The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-19
Sumner Replies 10 Blaine.

ulllNuuNeINlUB upull my hNplluIb VI AANlAAS
Greeley, you soy not one word in vindi.
cation Of that compound of pretensiOns
known as Grantisn, IN contradistinctiOn
to Republicanism, which You would In
stall anew in the Government, YOu are
greatly concerned about the company
keep. To quiet YOUR solicitude beg to
say thatin my Joining the Republicans who
brought forward an original aboltionist,
find myself with so many others devoted
to the cause have served always that |
had not missed you until you hasteHed to
report absence; nor had | taken account
ofthe "Southern secessionists" who, as
YOU aver. are now cooperating with me
In support of this original abOlitionist,
exoept TO rejoice that, ii among my for.
mcr associates some like yourself hesitate
their places are supplied In an unexpected
quarter. You entirely misunderstood me
when you introduce an incident Of the
past and build on It an argument why |
should not support Horace Greeley.
What has Preston Brooks to do with the
Presidential eeotioni Never while 3
sufferer did anybody hear me speak Of
him In unkindness, and now, after the
lapse of moro than half a generation, |
will not unite with you in dragging him
from tho grave where he sleeps to aggra.
vate the passions Of political conflict
and arrest the longing for concord. And
here Is tile essential difference between
you and me at this junCture. seize the
opportunity to make the equal rights Of
al secure through peace and recOncilia-
ton. but this infinite boon you would
postpone.
Seven years have passed since We laid
aside our arms; but unhappily during all
thisperiod there hnsNbeen u hostile spirit
towards each other, while the rights Of
colorcd iellow.citizcns have been in per-
petual question. Seven years mark Q
natural period OF human life. Should not
tho spirit be changed with the bOdy1
Can we not, after seven years, commence
a new life, especially when those once
our foes repeat the saying: "Thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my God. y
declare my preference for an original
abOlitionist as President, aud you seek to
create q diversion by crying out that
Democrats will support him; TO which I
reply, so much the better, their support Is
the Insurance that the cause ho has so
constantly guarded, whether Of equal
rights or reconciliation, Is accepted by
Democrats, and this Is the pledge Of a
true union beyond ANYTHING in our history.
II Is a victory Of ideas, without which all
other victories must fall. To intensity
your allegation, you insist that I am
ranged with jefferson Davis and Robert
TOOmbs; but pardon me, nobody knows
how the former will vote, while Robert
TOOmbs Is bOisterous against Horace
Greeley, and with him are Stephens Wise,
and MOsby. This Is all very poor, and |
mention it only to exhibit the character
Of yOnr attempt. In the same spirit you
seek to avoid the real issue by holding up
the possibility Ofwhat You call q Democrat
10 Administration, and you have the cour-
nge to assert as within my knowledge that
by the election of Greeley Congress is
handed over to the control of the party
who have positively denied the rights Of
tho black man.
You say that know this. Mr.. Speaker
| know no such thing, and you should be
sufficiently thoughtful not to assert Il. |
am entirely satisfied that canvass like
the present, where the prime pies declared
al CincinnatfAre openly accepted on one
side and not contested on the other, must
result in larger number Of CongressioIa al
representatiYes sincerely devoted to the
rights of the colored citizens than ever
before. The Democrats will be pledged
as never before TO tberuling principle that
All men are equal before tile law, and also
10 the three constitutional amendments,
will the clause In each empowering Con.
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