Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-31
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70 THE wOROEsTER DAILY sPN
Charles Summers Key Note"
He Would Make Horace Greeley Presi-
dent and ImPcach Grant for "Hiah
Grimes and MisdemeaROrs'' - Other
Things Equally Absurd,

He Would Make Horace Greeley Presi-
dent and ImPoach Grant for "Hiah
Grimes and MisdemeaROrs'' - Other
Things Equally Absurd,
WASHINGTON, July S0.-The following core.
spondence has taken place between Hon. Charles
Sumner and the cOlOred citizens of the United
States;
WASHINGTON, d. c., July II, 1872.
Sir,
We, the undersigned citizens of color, regard
ing you as the purest and best friend of our
race, admiring your consistent course In the
United States senate and elsewhere, as the spe-
cial advocate of our rights, and believing that
your counsel at this critical iuncturc, in the pc
liOd OF our citizenship, would be free from per-
sonal feeling aud partisan prejudice, have ven
tured to request your opinion as TO what action
the colored voters of the nation should take in
the presidential contest now pending.
The choice Of our people is now narrowed
down to Gen. Grant or Horace Greeley. Your
long acquaintance with both, and your obseI VA
tiOns, have enabled you to arrive at correct
conclusion As to which OF the candidates, judy
ing from their antecedents as well as their pres
ent position will if elected, enforce the require
ments of the constitution and the laws respect
ing our civil aud political rights with the most
heartfelt sympathy and the greatest vigor
We hope and trust YOU will favor us with such
reply as will serve TO cnlighten oNr minds Upon
this subject and impel our people TO go forward
in the right direction. Our confidence in your
Judgment is so firm that, in our opinion,
thousands of the intelligent cOored voters Of the
country will he guided in their action by your
statement and advice
Hoping 10 receive reply soon, We have the
honor to be, with great respect, your Obcdient
servants.
Signed by A. 7. Augusta, NJ D., David Fish
err Sr John H. Smith, aid others,
TO Hon. Charles SUMMER
MR.. stMNER's REPLY,
WASHINGTON, July 90, 1872.
Gentlemen and fellooC citizens:
If | have delayed answering your communca-
ton of July 18th, which was duly placed in my
hands by your committee, it Is not because the
proper course for yon seemed doubtful, but be-
cause wished to reflect upon ii and be aided
by the information which time might sup
ply. Since then | have carefully conSid-
cred the inquiries you have addressed me,
aud listened to much on both sides; but my
best Judgment is in harmony with my early
conclusion | am touched by the appeal you
make. 1t is true | am the friend of your race,
and am glad to he assured that in your Opin-
ion have held a consistent course in the senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate of your
rights. That course, by the blessing OF God |
mean to hold to so long as life lasts. | know
your infinite wrongs, and feel for them as my
own. You only do me simple Justice when you
add a belief that my counsel at this critical
juncture of your citizenship would be free from
personal feelings and partisan prejudices. In
answering your inquiries can have no feeling
except for your good, which | most anXiously
seek, nor can any prejudice of any kind be al
lowed to interfere The occasion is TOO solemn;
especially, il there no room for personal feeling
or for partisan prejudice No man or party can
expect power except for the general welfare,
Therefore thev must he brought to the standard
Nc hat hn i,,l ifa md nj
You are right in saying that the choice for the
presidency is now narrowed down" to Presi-
dent Grant or Horace Greeley. One of these is
to be taken, and assuming my acquaintance
with both and my observation OF their lives,
you invite my Judgment between them, asking
me especially which of the two-judgiug from
their antecedents as well as present position
would enforce the constitution and laws, sCcur-
ing your civil and political rights with the most
heartfelt sympathy and greatest vigor Here
remark, that in this inquiry you naturally put
your rights in the foreground. So do |, bcllev
ing most sincerely that the best interests of the
whole country are associated with the com
pletest recognition of your rights, so that the
two races shall live together in unbrOken
harmony. | also remark that you
call attention to two things, the "ante-
cedents" of the two candidates, and, secondly,
their "pTesent position" You wish to know
from these which gives assurance of the most
heartfelt sympathy and greatest vigOr in the
maintenance OF your rights; in other words,
which, Judging from the past, will be your
truest friend. The communication with which
you have hOnored me is not alone. COlored fell
low citizens in other parts of the county, may
say In nearly every state OF the union-have
made similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent am not inscnsible
to this appeal but, if my opinion is given, it
must be candidly, according 10 my conscience
In this spirit answer your inquiries, beginning
with the antecedents of the two candidates
Horace Greeley was born to poverty, and edu-
Gated himself in printing office. President
Grant, fortunate in early patronage, became a
cadet at West Point, and was educated at the
public expense. One started with nothing but
industry and character, the other started with
military commission. One was trained as a
civilian the other as soldier. Horace Greeley
stood forth as a reformer and an abolitiOnist
President Grant enlisted as prO-slaverY demo-
crat, and at the election of James Buchanan
fortified by his vote all the pretension Of slavery
including the bred Scott decision. Horace
Greeley, from early life, was constant against
slavery; full of sympathy with the colOred race,
and always foremost in the great battle for
their rights. President Grant, except as a sol
der, summoned by the terrible accident of war,
never did anything against slavery, nor has he
at any time shown any sympathy with the
cOlored race. Horace Greeley earnestly desired
that the cOlOrcd citizens should vote, and ably
Grant was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts, which are marked, it
cannot be forgotten that Horace Greeley is
person of large heart and large understanding,
trained to the support Of human lights, always
benefiCent with the poor, always ready for any
good cause and never deferred by opposition or
reproach; as when for long years he belriended
your people. Add to these qualities, conspicu-
GUS in his life, uniiring industry which leaves
no moment without its fruit, abundant political
knowledge, acquaintance with history, the in
Stinct and grasp of craftsmanship, an amiable
nature, magnanmous soul; and, above all,
an honesty which no suspicion mas touche d,
and you have a b.ief portraiture.
These are the anteccdents of Horace Greeley
Few OF these things appear in the president
His great record in the war and the honors he
has won cannot change the record of his con-
duct toward your people, especially in contrast
with the lifetime fidelity of his competitor,
while there are unhappy anteeedents showing
that in the prosecution of his plan he cares
nothing for the col0red race. The story is pain
ful, but it must be told. refer TO the outrage
he perpetratcd upon Hayti with its 800 900
blacks engaged in the great experiment of self
government. Here is most instructive antece-
dent, revealing beyond question his true nature
and the whole is attcsted by documentary evil
dence.
Conceiving the idea of annexing Dominica,
which is the Spanish part Of the island, and
war powers Of the government, in fragrant vio-
latiOn of the constitution; and then, at n great
expenditure of money, sent several armed ships
of the navy, including monitors, to maintain the
usurper Baez in power, that through him he
might obtain the coveted prizes Not content
with this audaclous dictatorship, he proceeded
TO strike at the independence Of the black re-
public in open menace of war; aud all without
the sanction of congress, to which is committed
the war making power. Sailing into the har-
Dor of Port au Prince with our most powerful
monitor, the Dictator" tproperly named for
the service) also the frigate Severn as consOrt,
and other monitors in their train, the admiral,
acting under instructions from Washington
proceeded to the executive mansion, accompa-
MED by the officers Of his squadron, and then,
pointing to tbs great war ships in sight from
the windows, dealt his menace Of war, threaten.
ing to sink or capture the Ilaytien ships. The
president was black not white. The
admiral would have done no such thing
to any white man; nor would our
country have tolerated such menace from
any government in the world. Here was indig-
nifty not only to the black republic, with its
population of 100000, but to the African race
everywhere; and especially in oar own country.
Nor did it end here For months the navy of
the United States was lowering on the coast,
Keeping that nsulted people in constant
anxiety, while President Grant was TO them like
hawk sailing in the air and ready to swoop
upon his prey. This heartlcss, cruel proceeding
found victim among our white iellow.citizens.