Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-08-08
SUMMERS REPLY.
wAsuIsaroS. July 20, 1872.

Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens: IF I
have delayed answering your communi-
cation of July IL. which vas duly placed
in my hands by your committee. it is not.
because the prorer course for YOU seemed
doubtful. but because | wished to reflect
uron it md be able by the Information
which time might supply. Since then
have carefully considered the inquiries you
have addressed me aud listened to much
on both sides. But my best jud gment now
is in harmony with my early conclusion.
| am touched hv the appeal you make
II is true that am the friend Of your
race. and | am glad to be assured that in
your opinion have held q consistent,
course in the Senate and elsewhere rs the
special advocate Of your rights. That
course. BY the blessing Of God. l mean to
hold 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 belief that my counsel At this cri'i-
cal juncture Of yonr citizenship would be
free from personal feelings and partisan
prejudice. In answering your inquiries |
can have no feeling except for your good
which most anxiously seek. nor can any
prejudice Of any kind be allowed to inter-
fere. The occasion is too solemn. Es-
pecially is there no room for personal feel.
ing or for partisan prejudice. No man or
party can expcc, power except for the gen.
eral welfare. Therefore, they must be
brought to the standard Of truth. that they
may be seen in life and act
You are right in saying tha. the choice
for the Presidency is now narrowed
down" to President Grant and Horace
Greeley. One Of these Is to be taken /;
and assuming my acquaintance with both
and my observation Of their lives, you iu-
vi.e my judgment between them. asking
me especially which Of the two. judg gius
from their antecedents. as we'll as present
position. would enforce the Constitution
and the laws. securing your civil and po-
htical rights. with the most heartfelt sym
paihy and the greatest vieor. Here re-
mark that. in this inquiry. You naturally
Put ycur rights in the foreground. So do
|. Believing most sincerely that the best
interests Of the whole country are associ.
ated with the complctest recognition al
your rights. 90 that the two races shall
live together in unbroken harmony.
also remark that you call attention TO swo
things. the ..antecrdenss" Of the two can.
didates. and. secondly. their ..present po-
sition" You wish 10 know from those
which give assurance Of the most heart.
felt sympathy aud greatest sigor in the
maintenance Of your rights. In Other
words. which. Judging from the rass. will
be your truest friend. The communics.
ton With which YOU have hOnorcd me il
not alone. Co,ored fellow-eifisens in 9th.
er parts Of the country. may say neari,
every State Of the Union. have made 9
similar request. and GONE eo:nplaiD that
hare thus far kept silent. / am not ir.
sensible to this appeal. Blu, If my opin
Ion is given il must Be candidly. accord
ing to ny conscience. 10 this spirit an
swer your inquiries. beginning with Ii.
spteeedents Of the two candidates.
1ns AyrscEpKxrs or THE cAxpIpArn.
Horace Greeley was born to poverty ani
educated hinsclf in printing oise..
F.! Prssidsns Grant, forsunsss in early %
sronage. became . cadet st West Pciu
and ~ss edscssed as the ratlic expense