The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-15
Charles summers Reply to Speaker Blaine.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 5, 1872

WASHINGTON, D. O., August 5, 1872.
DEAR SIR IL have seen the letter addressed
to me by you through the public prints, and
notice especially that, while animadverting up
on my support of Horace Greeley, you say not
one word in vindication of that compound OF
pretensions, known as Grantism, a contradic-
tion to the .Republicanism which you could
instil anew in the Government.
You are greatly concerned aboat the comPa-
nyI keep. To quiet your solicitnde beg leave
to say that in joining the Republicans who
brought forward an original Abolitionist, find
myself and so many others devoted to the cause
have served always, that had not missed
you until you fastened to report absence, nor
had I taken account of the Southern seces-
sionists, who, as you aver, are now co-opera-
ting with me in support of this original Aboll-
zionist, except to rejoice that If among former
associates some like yourself hesitate, their
places are supplied in an unexpected quarter.
You entirely misunderstood me when you in
troduce an incident of the past, and build on
It an argument why should not support Hor-
ace Greeley. What has Preston Brooks to do
with the Presidential election? Never while a
sufferer did anybody hear me speak Of him in
unkindness, and now for the lapse of more than
half a generation, will not unite with you in
dragging him from the grave where he sleeps,
to aggravate the passions of a political conflict,
and arrest the longing for concord. And here
is the essential difference between you and me
at this juncture. I seize the opportunity to
make the equal rights of all secure through
peace and reconciliation, but this infinite boon
you would postpone. Seven years have passed
since we laid aside our arms, but unhappliy
during all this period, there has been hostile
spirit towards each other, while the rights Of
colered fellow-citizens have been IN perpetual
ofn i0d
of human life, should not be spent nor the
spirit be changed with the body; it cannot af-
ter seven years commence new life, especially
when those once our foes, repeat the saying,
tThy people shall be my people; thy God my
God" I declare my preference for an original
Abolitionist as President, and you seem to Gre
ate division, by crying out that Democrats
will support him, to which reply, SC much che
better; their support is the assurance that che
cause ne has so constantly guarded, whether of
equal rights or reconciliation, is accepted by
Democrats, and this is the pledge of true
Union. Beyond anything in our history, it is
a victory of ideas, without which all other vic
tories must fail to intensity your allegation
Wis and Robert Toombs but pardon me, no.
body knows how the former will vote, while
Robert Toombs is boisterous against Horace
Greeley, and with him are Stephens, Wise, and
Mosby. This is all very poor and mention
it only to exhibit the character of your attempt.
In the same spirit you seek to avoid the real
issue, by holding up the possibility of what you
call q Democratic Administration ; and you
have the courage to assert, as within my knowl-
edge, that in the election of Horace Greeley
Congress is handed over to the control of the
party who have positively denied the rights OF
the black man.
You say, that know this, Mr.. Speaker. /
know no such thing, and you should be sutt-
ciently thoughtful not to assert it. L am en-
tirely satisfied that canvass like the present,
where the principles declared at Cincinnati are
openly accepted on one side, and not contested
on the other, must result in larger number OF
Congressional Republicans sincerely devoted
to the rights of the colored citizen, than ever
before. The Democrats will be pledged as nev-
er before to the ruling principle, that all men
are equal before the law, and also, to the three
Constitutional Amendments with the clause in
each, empowering Congress to enforce the same
by appropriate legislation. But besides Demo,
Gratis, there will be Liberal Republicans pledged
likewise, and also, your associates, who, trust
will not betray the cause.
Senators and Representatives calling them
selves Republicans have been latterly, In large
majority In both Houses, but the final measure
of civil rights to which you refer, though urged
by me almost daily, has failed to become law,
less fear from Democratic opposition than
from Republican lukewarmness and the want
of support in the Presidential chair The great
issue which the people are called to decide IN
November is on the President, and nobody
knows better than yourself that the House OF
Representatives chosen at the same time will
naturally harmonic with him. So it has been
in our history. Now harmony with peace free
ly involves what I most desire. With such q
President; Congress will be changed for the
first time since the war. The equal rights OF
all will have declared representative at the
head of the Government, whose presence there
will be of higher significance than that OF any
victor in war, being not only testimony, out
constant motive power in this great cause OF
oppression. .r ,h
cry will yield to the steady influence of such
representative, therefore, in looking to the
President look also to Congress, which will
take character, in large measure, from him.
In choosing Horace Greeley we do the best we
can for the whole Government, not only in the
Executive but in the Legislative branch; while
we decline to support nepotism, repayment of
personal gifts by official patronage, seizure OF
the war powers and indignities to the Black
Republicans, so various in capacity, as exhibi-
ted by the President and the rings by which he
governs, none of which you can defend.
You know we'll that the rings are already
condemned by the American people. For my
self say plainly and without hesitation that
prefer Horace Greeley with any Congress pos
ssible on the Cincinnati platform, TO President
Grant, with his pretensons and his rings, 8. vote
for whom involves the support of all his pre-
tensions, with prolonged power in all the rings.
There must be another influence and another
example. The Administration, in all its parts,
is impressed by the President. Let his soul
be enlarged with the sentiments of justice and
awakened by industry, and not only the two
houses of Congress, but the whole country will
feel the irresistible authority overspreading,
pervading and permeating everywhere. There
fore in proportion as you are earnest for the