New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-02
srNAroR srMNEn,s LETTER.

WASHINGTON, July -, lo'-.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITHENs-If
have DELAYED answering your cOmmunica-
ton of July II, which was duly placed in
my hands by your committee, 1t Is not De,
cause the proper course for you seemed
doubtful, but because / wished to reflect
,lpon IT, and to be able to add by intOrma-
ton which time might supply. Since then
1 have carefully considered the inquiries
YOU have addressed to me, and listened to
much on both sides, but my best Judgment
is in harmony with my hearty conclusion.
I am touched by the appeal You make. 1t
is true / am a friend of your race, and l
am clad to be assured that, in your opinion,
have held a consistent course in the Sen
ate and elsewhere as the special advocate
of your rights. That course, by the bless
ing of God, | mean to hold. I know your
infinite wrongs, and feel for them as though
they were my own.
You only DO me simple Justice when you
add belief that my counsel, at this critical
juncture of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan preju-
dice. In answering your inquiries, can
have no feeling except for your good, which
] most anxiOusly seek; nor can any prClu-
Aice Of any kind be allowed to interfere
the occasion is too sOlemn-and especially
is there no room for personal feeling or Tor
partisan prejudice.
IN y
cent for general welfare, therefore they
must be brought to the standard of truth,
that they may be seen in lite and act. You
are right in saying that the choice for the
Presidency is now narrowed down TO Presi-
dent Grant or Horace Greeley. One Of
these il to be taken, and assuming my
acquaintance with both, and my Obser-
walton of their lives, You invite my
Judgment between them, asking me es-
pecially which of the two, judging from
their antecedents, as well as present posi-
,t5on, would enforce the constitution and
laws, your civil and political rights, with
the most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigOr Here ! remark that in this inquiry
YOU naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. So do 1; believing most sincerely
that the best interests of the whole country
are associated with the complete recognition
of your rights, 50 that the two races shall
live together in mbrOzen harmony. l also
remark that you call attention to two
things the anteCedonts Of the two candi-
dates, and secondly, their present position.
You wish to know from these which gives
assurance of most heartfelt sympathy and
greatest vigOr in the maintenance of their
rights in other words, which, Judging from
the past will be your truest friend The
communication with which you have hon
Ored me- is not alone.
COlored fellow-citizeus in other parts of
the country. | may say, in nearly every
State of the Union, have made similar re-
quests, and some complain that ! have thus
far kept silent. ] am not insensiblc to this
appeal; but, if my opinion is given, It must
be candidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit l answer your inquiries, be-
ginning with the anteCedents Of the two
candidates.
Greeley was born in poverty, and edu-
Gated himself in a printing Office. Iresl-
dent Grant, fortunate in early patronage,
became a cadet at West Point, and was
educated at the public expense. One
started with nothing but industry and
a character the other started with II
military commission. One was trained as
q civilian, the other as a soldier Horace
Greeley stood forth as a retOrmeT and an
Abohtouist, President Grant enlisted as a
prOslavery Democrat, and, at the cleo
ton of James Buchanan, fortified 10y his
vote all prctentions of slavery, including
the bred Scott decision Horace Greeley,
from early life, was earnest and constant
against slavery, full of sympathy with the
c0lored race and always foremost in the
great battle for their rights President
Grant. except as a soldier, summunod bv
the terrible accident of war, never did any.
thing against slavery, nor has he, mt any
time, shown any sympathy with the col
Ored race. Horace Greeley earnestly de
sired thai our cOlored fellow-citizens should
vote, and ably championed impartial suf-
rage. President Grant was on the ether
side. Beyond these contrasts, which are
marked. it can not be forgotten that
Horace Greeley is a person of large
heart and large understanding trained
to the support Of human rights; always
ready for any good cause, and never de
TERED by opposition or reproach, as when
for long years he befriended your people.
Add to these the qualities conspicuous in
his life, his untiring industry, which leaves
no moment without its fruits: abundant
political knowledge and acquaintance with
history, the instinct and grasp of states
manship, an amiable nature a maguauim-
GUS soul, and above all, an honesty which
no suspicion has touched and you have a
brief pOrtraiture. These are the antecc-
dents of Horace Greeley. Few of these
things appear in the President. His great
success in war can not change the record of
Lis conduct toward your people, especially
IN contrast with the lifetime fidelity OF his
esmrelf.or: while there are unhappy antcce
dan.s showing dat in the prosecutions oi his
SLAMS. he ceres nothing for he cc,grcd race
sha s..rg usthfl but ig must -n told. 7
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