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

WASHINGTON, -. Os July ~, lofl.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: 81
l am touched by the appeal you make. 1t 1e
true that am the friend OF your race, and l
am glad to be assured that in your opinion l
have held consistent course In the Senate
aud elsewhere as the special advocate OF your
rights. That course, by the blessing OF God.
I mean to hold 30 long as life lasts. know
own. own You only Do me simple justioe when
you add q belief that my counsel, at this crit-
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
In answering. your inquiries. I can have no
feeling except for your good, which most
anxioualy seek; nor can any prejudice OF any
kind be allowed to interfere. The occasion il
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 Gre eley. One of these 10 to bo taken;
and, assuming my acquaintance with both.
my, Judgment between them, asking me espe.
cially which OF the two, judging from their
antecedents. as we'll as present position,
would enforce the Constitution and laws, se-
curing your OWL 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. 80 40 l-oelieying most sincerely
are associated with the completest recognition
OF your rights, so that the two races shall live
together in unbroken harmony. I sso
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "anteceaents' OF the two candidates; and
secondly. their ''preseut position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance OF
the most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor in the maintenance Of your rights; in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your trueat friend.
The communication with which you have
zens In other parts Of the country, mag say
in nearly every State OF the Union, have made
q similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. lam not insensible
must be candidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the autecedents OF the candidates.
l. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be-
came q cadet at Weet Point and was educat-
ed at the public expense. One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started with military commission.
One was trained as civilian; the other as q
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist: President Grant en-
Listed l, as pro.slavery Democrat, and, at the
vote all the pretensions OF slavery, including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early life was earnest and constant
M G1 T the
great battlo for their rights. President
Grant, except as o soldier, summoned by tho
terrible accident Of war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has he at any time
ehown any sympathy with the colored raco.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colored
citizens ould vote and ably championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was Oh
the otherside. Beyond these contrasts, which
remarked, it cannot be forgotten that Horace
Greeley is a person OF large heart and largo
understanding, trained to tho support of
human rights, always beneficent with the
poor. always ready for any good cause, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for lorg years he befriended your peo.
pie. Add to these qualities, conspicuous in
his life, untiring industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
neutrality-suspicious. with history-the
instinct and grasp of statesmanship-an
amlaDie nature-a magnanlmous soul, and,
above all an honesty which no suspicion has
OF what are tho anteccdents OF Horace Gree
ley. Foey Of these things appear in the Pre-
sident. His great success in war, and the
honors4e has won, cannot!chsnge the record
OF his conduct toward your people, especially
in contrast with the lifetime fidelity Of his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
cedents" showing that in the prosecution Of
his plans he cares nothing for the colored
race. The story is painful, but it must be told.
refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hayti. with it's 100000 blacks, engaged in
the great experiment OF self-government.
Here Is most instructive ''antecedent." re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole is attested by documentary evil
dence. Conceiving the idea Of annexing Do
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