New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-13
REPUDIATING GRANT.


REGULATING GRANT.
A Significant Letter-A COIOFed CRAM
EIecsor VVfthdraws from the Ticket
and Leaves the Reorganization Party
WHY the CoIOred Men can nOtsSupDori
Grant Inconsistencies Of the PhiIa-
deIplia PIatf0rni-roo Many Indennife
PrOmises-AIen Of All Parties cHn suP-
port the Cincinnati Ticket and NOmi-
Dees.
From the New YORK Tibupel
BALriMoRE, July s.-A bOmbshell was
thrown into the administration camp IN
Baltimore this afternoon by the publication
of the following letter from the cOlored can
didate on the Grant electoral ticket Of this
State FROM the fourth congressional dis
trict Ills reported that Mr.. Saunders will
carry with him 10 the Liberal Republican
party q great number OF colored votes.
BALTIMORE, July 8, 1872.
To Hou Henry stockbridge Chairman Baltimore
City Delegation to the late Republican Conven-
tons
EIR-Please accept for yourself and col
leagues from the fourth congressional dis
tricb 20 the late convention OF April "a, 1872,
nv grateful thanks for the conspicuous
favor conferred by placing my name on the
Grant electoral ticket, and the assurance OF
my kindly appreciation of this and other
ton in fhe politics Of my native state. a
profound sense of duty 10 my race and the
demands Of an unselfsh patriotism superior
TO mere partisan requirements compel me
to decline the honor and sever my e0nnec-
ton with the Grant wing Of the Republican
party.
/ entertain the hope that at no distant
day cOlored men, as American citizens
viii rise superior TO the apparent selfish
ness of their past political action, which has
too often been characterized by adhesion TO
men instead Of devotion TO principles, and
that they viii fully comprehend the sacred
ness Of the ballot and the higher duty Of
citizenship. tits but natural thatin the
past cOl0red voters should have been con-
sOlidated within the ranks Of that party
through whose fundamentally their rights
were 10 part secured particularly when the
party was itself a unit and the rights Of the
colored citizen made political issue
but now, when some Of the best men
and brightest spirits Of that party decline
to act with it, and join with other citizens
ia the formation of a newer and better
party with more advanced and more prac-
teal ideas, within whose ranks the rights
of all men are assured, it Is an open ques-
ton whether the Liberal Republican party
is not after all the true Republican party OF
the country. Now that all men of what |
ever creed or political opinion accept the !
situation, recognize the rights Of all men, I
and guarantee their maintenance, II = o. -
!aif 70 snpPoses saS 1ne sl us bury its dead"
s1 ". ~ .v...s !. Come up to that com
,,,sb s1s;ya Inform which, while recog /
R riS;n@ sse equity Of equal rights, gives
- siiise Of perpetual peace and prosperity
70 the whole country In the coming presi-
dental campaign it is Of the last import
anee that cOlored men cast of the letters
Of political vassalage, ignore the tyranny
Of a false and vicious party discipline, and
like all other men, exercise their political
franchise according to the dictates of an
enlightened and untrammeled judgment.
Even were it possible for me to remain on
your ticket, could not approve and abet
the bitter and continued taetiOnal warfare
for which the great party in Maryland is
remarkable, and which is dominant char
acteristic Of that party in every State in
the Union. Neither would ! on any CON
sideration lend myself to the basely I'M
grateful task Of yiliiying and bounding
lifelong friends Of human liberty and OF
equal rights, who, by their iabors and
sacrifices through period Of more than
quarter Of century, have made It possible
for men Of my race to enjoy the privileges
of American citizenship.
j have read carefully that elaborate com
pilation OF indefinite promises OF the Phila-
delphia platform, and beg to suggest that
If, after more than eleven years OF suprem-
acy and nearly four years of absolute CON
troll Of theg government, It IS deemed wise to
be so prolific Ia platform declaration, 1t is
just possible that four years longer lease of
power viii be inadequate to the full per
of the stupendOus task marked
out for the party at Philadelphia. That
complete and exact equality in the enjoy
ment of all civil, political aud public
rights without discrimination on ac-
count Of Race, creed, eoier Of previous
condition of seryitnda 81 which
the Philadelphia con Ton gives as
surance, Is no doubt a4ea as balm
for the colored voteg ne country, and
e is supposed 10 hape needing intiu.
snce, though a RepuboHn CONGRESS, In
liter contempt Of this other promises
made at Philadelphia, adjourns and makes
40 sign. II this convention was the con-
,entrated voice of the Republican party,
yDeakinp authoritatively for the President
Congress and the people, It is incompre-
hensible why some Of these platform sentl-
nents were not met at once and erystahzed
INTO federal statute provisions. do not
the wisdom of this eminently ca
Dable and respectable body, nor do doubt
fhe sincerity Of these declarations, but
can not lose sight Of the fact that it is peril
Ous in the extreme to intrust the vital =
TO other and future Congresses,
which may not, in the eternal fitness OF
things, be in consonance with the Philadel-
Dhia convention.
] dissent from the doctrine enuneiated
hat the enforcement of the appropriate leg :
Station made by the recent amendment to ,
the national constitution can only be
trusted 60 the Grant administration. If the 9
tenure Of Amepican citizenship depends
upon the success of any political party and
q necessarily jeoparded upon the periodical
return of each national political contest,
then that exalted right is more honorary ,
than honorable Instead of being an object
Of Just patriotic pride, it would be boon
after aud despised when secured.
OF course, differ widely from these absurd
premises, so antagonistic TO the genius Of
our Institutions, and hold that the exercise
Of the rights and the employment of the priv
ileges Of citizenship by the colored people
Of the country. depends not upon the success
of political party whichis ottener factiOnal
or sectional than national, but upon the
better sentiment broad charity and adj
vanced civilization of the American people
as a nation. In the light of the limited in
telhgence am enabled to bring to bear
upon the issues now before the people OF
the country, / am constrained TO see in the
Philadelphia platform a confession of weak
ness. If any. political party, after three
successive terms of the administration of
governmental power, has need Of such pro-
fusion of promise, evidently for the purpose
of securing votes to pefpetuate its existence,
il is within the pale of possibility that the
country viii survive its defeat and 90 for
ward to the accomplishment of its high des-
tiny without the special guardianship of
/ am persuaded that the Cincinnati plat
4 fAaITr IN IL