New-York tribune., 1872-08-16
LOCAL POLITICS.
ARGUMENTS FOR FREEDMEN


-. W. II saunders OF Baltimore and the
pov Henry Highland Garnett pastor OF Shiloh fresoy
tr,an Church In this city, which has been anticipated
for some tImo with interest by tho colored people
oYork was held last night In the large nan ol cooper
,,t Tho people began TO assemble at early hour,
ond before O'Clock the han was completep
anod, and q large number. unable 70 ma
avon sapding room inside, were clustered
unon tho sidewalk engaged ia earnest discussion
oI the question at issue. small portion OF the auehoo
consisted q white perhaps oneith ana tnosc oo
nuped for the most part positions in the rear anu a 'o
sides OF the hall Politically, the parties seemed po'!
evenly divided but Mr.. Garnoit had great advantage
I'm the personal sympatbes Of the audience Ae Is
man of great influence among the colored men OF lno
city by whom he is hOnOred and esteemed AH0 20
OF the audience plainly seon In the rceepuon VIZ"
uet the Two speakers they appeared on tho
that its existence plainly understood Deioronan w
made manifest by the request which Mr' u1rho'' "'
revous 10 the beginning of the exercises, hat DO o
,nopstraton should be INDUCED in which wouId pro'c'
Mr. Saunders from making fair presentation OF MS
case According 20 the prcarranged programme MI
saunders was TO have hour, after which MI GahoI'
was 70 have an hour and half Mr. Saunders making
short reply The programme was shortened, however,
and the meeting adjourned before 1880 p In
Tho sneakers differed greatly in their personal appear
npce and in the manner in which they presenter 'no
views MI Saunders is fne-lookng man, IN the Prime
of life and speaks with and grace. when no was
ipterruped by applause hsses was frequently the
ase he rayo evidence of embarrassment only IN one
instance requesting that his time, which was hnteo'
should not be consumed by his hearers. WDeh 10 io
viewed the career Of Mr. Greeley during the years III
which he was identified with AbOhtionSm' Whie "on'
Grant was voting the Democratic ticket; ana When no
eole Of Senator Sumner as the man who dd not kho"
1ov IN lac wrong he clearly had the quick sympalhes
OF his hearers, although thoso at to iH"'
OF the stage allowed no cheers to be gwen uh-
ACCOMPANIED by hisscs. Throughout the evening MI
Saunders kept his temper, once reDuKihg tho VuIOo'
norton OF the audience with the remark your actions
here tonight demonstrate that in the opinion OF many
- bich crime for black TO oppose Gen. Grant,,
and again saying know these are disaEreeaoe truths,
gentlemen, bat you have got to hear them' MS epeoo"
was ono Of fact and argument addressed to the 'e
gent Judgment OF his hearers.
Mr.. Garnett's reply presented singular contrast -
was addressed exclusively to the emotions OF DIS auu
ence and was made up entirely of sarcasm persona.
hits, and appeals to the passions OF the past n Ui
end Wilson Club, which ha6 marched INTO the Ia" e'S
I'm the evening TONED the bursts OF applause WIFI to
waving Of their banners anu al uule' iU''' '
Gus scene presented.
Fbe meeting was called 10 order precisely at p H.
.John j. sewel presided, and j. W. Hooden ac'cu as
Secretary The question for discussion was 'hen Io'o
as follows: ,
oancy of the United States and the ascendency OF the
Liberal party the reelection OK President
Grant and the continuance OF the Government OF the
Republican party will be the more conducive 10 the IN
terests Of society and equal civil rights the prosperity
OF the country and reconciliation of all classes oil
citizens Of the Republic without dlsuncuon oI race
color, or previous condition."
The Secretary while reading the question was inter
ruped several times by the applause and hsses OF tno
audience and Mr Garnett said be trusted his frlends
would refrain from any demonstration that would pre-
vent Mr.. Saunders from having fair hearing Mr
Saunders was then introduced and said;
SPEECH OF MR.. SAUNDERS.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF NEw-YORK; In my short expe-
tcDce "a an American citizen have become eOgDizGnt
of The fact that there exists In the minds Of some men
that in enjoyment of the rights Of citizenship per
son may think and act freely in part OF this glorious
Union This idea may be wild illusion In the minds OF
some people, but believe, nevertheless that CITIZEN
of the United States may presume even in tho City OF
EewYork to express his political preferences, and re-
ceive the respect Of his fcoW-ctzens. Applause We
are here tonight for the purpose OF indulgng IN
asperons upon mans character but TO express our
preference for those principles which seem TO us to be
the best for the people Of tho whole country
regret my inability to present properly the claims
upon our people Of that great and good man, the
etandard.bearer OF the Liberal Republican party.
ICheersl shall endeavOr however, 10 perform tnat
duty TO tho best Of my ability. have taken my sahd
with the men VINO are following in the grand old land
marks of Magma Charta and the Declaration OF indie
back to those principles which declare thai ali men
created free and equal and have right to the
enjoyment OF lfe liberty, and the pursuit happiness.
lAppausel stand upon platform which WlI bear
the scrutiny of any man. 10 matter what preHa;es or
vocate the claims OF man whose spotless record VIII
bear the crucial test OF honesty and integrity who for
more than quarter OF century has borne the banner
OF equal rights In the darkest hour OF our peril mat
Grand old man Horace Greeley has been with zap
pause and hissesl He may have Dundered but II has
always been side OF humanity.
When in 1854, the good Of this country went TO
Pittsburgh to form the Republican party, Horace
Greeley then upon his rOcz OF equal rights He had
pioneered the work 25 years before there live
Republican party IN the country Nhen the Kepu0lcan
parry its defeat In 1885, under the leadership OF Gen.
Fremont Horace Greeley with It, When it unfurled
It's banners Of freedom under tho leadership of
that sarnted maryr Lincoln and marched on
70 victory, Horace Greeley was also with IT, When the
Rebellion inaugurated, and the Republican party
which was an actual minority Of the American people
upon the election OF Mr. Lincoln merged lts existence
into what known as Union party Horace Greeley
prominent part in shaping It's policy In regard 20
the INST tutlOn OI slavery winch resulted IA emaAopd
ton. lApplauoe.J Slavery was abolished as war
measure, and not because the begun for that
object Wnen Mr. Lincoln found tnat negros hide was
suicenty thick 10 stop bullet, coored men were put
Into tho army. From the time tue coiored men entered
struck the shackes from tue limbs Of 100000 Of
party freed the slaves. believe that God abolished
Slavery through the nstrumentality Of both parties
Through the unswerying fidelity OF such Horace
Greeley aud Charles Sumner appsuse], the American
people were educated up " these measures justice,
and tho higher tone which the Republic to-day
eDd which hope 70 retain and improve upon by the
election Of Horace Greeley,
A TRIBUTE TO SUMNER.
Beside the gentleman who is the sandard.bearer Of
the Liberal Republican party there stands noble man.
a fearless and rreproachabe statesman, the Hon.
Charles Sumner applause who, % years ago. stood up
in the Supreme Court of the United States and defended
the rights OF poor dOwntrodden negro If Mr. Sumner
IS wrong am willing to be wrong WIN him' MI oum-
has STOOD by us every day OF MS lIIe. go
The Philadelphia platform SAYS that liberty and exact
equality the enjoyment OF civil and political rights
should be established and maintained throughout the
Union by appropriate legislation Now, tBat plat
form was Congress session and remained in
Songres and large majority of its members we're the
al 4