Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-07
MIR. Summers Letter.


We give much of our space this week to
the letter written by Mr.. SUMNER, giving the
reasons which influence him to support Mr..
GREELEY for President and we also print
MIR BLAINE's letter reviewing Mr.. SUMNER 5
positions.
There has been no expectation that MIR.
SUMNER would support Gen. GRANT. After
what he had said and written concerning the
President he could not support him. Nor
have we had much doubt that the Massachu-
sets Senator would vote for Mr. GREELEY.
We were somewhat unprepared, however,
for some of the reasons which Mr.. SUMNER
presents in behalf of Mr.. GREELEY.
1t is true enough, probably, that up to
six months ago Mr.. GREELEY was as much a
friend of the colored people as the President
Is, or is likely to be. 1t may be possible
that in this respect he has not since changed !
although it is quite impossible, in view of
the platform he has accepted and his own
more recent declara tions, that he has not
changed his opinions as to the methods of
securing to the colored people their rights.
GREELEY which Mr.. SUMNER 50 eulogises.
But Mr.. SUMNER, it seems to US, Is clearly
mistaken in what is, after all, the vital ques-
ton in this presidential contest. That ques-
ton is not as to the present or past opinions
/ Of Mr.. GREELEY, but as to the probable
policy Of the administration which will come
into Office if he is elected. If the people of
! the United States were choosing king whose
will as chief executive would be the supreme
law, Mr.. SUNSER's reasoning would have
more force. But this campaign will not end
with such a result. We are only choosing
President who, although capable Of doing
much good and much mischief, is yet in a
measure powerless except as he has a Con-
gress in agreement with him. lie cannot
make laws ne cannot even enforce laws
except as Congress votes appropriations for
that purpose. He is in fact. dependent
upon Congress, and usually upon the party
which elects him, for all the good it is posi-
bic for him to do.
The Democrats fully considered this aspect
of the presidential question before adopting
Mr.. GREELEY as their candidate If he l.
elected they expect with him TO elect
majority of the next House of Representa-
tives. This will make it impossible for Mr.
SUMNER, or any other Republ lean TO pass
any Republican measure in the next Con
gress, or even to pass an appropriation bill
containing items for enforcing the laws for
the protection Of citizens in the southern
States. Democrats make no pretence that
they have changed their views in this res
pect. They give no assurance that they Will
vote hereafter in any way different from
what they have heretofore; and Mr.. SUMNER
/ has evidently great deal more confidence,
than he or any one else is warranted in hav-
ing. when he expects that Democratic dis
like of and opposition to the distinctive
measures of the Republican party are one
whit abated
We have no doubt Of Mr.. SUMMERS faith
full adherence to all his former Republican
ism He will next winter and continually In
his place in the Senate press the same meas
ures giving equal rights to colored people
which he has so eonspicuously urged upon
the attention of Congress hitherto. But
he will then find that Democrats are the
same they have been for years, and they " i'll
still vote against every one Of his measures.
He would understand this nov , but his dis
like of Gen. GRANT is so great that it has
evidently blinded his eyes to what must be
evident to every one else; and so he seems to
have persuaded himself that the Democracy
which has always and everywhere resisted
him at every step Of his advance on the en-
trenchments of caste and privilege, has
suddenly been converted into friend and an
ally lie will find out before many months
that this confidence is entirely misplaced.
The wolf has at best only dressed himself
in the skin of the faithful dog, that he may
thereby get admission into the fold and
more efectually worry the sheep.
We are aware that Mr.. SUMNER has had
great provocaton While he has never
abated in the least his advocacy of Republi-
[ can principles he has been accused of de-
sorting the party because he had enough in
dependence to criticise the President That
he has been without fault we do not pretend
but that he has been practically thrust out
: of the party organization by those whose
republication is much younger and much
less steadfast than his, has been plainito any
but the most intense partisan. That all
; these indignities should have resulted in his
opposition to GEN. GRANTS reelection is
scarcely surprising. We still can but think
however, in consideration of Mr.. SUMNER s
) devotion to the rights of the colored people,
putting them as he does in his letter as be-
fore all things else, that he is taking the
, course least calculated to secure the colored
l people protection in the enjoyment of equal
; rights. Democratic victory is not the
road toward equal rights and exact justice to
the black man; and MR. GREELEY cannot be
: elected without such defeat of Republican
ism, and even Of SUMNER Republicanism,
as will be, to all intents and purposes, a
Democratic victory.