Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-08-20
MisteIlanp.
GARRISON VS.. SUMNER.


Dear Mr. SHmnsr - Though should
by strongly induced, by tho triondship
subsistiug between Us, to avoid taking a
position 4ntagoniStical 10 your own. uu
der ordinary circumstances, even il |
deemed il erroneous; yet al! personal
considerations must be subordinate 10 the
public welfare when seriously impericd.
You 10 not believe ia silence i'm = crisis
ike the present, nor DO /. In Your recent
letter 10 certain coIorod citizens o.! Wash
mgton, YOU have spoken plainly, yohe-
mently, and with rhetorical smpiiication
Quot for The first timc). in utter condcm-
nation of the President ui the United
S,2lss; and your advice to the whole
body OF colored voters is, that they con
cenIrale their suffrage upon rival can
didate in the person OF Horace Greeley.
In reviewing your letter propose to
speak with equal plainness. and ~ caru
estly. 10 counsel my colOred countT,mrn
not to follow your lead in this matter, but
IS vo.ers, to move unitedly for the re-
election oi President Grant, Tor every
consideration pertaining 10 their safety
and happiness. TO the cause OF equal
rights, and 10 the iurtherauce of national
peace and unity.
In spologizing for your delay in an.
swcring the letter OF inquiry referred 10.
you state that you wished TO be aided
by Information which time might supply
The kind OF information you desired or
expected 10 gain in the brief space OF
seventeen days is left TO conjecture but
in view of your long zvowed estrsnge-
meni from the present Chief Magistrate,
ii could not have been needed to intensity
your hostility to his administration. Your
reply is dalcd July 20, and il appears 10
have been as carefully timed to influence
the election in North Carolina, on the Isl
OF August, before any thing could be done
20 ueutralize its effect, as MAS your Grant
indictment speech in the Senate TO deter.
niue the action ei the Fhiladelphis Con
yention. These condolences may have
been accidental, but YOU must not be sur
prised, if, owing To The we'll known in
dammable state ol Jour mind, q general
belief obtains that YOU have unfairly
avaied yourself OF opportunities to wolk
fatal division in the republican ranks.
1t affords you much qualification
to be singled out by y0us Colored inter-
rogators aa 1.-The special advocate of lh-'-
--If
VIZ ~ "A sumption which
~'''VV' ,ell becoming modesty, should
have led you to disclaim, even if it was
meant only to descibe your Congression.
al career. Similar advocates have from
time 10 time stood brayely up, both in the
Senate and House OF Representatives
Wilson, Hale. Wade. Chase, Giddings.
Mann, Loyejoy, Julian. PSlfrey, Thadde-
us Stevens, Gerrit Smith and othsrs-who
it not As copious and ornste in speech as
yourself, have been AS untlinching. and
IN their turn. most bitterly denounced. to
say nothing Ol the thousands ol men and
women whose lot it Was to pass through
the heat and burden of the conflict. plead
in.. in season and out OF season, nearly
score of years before your voice was
heard in support of their holy cause. You
have since rendered eminent service to
that cause; your advocacy Of it has been
great and nieritorious; but TO claim it as
peculiar at this late day, rs though you
stood alone, and almost single handed, is
personal appropriation very far remov-
ed from self sbnegation and quite unwar-
ranted.
The republican party (the product of
thirty years moral and religious agita
ton for the overthrow of slavery has
crushed vast sectional rebellion for the
erection OF an independent slave empire !;
has emaneipated four millions OF bond.
men. and elevated them To the plane of
American citizenship; has reconstructed
the rebellious States on common con-
stitutiOnal basis, with universal liberty !;
has brought order out of chaos, general
tranquility out of wide spread disaffee-
ton. .unexampled prosperity out OF fright.
ful devastation; and has advanced the
banner OF liberty and equality far beyond
the expectation or hope OF any man living
ten years ago. Tho day has gone by.
therefore, for any one to exhibit remark.
able courage or eonspicuity in the advo-
cacy OF any measure in behalf Of the
rights and interests OF our colored popu-