The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-08-07
SENATOR SUMNER TO SPEAKER
BLAINE.
A Manly Reply to an Impertinen
Letter.

A Manly Reply to an ImPertinent
| Letter.
Senator Sumner thus replies to
Speaker Blaine:
WASHINGTON, August 5th, 1872.
DEAR SIR:-I have seen the letter
addressed to me by you through the
public prints, and | notice especially
that while animadvKrting upon my
support OF Horace Greeley, you say not
one word in vindication Of that CON-
pound Of pretensions known as Grant.
ism in contradistiuctiou 70 Republican,
ism, which you would install anew in
the Government. You are greatly con-
cerned about
THE COMPANY / KERP.
To Quiet your solicitude, beg TO say
that in joining the Republicans who
brought forward an original Abolition
ist, | find, with so many others devoted
to the cause have served always, that
| had not missed you until you has
tened to report absence, nor had l taken
account OF the Southern Secessionists,
who, as YOU aver, are now cooperating
with me in support OF this original
Abolitionist, except TO rejoice that II
among my former associates some, like
yourself, hesitate, their places are sup
piled in an unexpected quarter.
You entirely misunderstood me when
vou introduce an incident Of the past
and build on il an argument why |
should not support Horace Greeley.
What has Preston Brooks to do with
the Presidential election Never while
sufferer did anybody hear me speak
OF him in unkindness, and now after the
lapse OF more than half q generation |
will not unite with you in
DRAGGING HIN FROM THE GRAVE WHERE
HE SLEEPS .-..
to aggravate the passions Of political
conflict, and arrest the longing for cons
cord. And here is the essential differ
ence between you and me, at this junc>
tuie. | seize the opportunity to make
the equal rights OF all serve through
peace and reconciliation; but this inf
mite boon you would postpone. Seven
years have passed since we laid aside
our arms, but, unhappily, during all
this period there has been q hostile
feeling toward each other, while the
rights ofour colored fellow-citizens have
been in perpetual question. Seven
years mark natural period Of human
life. Should not the spirit be changed
with the body? Can we not, after seven
wears, commence a new lie, especially
when those once our foes repeat the
saying: "Thy people shall be my peo-
pie, and thy God my God" declare
my preference for an original abolition.
ist as President, and you Geek 10 create
division by crying out that Democrats
will support him. TO which | reply so
much the better" Their support is an
assurance that the cause he has 20 con.
stantly guarded, whether Of equal rights
or reconciliation, is accepted by the
Democrats, and this pledge Of true
union beyond anything in our history.
1t is victory Of ideas without which
all other victories must fail.
NOT ALLIED WITH JEFF. DAVIS.
To intensity your allegation you in
sist that / am ranged with Jefferson
Davis and Robert Toombs; but pardon
me-nobody knows how the former
will vote, while Robert Toombs is bois-
ferrous against Horace Greeley and with
him are Stephens, Wise and Moseby.
This is all very poor, and mention it
only to exhibit the character OF your
attempt. In the same spirit you seek
10 avoid the whole issue bv holding up
the possibility OF what you call Dem.
ocratic administration, and you have
the courage TO assert as within my
knowledge that by the election OF
Greeley Congress is handed over to the
control OF the party who have posi-
lively denied the rights OF the black
men. You say that know this. Mr..
Speaker, | know no such thing, and you
should be sufficiently thoughtful not 70
assert it. ] am entirely satisfied that 9
canvass like the present, where the
principles declared at Cincinnati are
openly accepted on one side and not
contested on the other, must result 10 q
larger number OF Congressiona! repre-
senratives sincerely devoted 70 the rights
OF the colored citizen than ever before
Democrats will be pledged. as never be.
fore, TO the ruling principle that
ALL MEN ARE EQUAL BEFORE TIE Law,
and also to the three Constitutional
amendments with the clause in each
empowering Congress TO enforce the
same by appropriate legislation. But
besides Democrats, there will be Liberal
Republicans pledged likewise. aud also
yourself, peculiar associates. who trust
will MT betray. Sc nstor and Repre-
sentatives, calling themselves Republi-
cans, have been latterly in large ma
jority in both Houses, but the fnsl
measure OF civil rights 10 which you
reler, though urged by me almost daily,
has failed to become law. les I lear
from Democratic opposition than from
Republican luke-usrmness and want oil
support in President Grant The issue
which people are called upon 10 decide
in November is on President, and no
body knows better than yourself that
the House Of Representatives chosen q,
the same time will naturally hsrmooize
with him. So il has been our history.
Now harmony with Horace Greeley in-
wolves wha, I most des;re. With such
President
CONGRESS WILL BIZ cHAyeED
| for the frst time since the war. The