The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-07

tion, and then, at great expenditure Of
money, sent several armed ships Of the navy,
including monitors, to maintain the usurper
Baez In power, that through him ho might
obtain the coveted prize. Not content with
this audacious Dictatorship, ho proceeded to
strike at the independence Of the black re-
pubic by open menace OF war, and all with
out the sanction OF Congress-, to which is
committed the war making power. Sailing
into the hnrbor Of Port-au-Prince with our
most powerful monitor, the Dictator, proper
vern as consort and other monitors in their
train, the Admiral, acting under instructions
from Washington, proceeded to tho executive
mansion, accompanied by officers OF his
war ships in sight from the windows, dealt
his menace Of war, threatening to sink or
capture Haytien ships. The President WAS
black, not white. The Admiral would have
would our country have tolerated such me-
mace from any Government in the world.
Here was indignity not only to the black re-
public. with its population Of 800,0 900, but to
the African race everywhere, and especially
in our own country. Nor did it end here.
For months the navy OF the United States
was hovering on the coast, keeping that in
suited people in constant anxiety, while Pre-
sident Grant was to them like hawk sailing
in the air, and ready to swoop upon his prey.
This heartloes, cruel proceeding found vic
tim among our white fellow-citizens. An c1-
ccllcnt merchant OF Connecticut, praised by
by Baez where he was imm1red because it
was feared be would write against the treaty
OF annexion, and this captivity was prolonged
with the conniyance OF two agents of the Pre-
with him, and is part Of the military ring i'm
mediately about him. That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows the littlo regard
OF the President for human rights, whether
in white or black.
confess my trials, as was called to wit
ness these things. Always supporter OF the
Administration, and sincerely desiring to
labor with it, had never uttered word with
regard to it except in kindness. My early op-
position to the treaty OF annexation was re-
served, 80 that for some time my opinions
were unknown. 1t WAS only when saw the
breach OF all law, human and divine, that 1
President and Of his rings. military and sena-
torial. Devoted to the African race, felt for
them. besides being humbled that the great
republic. acting through it's President, could
set such an example, where the National
Constitution, International law and humanity
We're all sacrificed. Especially was 1 moved
when I saw the indignity to the colored race
which was accomplished by trampling upon
tundamental principle OF international law,
Declaring the equality Of nations, as our De-
olaration OF independence declares the equal
lty OF men. This terrible transaction, which
nobody can defend, is among the "antece.
dents" OF President Grant. from which you
can judge how much the colored race can rely
upon his heartfelt sympathes." Nor can it
be forgotten, that shortly afterward, on the
return OF the commission from this island,
Hon. Frederick rouglass, the colored orator,
accomplished in manners as in eloQuence, was
thrust away from the company OF the com
missioners ut the common table of the mail
packet on the Potomac, almost within sight of
the Executive Mansion, simply on account of
his color; but the President, at whose invita-
tion he had joined the commission, never ut
tered word in condemnation OF this exclu-
sion, and when entertaining the returned
commissioners at dinner, carefully omitted
MIR. Douglass, who was in Washington st the
time. and thus repeated the indignity. Other
things might be mentioned showing tho SYM
pathies Of tho President, but cannot forget
the civil rights bill, which is the cap-stone of
that equality before the law to which all are
dent Grant. who &C uld lobby so assiduously
for his St. Domingo scheme, full OF wrong to
the coored race, could do nothing for this
oenehcent measure, During long session
the colored people everywhere hung upon the
debate. but there WAS no word OF "hcartfclt
sympathy from the President. At last, Just be-
foro the nominating convention, he addressed
letter to meeting OF colored fellow citizens
in Washington, called to advance this cause,
where he avoided the question, by declaring
himself in favor OF "the exercise of those
rights to which every citizen should be Justly
people arc justly entitled to the rights &C.
cured by the pending bill. understand that
Horace Greeley has already been assailed BY
an impracticable Democrat as friendly to this
bill, but nobody has lisped against President
Grant on this account.
Among "antecedents," deem it my duty
to mention the little capacity or industry ..f
the President in protecting colored peo!.lc
and in assuring peace at the South. Nobody
can doubt that a small portion Of tho effort
and earnest will, even without tho lobbying
so freely given to tho San Domingo scheme,
would have avertod those Ku Klux outrages
which wo deplore, so that there would have
been no pretencc for further legislation by
Congress. But ho was disabled both by cha
racter and the drawback OF his own conduct.
After violating the Constitution and interna-
tional law to insult the black republic, and
setting an example of insuborjinatiun, he
WAS not in condition to rebuke law-br eak ers.
II. Passing from ''antecedents," I como
now to the "present position" OF the two can
didates, which is the subject OF your next in
quiry. II i'll any former particulars tho two
arc on an equality, yet in all substantial re-
spects the obvious advantage is with Horace
Greeley. Each was nominated by Republi-
can convention, one at Cincinnati and the
other at Philadelphia, 30 that in this respect
they may seem to DO on an equality. But it
will not fail to be observed that the conven-
ton at Cincinnati was composed OF able and
acknowledged Republicans. many Of whom
have acted with the party from its frst for
nation; who, without previous organization,
came together voluntarily for the sake OF re-
form and purity In the Government; while, on
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