The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-10


WASHINGTON, July II, 1912.
Sir-We, the undersigned citizens of
color, regarding you as hepurest and
best friend Ob our race, and admiring
your consistent course i'll the United
States Senate and elsewhere as the spe-
cial advocate of Ourrights, and believing
your course at this critical iunctTtre in
the period of our citizenship would be
free from personal feeling or partisan
prejudice, have yentured to request your
opinion as to what action the cOlOred
voters of note should take in the Presi-
dental contest now pending. The choice
of our people is now narrowed down to
General Grant and Horace Greeley.
Your long acquaintance with both and
your observation have enabled you to
arrive at a correct conclusion as to which
of the candidates, judging from their
antecedents as well as their present p0-
sitionw will, if elected, enforce therequire-
mentS of the Constitution and laws res
pecting Ourcivil and political rights with
the most heartfelt sympathy and great.
est vigor. We hope and trust yOu will
favor us with such reply as will serve to
enlighten our minds upon this subject
and impel our people to go forward in
the right direction. Our confidence in
your Judgment is so firm that, in our
opinion, thousands of intelligent cOlOred
voters of the country will be guided in
their action by your statement and adj
vice. Hoping to receive % reply soon,
we have the honor to be, with great res
pect, your obedient servants. " .zs
John II. Smith, Edward Cruiser, VIM.
A. Wormley, VIM. Wilson, r.. w.
Tompkins, John. H. Brown, Henry
Lace, w. II. Bell, J. L. N. Cowen, NJ.
D., Jacob Dewitter, Samuel Proctor,
j. j. Ketchum, Charles N. Thomas,
VIM. III. Shorter, Henry Hill, Thurman
j. Shade, George d. johnson, Chris.
A. Fleetwood, Chas. T. Bruce, David
Fisher, Jr., David King, VIM. Polkery.
To Hon. Charles Summer.
SENATOR SUMMERS LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July 80, 1872.
Gentlemen and Fellow-ei -eitizens-If
have delayed answering your cOmmuni-
cation of July 18th, which was duly Dla-
ced in my hands by your committee, it
is not because the proper course for you
seemed doubtful, but because wished
to reflect upon it, and to be able to add
hyinformati0n which time might supply.
Since then / nave carefully considered
the inquiries you have addressed me,
and listened to much on both sides, but
my best Judgment is in harmony with
my hearty conclusion. am touched by
the appeal you make. 1t is true that I
am 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 bles-
sing of God, mean to hold. / know
your infinite wrongs and feel for them
a q fhRTTf fgIh thAJy NoT4 nlOHI+
do me simple justice when You add q be-
lief that my counsel, at this critical juno
ture of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feeling and partisan pre-
judiee. In answering your inquiries I
can have no feeling except for your good,
which most anXiOusly seek; nor can
any prejudice of any kind be allowed to
intepfepe~-the occasion is too solemn
and especially is there no room for per-
sonal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
NO MAN OR PARRY
can expect power except for general
welfare, therefore they must be brought
to the standard of truth, that may be
seen iii life and act. Yon are right in,
saying that the echoiee for the Presidency
is narrowed down to President Grant OF
Horace Greeley. One Of these is to be
taken, 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 antecedents, as
well as present position, would enforce
the constitution and laws, yOnreiyiIand
political rights, with the most heartfelt
sympathy and greatest vig0F, Here [
remark that IN this inquiry y0unatIlraiiy
put your rights in the foreground. So
do believing most sincerely that the
best interests Of the whole country are
associated with the
COMPLETES RECOGNITION
of your rights, so that the two races shall
live together in HnbIoken harmony. I
also remark 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 most heartfelt
sympathy and greatest igor in the main
tenanee of your rights; in other words,
which, Judging from the past, will be
| your truest friend The communication
with which yOu have honored me is not
alone. C0lored fellow citizens in other
parts of the country, may say, I'M nearly
every State of the Union, have made
similar requests, and some complain that
/ have thus far kept silent / am not
insensible to this appeal butif my opin-
ion lis given, it mustbe candidly, accord
ling to my conscience. In this spirit /
answer your inquiries, beginning with
THE ANTEoEDENTs or THE TWO CAN
s. DIDATES.
Horace Greeley was born to poverty,
and educated himself in aprinting office.
President Grant, fortunate in early pat
rOnage, Became q cadet at West Point,
and was educated at the public expense.
/ One started with nothing but industry
and q character; the other started with
a military commission. OneWas trained
as q civilian; the other asa soldier. Hor-
ace Greeley stood forth as O ref0Inaer
and aboliHonist. President Grant en-
listed as a pr0-slayery Democrat, and at
the election of James Buchanan, forti-
| fed by his vote all prefensions of slavery,
| including the DTed Scott decision. Hor+
ace Greeley, from early life, was earnest
and constant against slavery, full of
sympathy with the coloreh race, and al
/ Ways foremost in tie great battle for
| their rights. President Grant, exceptas
| a soldier summoned by the terrible ae-
cident Of war, never did anything against
| slavery, norhas he at any time shown
any sympathy with the eolored race.
| Horace Greeley earnestly desired that
our cel0red elIOW citizens should vote,
land ably champiOned
IMPARTIAL. SUFFRAGE;
but President Grant was on the other
side. Beyond these con ntFasts, which are
marked, iteanlot be forgotten thai Hor-.
ace Greeley is a person of large heart
and large undeTstan ding trained TO the
i support OF human rights; always ready
fer any good cause, and never deferred
by opposition or repIasteh, as when for