The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-23
Summers Advice to the colored People.

WARRINGTON, D. c.. July 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
am touched by tho appeal you make. It is
true that am the friend of your race, and l
am glad to be assured that in your opinion 1
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 80 long as life lasts. l know
your infinite wrongs, and feel them as for my
own. You only do me simple justice when
you add belief that my counsel, at this criti-
cal juncture OF your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
In answering your inquiries. I can hayo no
feeling except for your good, which most
an1iously seek; nor can any prejudice of any
too solemn. Especially is there no room for
personal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
No man or party can expect power except for
the 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 Presidency is
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One of these Is to bo taken;
and my observation OF their lives, you invite
my judgment between them, asking me espe-
cially which OF the two, judging from their
WoS Sea:o well anti position
curing. your civil and political rights, with the
most heartfelt sympathy and tho greatest
Is vlgor: Here: Here remark 1 that. in this inquiry,
ground. So do I-bclicving most sincerely
that the best interests of the whole country
are associated with tho corupletest recognition
OF your rights, 80 thatthe two races hall live
together in unbroken harmony. I Slso re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "antecedents'' of the two candidates; and
secondly. the ir "present 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.
The communication with which you have
honored me is not alone. Colored fellow. citi-
zens In other parts Of tho country, may cay
in nearly every State Of the Union, have made
similar request, and some complain that
to this appeal. But it my opinion is given, it
must be candidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the autecedents OF the candidates.
educated himself in printing Office. presi-
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be.
| came cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public expense. Ono started with
| other started with a military commission.
| One Was trained as O civilian; the other as q
| soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as a re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
election Of James Buchanan, fortified by his
vote all the pretensions OF slavery, including
the bred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
| from carly life was earnest and constant
colorcd race, and always foremost in the
great battlc for their rights. President
| Grant, except as soldier, summoned by tho
| terrible accident OF war, never did anything
| against slavery. nor has he at any time
shown any sympathy with the colored race.
| Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colored
citizens should vote and ably championcd i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was OIL
| the other side. Beyond these contrasts, which
| are marked, it cannot be forgOtten en that Horace
Greeley is a person Of largo heart and large
human rights, always bencfcent with the
poor, always ready for any good cause, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years ho befriended your peo.
pie. Add to these qualities, conspicuous i'll
his life, untiring industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
| neutrality-suspicious. with history-tho
instinct and grasp OF statesmanship-an
amlable nature-a magnanimous soul, and,
above all an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have O brief portraituro
OF what are the antecedents OF Horace Gree
ley. Few OF these things appear in the Pre-
honors he has won, cannotlchango the record
OF his conduct toward your people, ee pocinly
in contrast with tho lifetime fidelity of lilp
| competitor, whilo thero arc unliapny 'ante.
oedents" showing that in the prorecution OF
his plans hr cares nothing for the oolorcd
race. The g s'ory is painful, but it must bo told
| refer to tho outrage he perpetratcd upon
Hayti, will, it's 800,0 o blacks, engaged. in
the great experiment OF scf. government
Here IL a most instructive 'antecedent," ;" 70.
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
dence. Conceiving the idea of annexing Do