The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-18
Summers Advice to the CoIored People.
WARRINGTON, d. O., July 20, 1872.

WARRINGTON, ID. O., July 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
l am touched by the appeal you make. It Is
true that am the friend OF your race, and
am glad to be assured that in your opinion
have held a consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate OF your
rights. That course, by the blessing Of God,
mean TO hold 30 long az life lasts. 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 answerinR your inquiries. can have no
feeling except for your good, which most
kind be allowed to interfere. The occasion il
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; ther ofore, they must bo
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. Ono of these IL to be taken;
and, assuming my acquaintance with both.
and my observation Of their lives, you invite
my. Judgment between them, asking mo espe.
cially which OF tho two, judging from their
would enforce the Constitution and laws, Sc
curing your civil and political rights, with tho
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here I remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. SO do I-believing most sincerely
that the best interests of the whole country
are associated with the completest recognition
OF your rights, 30 that the 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, their 'present position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance of
vgor in the maintenance Of your rights; in
other words, which, Judging by the past, will
be your trueet friend.
The communication with which you have
honored me Is not alone. Colored fellow-citi-
zens in other parts of the country, may say
in nearly every State Of the Union, have made
q similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. am not insensible
to this appeal: But il my opinion is given, it
must be oandidly. according to my Coincidence.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the antecedents OF the candidates.
1. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
educated himself in printing office. Presi-
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be-
came q cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public expense. One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started with military commission.
One was trained as civilian; the other as
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
listed as pro-slavery Democrat, and, at the
election of James Buchanan, fortified by his
vote all the pretensions Of slavery. including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early lifo was earnest and constant
against slavery, full OF sympathy with the
colorcd race, and always foremost in the
great battlo for their rights. President
Grant, except as q soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident OF war, never did nything
against slavery, nor has he at any time
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colOred
citizens should vote and ably championed i'm.
partial Suffrage; but President Grant was on
the otherside. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, it cannot be forgotten that n GRACE
Greeley ia a person OF large heart and large
understanding, trained to the support of
human rights, always beneAcent with the
poor. always ready for any good cause, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years he befriended your peo-
pie. Add to these qualities. conspicuous in
his life, untiring industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
knowledge with history-the
instinct and grasp of statcsmanship-an
amable nature-a magnanimous soul, and,
above I'LL, an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have brief portraiture
Of what are the anteccdents Of Horace Gree
ley. Few Of these things appear in the Pre-
sident. His great success in war, and the
honors lie has won, cannouchange the record
OF his conduct toward your people, especially
in contrast with the lifetime fidelity of his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
oedents" 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 perpetrated upon
Hayti, with it's 100000 blacks, engaged in
Here is most instructive "antecedent," re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
t he whole is attested by documentary ev-
dence. COnceiyinp tho idea of annexinp Do