The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-13
Summer. Advice to tho colored People.


WARRINGTON, -. o.. July ~, 1877.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
am touched by the appeal you make. It is
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
and elsewhere as the special advocate Of your
rights. That course, by the b!essing OF God,
m can to hold 80 long as lifo lasts. know
your infinite wrongs, and feel them as for my
own. You only do me simple justice when
you add belief that my counsel, at this criti-
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
1n answering your inquiries. can have no
feeling except for your good, which most
anxiously seek; nor can any pr.judice Of any
kind be allowed to interfere. The occasion ia
too solemn. Especially ia 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
may be seen in life and act. You are right in
saying that the choice for the Presidency is
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One Of these is to bo taken;
and, assuming my acquaintance with both,
and my observation ot their lives, you invite
my judgment between them, asking me espe.
claily which OF the two, judging from their
antecedents. as we'll as present position,
would enforce the Constitution and laws, 60
curing your civil and political rights, with the
most heartfelt aympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. 80 do I-believing most sincerely
that the best interests OF the whole country
are associated with the completest recognition
Of your rights, 30 that the two races shall live
together in unbroken harmony. also re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "antecedents'' 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 truest friend.
The communication with which you have
honored me ls not alone. ColOred fellow.citi-
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. + am not insensible
to this appeal. But it my opinion is given, it
must be oandidly. according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the antecedents Of the candidates.
1. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
educated himself in a printing Office. Pres-
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 az civilian; the other as a
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
listed as pro.slavery Democrat, and, at the
election of James Buchanan, fortified by his
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
colorcd race, and always foremost in the
great battlo for their rights. President
Grant. except as q soldier, summoned by tho
terrible accident OF war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has he at any lime
ehown any sympathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colored
citizens should vote and ably championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the otherside. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, itcannot be forgotten that Horace
Greeley iB person Of large heart and largo
human rights, always beneficent with the
poor, always ready for any good cause, and
never deferred by opposition or reproach, as
when for long years he befriended your peo.
pie. Add to these qualities, conspicuous in
his life, untiring industry, which leavoe no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
knowledge with history-the
amlable nature-a magnanimous soul, and,
above all an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have a brief portraiture
Of what are the anteccdents Of Horace Gree
ley. Few Of these things appear in the Pre-
sldent. His great success in war, and the
honors he has won, cannotlchange 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 its 100000 blacks, engaged in
the great experiment OF self-government.
Here iB most instructive "antecedent," re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole is attested by documentary evil
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