New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-29

and your Republican compeers, looking to the
| protection of colored citizens in their rights
and immunities In this Government?
Neither the word nor the bond of the De-
mocracy is sufficient to cause US to forget the
war OF prescription they have waged so Bit
terly against US, and which would inevitably
have been successful, had it not been for the
strong arm of the Federal power. welded by
President Grant and Republican Congress.
We, as intelligent and considerate citizens
OF this country, recognize the necessity Of two
political parties extending throughout the
whole United States.
They should be properly organized and con-
Quoted with good sense and good temper, each
respecting the rights of the other. Thus they
naturally become checks and guards to each
other against the abuse of political power.
They bring into discussion before the people,
both sides of all questions which underlie
their institutions and welfare, and in this way
become the conservators of civil liberty.
Therefore we would not, if we had the power,
annihilate the Democratic party, but in the
present unsettled condition of our rights, we
appeal to every friend of justice and lover of
equality, to unite with US in support of the
men and the party, who have taught us by
their past deeds, as we'll as present promises
that they regard the rights of men as para
mount to party prejudices. and political pre-
ferences. We, as colored men, and as citi-
zens to whom the Republican party has vouch-
safed all the political privileges we enjoy, and
as men who support great principles, rather
than the private prejudices of the disaffected
politicians, feel constrained by the principles
of gratitude, political polty, and even-handed
justice to support for the Chief Magistracy of
this nation, Ulysses S. Grant, and associate
with him Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts.
:,,Io <In o.l,>,., go
ton of President Grant, and have full faith
in his integrity, justice, and practical states
manship. His course during this entire adj
ministration has been such as to lead us to
regard him as a true exponent of the equal
rights of all men.
We regard the allusOn you make to the
President, in regard to the indignity passed
upon our worthy friend and brother, Hon.
Frederick Douglass, while on board the mail
steamer on the Potomac, in company with
the San Domingo Commissioners, as truly far
fetched; especially do we so regard it, when
we find you in such short time so enthusi-
astically urging us to form political alliances
with the very men who defeated your bill in
Congress, which, if passed and carried into
effect, would have thoroughly prevented such
indignities, not only toward our worthy fell
low-citizen on the particular occasion referred
to, but on all other occasions as they are
perpetrated upon him and us by the identical
men you tell us have changed"
Honored sir, for many years we have re-
garded you as a true exponent of the princi-
Piles of liberty, equal rights, and free govern
ment, and such an impression has your teach
ings made upon our minds, that now we
choose rather to follow these noble principles
you have hitherto taught us, than to follow
you into the rank and file Of the Democratic
party.
You uttered the precise sentiment of every
intelligent and unbiased colored man, North
or South, when you said in one of your famous
speeches on reconstruction, during Andrew
Johnson's administration, "it will not do to
trust the rebel politically"
AS colored citizens of the South we speak
what we know when we say to you, that for
us to follow your advice, and support the So
called Liberal Republican nominees for Pres-
dent and Vice President in the coming CAM
paign, would be to imperil every right secured
to us as the legitimate results of the war.
| Therefore, Mr.. Sumner, in parting company
| politically, we say 10 you in reference to your
newly espoused associates, in the language
of Shakespeare:
Thou highest hold serpent by the tongue,
| A skinless lion by the mortal paw,
A fasting tiger by the tooth,
AS hold in friendship, the hand which thou
| dost hold"
Sincerely yours,
SAMUEL LowERY, Chairman.
! MOSES X. JOHNSTON,
T. j. BELL,
d. l.. LAPSLEY,