The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-15
Summers Advice to the colorcd People.


GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: =
am touched by the appeal you make. It 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 as 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 them as for my
own. You only do me simple Justice when
you add a belief that my counsel, at this criti.
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan pref udico.
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 interfere. Tie occasion is
too solemn. Especially is there no room for
personal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
NO man or party can expect power except for
the general welfare; therefore, they must be
brought to the standard of truth, that they
saying that the choice for the Presidency is
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One OF these Is to be taken;
ana, assuming my acquaintance with both.
my Judgment between them, asking me espe-
cialiy which Of the two, judging from their
antecedents. as we'll as present position,
would enforce the Constitution and laws. Sc
curing. your civil and political rights, with the
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. So do I-believing most sincerely
that the best interests Of the whole country
are associated with the completest recognition
OF Vour rights, 30 that the two races shall live
together in unbroken harmony. I klso re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
the ''Antecedents' Of the two candidates; and
secondly. their ''present position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance OF
the moet heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor In the maintenance of your rights in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your trueet friend.
The communication With which you have
zens in other parts Of the country, may say
in nearly every State Of the Union, have made
similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. lam not insensible
must be canddly. according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your Inquiries, begin
ming with the antecedents OF the candidates.
l. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
educated himsolf in printing Office. Presi-
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be-
came cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public expense. One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started with a military commission.
One was trained as civilian; the other as
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist: President Grant en-
election Of James Buch hanan, fortified by lis
vote all the pretensions OF slavery, including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early life WAS earnest and constant
against slavery, full OF sympathy with the
colored race, and always foremost in the
great batrlo for their rights. President
Grant. except q soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident OF war, never did anything
against slavery. nor has ho at any time
shown any epmpathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that cnlored
citizens should vote and ably championcd i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the other side. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, 1t cannot be forgotten that Horace
Greeley is q person Of large heart and largo
understanding, trained to the support OF
human rights, always beneficent with the
poor. always ready for any good canse, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years ho befriended your peo.
pie. Add to those qualities, conspicuous in
his life. untiring industry, which leavur no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
knowledge-acquaintance with history-the
instinct and grasp OF statesmanship
amiable naturs-a magnanimous SOUL and.
above all, an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have brief portraiture
Of what are the anteccdents OF Hon ace Gree
ley. Few Of these things appear in tho Pre-
sident. His great success in war, and the
honors he has won, cannot.chapge the record
Of his conduct toward your people. especially
in contrast with the lifetime delity Of his
competitor. while there arc unhappy "antc.
cedents" showing that in the prosecution OF
his plane he cares nothing for the colored
race. The story Is painful but it must be told.
refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hnyti, with its 800,0t0 blacks, engaged in
the great experiment OF self government
Here iB most instructive ''anttcedcnt," ro.
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
t he whole is attested by documentary evil