, 1872-11-01

In tAo aDeence Of our CHAIRMAN, W. u. oaun~
dsrs, take tho liberty OF addressing you on
the political issues presented us in this presi-
dental campaign. We nre, for the first time as
q body, about to cast our ballots Tor the Chief
officer in tho Government, and all will admit
the Importance that attaches to our action at
this timo. Never before in the history of our
country has there been presented ouch momen-
tous questions because they involve the very
existence Of free and honest government. I'm
til this time we, as people, have he'd class in
terests to look after, because re have hitherto
been deprived OF the most sacred rights of citi-
zens-the ballot. But to-day we stand FREQ and
disonthralled, clothed in the glorious habili-
ments Of freedom, and are the equals Of every
citizen Of the Republic.
We have no class interests now, our interests
being identical with those Of other citizens, and
the unity, peace, aud prosperity Of the country
should DO our aim henceforward. We have pre-
scented US for our auffrages that grand old cham
pion Of liberty, Horace Greeley, on platform
guaranteeing us forever in the enjoyment Of al
those rights which have accrued to ug as the
direct reEult of the rebellion. Besides this We
have the assurance of our distinguished and
faithful friend, Charles Sumner, that our best
interest and the good Of the whole country de-
pend on the election Of Horace Greeley to the
the past history Of both these patriots, and their
devotion to our people, which way We should
cast our ballots?
Tho campaign thus far has been carried on in
the most bitter partisan spirit, aud men who a
few months ago looked upon NIr. Greeley as q
model of virtue and honesty, now publicly de-
nounce him, for selfish reasons alone, as ono not
to be trusted. Even men of color, men from
whom much better was to be expected, enter the
lists against him, and proclaim him an uncertain
may be said Of Mr Greeley, NO all well know
that on those cardinal points which so much in
terest our people-civil rights, free labor, free
soil, and free men--Ir. Greeley has ever been
steadfast and inmoyable. holding exactly the
same position to-day that he has during his
whole public career, being as true as the needle
to the pole. We are always enabled to distin-
guish him foremost in that noble band Of heroes
who dared to incur the odium and obloquy
Of the nation by asserting fg. our r. Ilgnts Ito to
days when, by the decision Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, we had no rights
that white men were bound to respect; +" IN the
days OF tho Fugitive Slave law, when our people
were hunted like beasts, to return them to bond
age; when the groans of the captive we're as,
cending to heaven, crying, How, long, Q Lord!
how long shall these things be endured?'-it
WAS then that this noble man raised LIS volce
and ablo pen in our behalf, and Ill Will admit
there was not then the remotest possibility Of
our ever being able to make the least return for
his devotion. He advocated QUIZ rights to enter
the academies OF learning, our equality on the
public highways, in public houses and places OF
amusement, in fact, our perfect equality before
kI6 AaHa Ills juuIuHA Nd5 LIt fEI4E4t Uy h4AEA
all our complaints we're made known to the
people, aud many were the times that We re-
coived substantial aid from tho same source.
: Other reasons than these, however, should
gain him our support st this time. Honest Gov
ernment, freedom of opinion, FREQ speech IN the
public offices are things Of the past, and cen
t1alization OF power in the Executive menaces
tho very existence Of froe Government. The
purity Of the ballot is not preserved, thereby
making mockcry Of our republican form OF
HJ,a fn4n Ee-- aYta nj h7
South, shielded under the broad wings Of the
Administration, aro running tho land-holders by
creating pnblc debt in each State, which will
soon exceed the actual value Of the whole real
known as carpet-haggers, have ingratiated them
selves into the good graces Of the Ignorant peo-
pie, and being raised to high station in tie Gov
ernment, hare fastened their fangs upon the
public purse, and are flclinS thereirom without
the slightest return by way Of public improve
ment. No railway or public works, no
schoo1-houses in return for the vast millions OF
public debt. Backed By the immense influence
OF the present Administration, by United States
Marshals and the Presidents relatives, these
cormorants are feeding and the people are be-
ing ground down to the dust. The public Offices
are only so many perquisites for the friends Of
the President, loyalty to Grant being, rather
better qualification for Office than ability to dis
charge the duties Of the same. The Legislative
Branch of our Government has become so sub
eervient to the will Of the Executive as to en-
danger the liberties Of tho whole people.
In view OF these facts, let US not mistake up
on which side to cast our influence. Let Us not
be spell-bound and held in position by d name
only. Much good has been wrought under the
name Republican, but that name represented
principles as well as men, and when the party
chiefs violated their plighted faith and made the
party mere machine for the aggrandizement
and elevation of I. family, it became the duty Of
good citizens to unite in electing other men to
Office. With TINT view q, 600 good Republicans,
among whom were men Of our Own race. assem-
bled at Cincinnati and nominated Horace Gree
ley and B. Gratz Brown for President and wee
President Of the United States In SO doing
they undoubtedly had in view the best lnterests
Of the whole people,, and, in view OF
Mr. Greeley's past life, they undoubtedly e1-
pected large support from the % eototeu ar peop1e M
the 9th of July following, the Democratic party,
that party which had hitherto battled against
our rights, buried forever the old batt1c-a1e,
and enrolled themselves on the side Of liberty,
and, in token Of their sincerity, nominated the
black mans staunchest friends, Greeley and
Brown. But that act, sufficiently great and i'm
portant to our people, and'to the nation, to mark
distinct era in our History, and to be hencefor-
ward oommemorated by annual rejoicing and
Thanksgiving, fell fat upon the majority Of our
people, because the leaders Of the opposition
Immediately raised the cry Of insincerity. The
Democratic party can have no interest in going
back upon the record Of that day, for the great
SoNJ ~ IeoIA~ A1~s0 AC@.E o@AA~o
shown decisiyely that any party which opposes
the freedom Of a single citizen cannot succeed.
The best interest Of tho colorod people lies in
identifying themselves with every great party
and not in accepting as fact that our liberties
depend upon the success Of any one party. We
well remember the past achievements Of the Re-
publican party in our behalf, but ne also rcmem-
Der that Charles Sumner and Horace Greeley
we're with the party when they made their great
record. We also know that it WAS the efforts Of
Charles Sumner il the Senate and Horace Gree
ley in the Tribune Office that spurred the party
on, and that it was they who created that public
sentiment in favor, Of liberty and against
slavery extension that made it possible to
form the Republican party. Colored
citizens, let US throw our weight on the side Of
universal amnesty, for We cannot afford to build
up our rights on the ashes of any other citizens
Of the Republic. only asking for ourselves an
equal chance with others in the race of life, be-
ing satisfied to abide by whatever record We
may hereafter make with equality before the
law Remember tile advice Of our devoted
friend Sumner, and keep in view tho watchword
he gives us: ts!lhe unity Of the Republic, with
equal rights to all, and reconciliation"
SAarUEL R. ScorTRoN.
P. P.S.-Liberal Republican Committees and
C},,ls in every town arc re0uested to print this