The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-02

their train, the admlIal, ectlng unGer
instructions from Washington, proceed
panied by officers of bis squadron, and
then, pointing to the great war Iships in sight
| from the windows, dealt bis menace of war,
threatening to sink OF capture HayLien ships.
| The president was black, not Waite. The ad-
mIral would have done no such thing to any
white ruler, nor would our country have tol.
Grated such menace from any government In
the world. Here was indignty, not only to
the Black Republic, with lts population of
eight hundred thousand, but TO The African
race everywhere, and especially in our own
country. Nor did 1t end here. For months
the navy Of the United States was lowering
on the coast, keeping that insuited people In
to them like hawk sailing IN the air. and
ready 10 smuop upon his prey.
This heartless, cruel proceedings found O
victim among our white ielloH-cltizens. An
| excellent merchant of Connecticut, praised by
all who knew him, was plunged Into prison by
Bsez, where he was immured because 1t was
feared he would write againa the treaty of
annexation, and this captivity was prolong ged
| with the connlvance OF two agents of the
President, one of whom finds constant favor
with him and Is part OF the military ring I'M
| medlately about him. That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows tie little regard
of the President for human rights, whether
In white or black.
confess my trials, as wa. called to wit
| ness these things. Always supporter of the
administration, and sincerely desiring to labor
| with it, had never uttered q word with re-
gard to it except In Kindness NY early oppo-
sition to the treaty OF annexation was reserv-
ed, 30 that for some time my opinions were
unknown. 1t was only when Isaw the breach
of all law, human and divine, that was
| aroused, and then began the anger of the
President and of his rings, military and SEN
atorial. Devoted to the African race, felt
| for Them, besides being humbled, that the
great Republic, acting through Its President,
could set such an example, where the ma
tional constitution, international law and hu-
| manIty were all sacrificed. Especially was l
l moved when saw the indlgnly to the col
ored race which was as'accomplished by tramp.
| ling upon a fundamental principle of interna-
lional law, declaring the equally OF nations,
| as our Declaration OF Independence declares
the equality Of men.
This terrible transaction, which nobody can
defend, Is among the 'antecedents" Of Presl-
dent Grant, troE which you can Judge how
| much the coored race can rely upon bis
| "heartfelt sympathies." Nor can 1t be forgot
| ten that shortly afterward, on the return Of
| the commission from this Island, Hon. Frede-
rick Douglass, the coored orator, accomplish
ed In manners as ln eloquence, was thrust
away from the company oil the commissioners
of the common table OF the mall packet on the
Potomac, almost within sight of the Executive
Mansion, simply on account OF his color; but
the President, at whose Invitation he had
| joined the commission, never uttered q word
| in condemnation of this exclusion, and when
entertaining the returned commissioners at
dinners carefully omitted Mr.. Douglass, who
| was In Washington at the time, and thus re-
peated the indignity.
Other things might be mentioned, showing
1f tn DnasI k,fT
forget the civil rights bill, which Is the cap.
stone of that equality before the law 10 which
all are entitled, without distinction of color.
President Grant, who could lobby go assldll-
ously for his st. Domingo scheme, full Of
| wrongs TO the colored race, could do nothing
| for this benehcent measure. During long
session of Congress 1t was discussed constant
| ly, and the colored people everywhere hung
upon the debate; but there was no word OF
| .sheartfelt sympathy" from the President. At
last lust before the nominating convention he
addressed letter to meeting of colored fel-
| low -citizenB in Washington, called 10 advance
this cause, where he avoided the question by
declaring himself In favor of s'the exercise Of
those rights to which every citizen should be
colored people are Justly entitled to the rights
secured by the pending bill. understand
that Horace Greeley has been already assailed
by an impractica0le Democrat as friendly
to this bill; but nobody has llsped against
President Grant on this account.
Among "auLecedents," deem 1t my duty
to mention The little capacity or industry of
the President in protecting colored people,
and In assuring peace at the South. Nobody
can doubt that small portion of the effort
and earnest will, even witheut the lobbying,
40 freely given to the St. Domingo scheme,
would have averted those Ku.Klux Outrages
which We depore, so that there would haye
Deen no preLence for further Legislation by
Congress- But he was disabled both by CHAR
acter and the drawback OF his own conduct.
Alter violating the constitution and inlerna-
tional law 10 Insult the Dlack Republic, and
setting an example Of insuoordnation, ne was
not In condition to rebuke law-breakers.
III. Passing from s'antecedents," J" come now
to the spresent position" Of The two candi-
dates, which Is the subject pr your next In
qulry. II In any former particulars the two
are on an equality, yet IN all substantial re-
spects The obvious advantage Ia With Horace
Greeley.
Each was nominated by q Republican con-
yeuLton one ut Cincinnati and the other at
Philadelphia, 30 that In this respect they may
seem to be on On equality. But IL WILL not iall
| to be observed thai the convention at Clncln.
natl was composed Of able and acknowledged
Republicans, many OF Whom nave acleo Will
the party from its first formation, VINO, with
out previous organization, came together vol
UNFAIRLY for the sake oil reform and purity IN
the government; while, on the other hand,
| the convention at Philadelphia was composed
of delegates chosen largely under the inhu
ence of of1ce-holders, who assembled 10 sustain
what is known as GranLism, being The person.
al government and personal pretenslons OF
President Grant, involving nepotism, repay.
| ment of gifts by official patronage. neglect OF
public duty, absenteeism, military rule. dlsre-
gard of constitution and law, with general un-
| fitness aud indIguity to the colored racial
| OF which is 80 uurepublcan as TO make Its sup.
port Impossible for true Republicans. There
| fore, the convention OF Philadelphia, though
calling itself Republican, was less Republican
| In reality than that at Cincinnati.
| The two platforms, 80 far as concerns espe-
cially the colored race, are alike in substance,
| but that ofCinclnnati Is expressed In terms
most worthy OF the equal rights 1t states and
claims: 1--WE recognize the equality Ut all
men before the law, and hold That it ls the
duty of government iu Its dealings with the
people to mete out equal and exact justice 10
| all Of whatever nativity, race color or persua-
| sion, religious or political" In other respects
the platform Of Cincinnati Is the most Repub-
| lican, ipasmuch as 1t sets itself against those
unrepubllcan abuses which have been nursed
| by the President into perniclous activity
| From the two nominations and two plat.
| forms come TO the supporters OF the candi.
dates; and here look, first, at those immedi.
ately about them; and, secondly, at The popu,
| lar support behind.
| Horace Greeley has among his immediate
supporters, In all parts of the country, devot.