Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-08-07
SPEAKER BLAINE's LETTER.


Hon. james G. Blaine Speaker of the
House of Representatives, who has been at
all times steadfast friend of the colored
man, has written letter to Hon. Charles"
Sumner. He said
Your letter, published in the papers Of this
morning, will create profound pain and regret
among your former political friends throughout
New England. Your power to iniure Gen.
Grant was exhausted in your remarkable speech
in the Senate. Y our power to iniure YOURSELF
was not fully exercised until you announced an
open alliance with the Southern secessionists in ,
their efforts to destroy the Republican party of
the nation.
He then argues that the effect of Mr..
Summers position, taken in his letter, will
be to turn the colored men of the South
over to the tender merces of Democratic
local governments, and says:
You can not forget Mr.. Summer how often,
during the late session of Congress you con-
ferred with me in regard to the possibility OF
having your Civil Rights bill passed by the
House. 1t was introduced by your personal
friend Mr., Hooper, and nothing prevented its
passage by the House except the rancorous and
factious hostility of the Democratic members.
If have correctly examined the Globe tho
Democratic members on Screnteen different oc-
casionS resisted the passage Of the Civil Rights
bill by the parliamentary process known rs fill
II
come to a vote. Two intelligent eolored mem
bers from South Carolina, Elliott and Raney,
begged of the Democratic side of the House to
merely allow the Civil Rights bill to be voted
on, ana they were answered with denial so
absolute that it amounted to a scornful jeer Of
the rights of the colored man. And now you
lend your voice and influence to the reelection.
OF these Democratic members who are co-operat-
ing with you in the support of Mr.. Greeley. Do
you not know, Mr.. Sumner, and will you not
AS candid man acknowledge, that with these
men in power in Congress, the rights of the
co!ored men are absolutely sacrificed SO far n
those rights depend on Federal legislation,
He closes with the following pointed re-
marks:
When, therefore, You point out to the COLOR
ed men that their rights will be safe in the
hands of the Democratic party, you delude and
misead them-I do not say willfully, but none
the less really. The small handful Of Republi-
cans-compared with the whole mass-who
over to the Democratic party, can not leaven
that lump Of political unsoundncss even if you
preserve your own original principles in the
contract The Administration of Mr. Greeley,
therefore, should he be elected, would be in,
the whole and in detail a Democratic Admins
tration, and you would be compelled to go with
the current or repent and turn back when too
late to mend the evil you had done. Your ar
gument that Horace Greeley does not become "a
Democrat by receiving Democratic votes-il-
Illustrating it by the analogy of your own cleo
ton to the Senate-is hardly pertinent The e
point is, not what Mr.. Greeley will became per-
sonally, but what will be the complexion of the
great legislative branch of the Government
with all its vast and controlling power You.
know very well. Mr.. Sumner that if Mr.. Gree
ley is elected President, Congress is handed
over to the control of the party who have per-
sistently denied the rights of the black man.
W hat course you will pursue toward the color
ed man is of small consequence after you have
transferred the power of the Government to his
enemy.
The colored men of this country are not as n.
class enlightened, but they have wonderful in
stincts, and when they read your letter they
will know that at great crisis in their fate you
deserted them. Charles Sumner cooperating
with Jefferson Davis is not the same Charles
Sumner they have hitherto idolized-any more
than Horace Greeley, cheered to the echo in T.,
Tammany Hail. is the same Horace Greeley
whom the Republicans have hitherto trusted.
The black men of this country will never be UNI
grateful for what your have done for them in
the past-nor in the bitterness of their hearts,
will they ever forget that hatred and blinded
by personal hatred of one man, you turned your
back on the millions to whom in past years you,
have stood as a shield and bulwark of defense !"