The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-31
a r. TELE RAPH.
.AssooIAFED PRESS REPORT
Exclusively to the IntOlIlgencer.
(By the Western Union Line.
nee Northwest cor. Of Main and Monroe Of
MIR. SUMNER AND THE COLOR.
ED PEOPLE,

1
| WASHINGTON, July G0.-The iollowin
correspondence has taken place betwee
Hon. Charles Sumner and COlored citizer
OF the United States:
WASHINGTON, July IL, 1879.
SIR:-We, the undersigned citizens
color, regarding you as the purest an
best friend Of our race, admiring yot
consistent course in the United statt
Senate and elsewhere, as the special az
Vocate OF our rights, and believing you
counsel at this critical juncture in th
period Of our citizenship would be irc
from personal feeling and partizan preir
dice, have ventured TO request your opir
ion as to what action the colored voters {
the nation should take in the Presidents
contest now pending. The choice of on
people Is now narrowed down to Geners
Grant or Horace Greeley. Your long &c
quaintance with both and your observa
tton have enabled you 70 arrive at col
rect conclusion as 10 which OF the candi
dates, Judging from their antecedents a
well as their present position, will,
elected, ENFORCE the requirements OF th
Constitution and laws respecting ou
civil and political rights with tn
most heartfelt sympathy and greatest Wig
or. We hope and trust you will favor u
with such reply aswill serve to enlieht
en- our minds upon this subject and inlpe
our people to go forward in the right di
recion' Our confidence in your judgmen
is so firm that, in our opinion, thousand
OF intelligent colored voters OF the coun.
try will be guided in their action by YOU
statement and advice. Hoping toreceiv,
q reply soon we have the honor 10 be witt
great respect your obedient servants.
(Signed) t.
A. T. Auguste, David Fisher, sr., job,
II. Smith, Edward Grouse, VIM. F. A
Wormley, VIM. Wilson, Il. W. Tomp
klns, John Fl. Brown, Henry Tracy
w. Il. Bell, ]. @. A. Bowen, Jacol
Detwiler, Samuel Proctor, j. ]. Ketch.
pm, Charles A. Thomas, William II
Shorter, Henry Hill, Thurman ]
shadd, George D. Johnston, Christian
A. Fleetwood, Charles F. Bruce, David
Fisher; Jr., David King and William
Polkeny.
To Hon. Charles Sumner. @
Mr.. SUMNER TO THE co1oRED PEOPLE
WASHINGTON, July 81, 1872.
Gentlemen and teNow.citizenS i
II I have delayed answering your let,
ter Of July II, which was duly placed il
my hands by your committee, 1t is mo-
because the proper course for you seemed
doubtful, but because I wished to reflect
upon it and be aided by information
which time might supply. Since ther
l have carelully considered the inquiries
you have addressed me and listened tc
much on both sides, but my best iudg
menti is in harmony with my early con
Vietions. l am touched by the appea
you make. 1t is true I am friend t.
your race, and glad to be assured thai
in your opinion I have held constant
course in the Senate and elsewhere. As
q special advocate OF your rights, that
course, by the blessing Of God, l mean tc
hold SO long as life lasts. know your
infinite wrongs and feel for them as nv
own. You only do me simply justice
when you add q belief that my counsel at
this critical juncture, if your citizenship
would be free from personal feelings and
partisan prejudice. In answering your in
quiries can have no feeling except for
your good, which I most anxiously seek
nor can any prejudice OF any kind be
allowed to interfere. The occasion Is too
solemn, and especially Is there no room
for personal feeling or for partisan preju.
dice. No man or party can accept power
except for the general welfare, therefore
they must be brought to a standard
Of truth that they may be seen
in lie and act. YOU arc right in saying
that the choice for the presidency is now
narrowed down 10 President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One Of these is ID be
taken; and assuming my acquaintance
with both and my observations of their
lives, you invite my judgment between
them, asking me specially which Of the
two, Judging from their antecedcnts as
well as present position, would enforce
the constitution and laws, securing 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 fore
ground. So do /, believing most sin.
eerelY that the best interests of the
country are associated with the complct
est recognition OF your rights SO that the
two races shall draW together in unbrok-
en- harmony. 1also remark that you call
attention 10 two things; the antecedents
OF the two candidates, and secondly their
present position,syou wish to know from
these which gives the most heartfelt sym.
pathy and greatest vigor in maintaining
your rights, in other words, which, judg.
ing from the past, will be your truest
friend. The communication with which
you have honored mo is not alone. Colored
fellow citlzensin other parts fthe country,
/ may say in nearly every part of the Uni.
ted States, have made a similar request,
and some complain that l have thus far
kept silent. I am not insensible TO this
appeal, but ifmy opinion is given It must
be candidly and according to my con-
science In this spirit 1 answer your in.
quiry, beginning with the antecedents OF
the two candidates. Horace Greeley was
born in poverty and educated himself in a
printing office. President Grant fortu.
nately in early parentage became a cadet
at West Point and was educated at the
public expense. One started with nothing
but industry and a character; the other
started with military commission. Ono
was trained as a civilian, and the other as
a soldier Horace Greeley stood forth as
Q reFormer and Abolitionist. President
Grant enlisted as pro-slsvery Democrat,
and at the election OF James Buchanan
fortified by his vote all the pretensions Of
slavery, including the Dred Scott decision.
Horace Greeley from early life was earn.
est and constant against slavery, fully
sympathizing with the colored race and
always foremost in the great battle for
their rights.
President Grant, except as soldier
summoned by the terrible accident 81
war, never did anything against slavery
nor has he any time shown any sympa
thy with the colorcd race. Horace
Greeley earnestly desired that his colored
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