my judgment between them,
asking me especially which Of the two,
judging from their antccedents rs well
as present position, would enforce the
Constitution and laws securing your ci-
vii and political rights with the most
heartfelt sympathy and greatest vigor.
You call attention to two things: The
'anteCedentsn Of the two candidates, and
secondly, their "prcsent position" You
wish to know from these which gives rs
surlnce Of the most heartfelt sympathy
and greatest vigor in the maintenance
Of your rights. In other words, which,
Judging from the past, will be your tru-
est friend. The communication with
which you have honored me isnOt alone.
COlored fellow citizens in other parts OF
the country-I may say in nearly every
State Of the Union-haye madea similar
request; and some complain that | have
thus far kept silent lam not tinsensible
to this appeal; but II my opinion isgiyen
it must be candidly, according to my
conscience. In this spirit | answer your
inquiries beginning with the antecedcnts
Of The two candidates.
Horace Greeley was born TO poverty,
and educated himself in printing office.
President Grant fortunate III early pa
tronage, became q cadet ut West Point,
and was educated ut the public expense.
one started with nothing but industry
aud character; the other started with
military commission. One was trnined
as Il civilian, the other Rs soldier
Horace Greeley stood forth asa reformcr
and abOlitionist; President Grant en-
listed as Il pro.slavery Democrat, and at
the election of james Buchanan, fortified
by his vote NIL the prctensions Of slavery,
including the DrGd Scott Decision.
Horace Greeley from early life wRs ear
nest and constant against slavery; full Of
sympathy with the colorcd racc, and al
ways foremost in the great battle for
their rights. President Grant, except
rs q soldier summoned by the terrible
accident of war, never did anything
against slavery, nor hns he at any time
shown amy sympathy with the colored
ncc. Horace Greeley earnestly desired
TINT the colored citizens should vote,and
ably champiOned impartial suffrage; but
President Grunt was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts which IRE mark
ed, it cannot be forgotten that Horace
Greeley is a person of large heart and
large understanding, trained to the sup
port OF human rights always bene[lcent
with the poor, always ready for any good
cause, and never deferred by opposition
or reproach, us when for losg years he
beiriended your people. Add to these
qualities conspicuous in his life, ,untiring
industry, which leaves no moment with
out its fruit; abundant political know
ledge, acquaintance with history, the in
stinct and grasp OF craftsmanship, m
nmiable nature, anna gnanimous sou, ana
above all an honesty which no suspicion
has touched, and you have brief por.
tniture. These arc the Gnteccdents ot
Horace Greeley. Few Of these things
appear in tho President. His gteat sue
cess in war and the honors lie has won
cannot change the record Of his conduct
towards your people especially in con.
trast with the the lifetime fidelity OF his
competitor; while there are unhappy nn'
tecedents showing that in the prosecution
OF his plans he cares nothing for the
colored race. The story is painful but
It must be told. refer to the Outrage
he pcrpetrated upon Hayti, with its SOO,'
600 blacks engaged in the great expert
ment OF self.government. Here is Il
most instructive antCcedent, revealing
beyond question his true nature and the
whole is attested by documentary evi.
dence. Concciving the idea Of annexing
Dominica, which is the Spanish part OF
the island, and shrinkingat nothing, he
began by seizing the war powers Of the
Government, in fragrant violation OF the
Constitution, aud then ut great expendi'
ture OF money sent several armed ships
Of the navy; including monitors, tc
maintain the usurper Dlez in power
that through him he might obtain the
coveted prize.
Not content with this audacious die
tatorship he proceeded to strike at thu
independence Of the black republic il
open menace Of war, and all without tht
sanction OF Congress, to which is com
mittcd the war-mAking power. SaililE
into the harbor OF Port au Prince witt
our most powerful monitor, the Dictator
properly manned for this service, alst
the frigate Severn as consort, and othel
monitors in their train, the Admiral act
ing under instructions from Washington
proceeded to the Executive Mansion
accompanied by the officers Of his squad
ron, and thcn, pointing to the great wal
ships in sight from the windows, deal
his menace of war, threatening to sinl
or capture Haytien ships. The Presi
dent was black, not white. The Admira
would have done no such thing to any
white ruler, nor would our country have
tolerated such menace from any govern
ment in the world. Here was indignitJ
not only to tho Black Republic, with IL
population Of 100000, bnt to the Africal
nce everywhere, and especially in oul
own country. Nor didit end here. Fol
months the navy OF tue United Statei
was lowering on the coast, keeping TIM
insulted people in constant anxiety
while President Grant was to them like
a hawk sailing in the air and ready tt
swoopupon hisprey. The heartless, crue
proceeding found victim among Oul
white fellow citizens. An excellent mCr
chant Of Connecticut, praised by all who
knew him, was plunged into prison by
Baez, where he was immurcd because /
was feared lie would write against III,
treaty Of annexation, and this captivity