Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-08-10
SPEAKER BLAINE.
His Opinions OF Political Issue


The following letter has been addressed
to Senator Sumner by Speaker Blaine A:
AUGUSTA, Me, July 81, 1872.
Hon. Charles ,Sunner, United States Senator.
DEAR SIR: Your letter, published in the
papers of this morning, will create pro-
found pain and regret among your former
political friends throughout New England.
Your power TO injure Gen. Grant was eX-
haustcd in your remarkable speech in the
Senate. Your power to iniure yourself
was not fully exercised until you announced
an open alliance with the Southern seces-
siouists in their efforts to destroy the Re
publican party of the nation.
| have but recently read with much in
tcrest the circumstantial and minute ac-
count given by you in the fourth volume of
your works, Of the manner in which you
were struck down in the Senate chamber
in 1856 for defending the rights of the ne
gro. The Democratic party throughout the
South, and according to your own showing
TO some extent in the North also, approved
that assault upon you. Mr.. Toombs, of
Georgia, openly announced his approval of
it in the Senate, and jefferson Davis, four
months after its occurrence, wrote a letter
to South Carolina in fulsome eulogy of
Brooks for hariag so hedr{y tdLcn yOtT life.
1t is safe to say that every man in the
South who rejoiced over the attempt to
murder you was afterwards found in the
rebel conspiracy to murder the nation. 1t
is still safer to say that every one of them
who survives is to-day your fellow-laborer
in support of Horace Greeley. III 1856 he
would indeed have been rash prophet who
predicted your fast alliance, sixteen years
after, with MessIs. Toombs and Davis IN
their efforts to reinstate their own party in
power. In all the startling mutations of
American politics nothing so marvellous
has ever occurred in the fellowship of Ro-
bert Toombs, Jefferson Davis and Charles
Sumner in Joint effort to drive the Re-
publican party from power and hand over
the Government to practical control of
those who so recently sought to destroy it.
1t is of no avail for you TO take refuge
behind the Republican record Of Horace
Greeley. Conccding, for the sake of argu-
ment, las | do not in fact believel, that
Horace Greeley would remain firm in his
Republican principles, he would be power
less against the Congress that would come
into power with him in the event of his
election. We have had a recent and strik-
ing illustration in the case of Andrew
Johnson of the inability of the President TO
enforce policy against the will of Congress.
what more power would their be in Horace
Greeley to enforce a Republican policy
againt Democratic Congress than there
was in Andrew Johnson TO enforce Dem
ocatic policy against Republican Con-
gress ? And besides, Horace Greeley has
already, in his letter of acceptance, taken
ground practically against the Republican
doctrine SO often enforced by yourself, of
| the duty of the national government TO Sc
cure the rights of every citizen To protection
of life, person and property. In Mr.. Gree
| ley's letter accepting the Cincinnati nomi-
nation, he pleases every KuKluX william in
the South by repeating the Democratic
cant abou. ''lOcal sei-government," and
inveighing in good rebel parlance against
Capitalization, and finally declaring that
there shall be no Federal subvision
of the internal policy of the several States
and municipalities, but that each shall be
left free to enforce the rights and promote
the well-being Oft inhabitants by such
means as the judgment Of its own people
shall prescribe"
The meaning of all this in plain English
is that no matter how the colored citizens
of the South may be abused, wrOnged and
oppressed, Congress shall not interfere for
their protection. but leave them to the ten
der mercies of the "local selfgovernment''
administered by the white rebels. Do you
as friend to the colored man approve this
position of Mr.. Greeleyp
You cannot forget Mr.. Sumner, how Of
ten during the late session of Crogress you
conferred with me in regard to the posibil-
ity of having your civil rights bill passed
by the House. II was introduced by your
personal friend, Mr.. Hooper, and nothing
prevented its passage by the House except
the rancorous and factious hostility of the
Democratic members. If | have correctly