The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-22

minica, which is the Spanish part Of tho
island, aud shrinking at nothing, he began
by seizing the war powers Of the Govern
ment, in hagrant violation OF the Constitu.
tion, and then, at great expenditure OF
money, sent several armed chips OF the navy, |
including monitors, to maintain the usurper |
Baez in power, that through him he might
this audacious Dictatorship, he proceeded to |
strike at tho independence of the black re-
public by open menace OF war, and all with |
out the sanction of Congress, to which is
committed the war.making power. Sailing
into tho hnrbor Of Port-au-p Prince with our
most powerful monitor, tho Dictator, proper
ly named for this service, also the frigate Sc
train, the Admiral, acting under instructions
from Washington, proceeded to tho executive
mansion, accompanied by officers OF lis
squadron, and then, pointing to the great
his menace Of war, threatening to sink or
capture Haytien ships. The President WAS
black, not white The Admiral would have
done no such thing to any white ruler nor
mace from any Government in the world.
Here Was indignity not only to the black re-
public, with its population of 800, 600, but to
the African race everywhere, and especially
in our own country. Nor did it end here
For months the navy OF tho United States
was lowering ON the coast, keeping that in
suited people i'll constant anxiety, while Pre-
Hident Grant was to them like a hawk sailing
| III the air, and ready to swoop upon his prey.
This heartloss, cruel proceeding found a vic
tim among our white fellow-citlzcns. An ex
| ccllcnt merchant Of Connecticut, praiscc by
| all who know him, was plunged into prison
| by Baez where he WAS lmmured because 1t
WAS feared he would write against the treaty
of annc1ion, and this captivity was prolonged
| sident, one OF whom finds constant favor
with him, and is part of the military ring i'm
mediately about him. That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows the little regard
I>R DrAoi fnr ht1n, n riui,f wi al
in white or black.
I confess my trials, as was called to wit
ness these things. Always supporter OF tho
| Administration, and sincerely desiring to
labor with it, had never uttered a word with
regard to it except in kindness. My carly op-
position to tho treaty OF annexation was re-
served, 80 that for some time my opinions
wero unknown. 1t WAS only when saw the
breach of all law, human and divine, that 1
was aroused, and then bega the anger OF the
President and of his rings, military and eena-
torial. Devoted to the African race, felt for
them, besides being humbled that the great
republic, acting through it's President, could
| act such an example, where tho National
| Constitution, international law and humanity
when saw tho indignity to the colored race
which was accomplished by trampling upon a
fundamental principle Of International law,
declaring the equality of nations. as our De
ity of men. This terrible transaction, which
nobody can defend, is among tho "antcce.
dents OF President Grant, from which you
can judge how much the colored race can rely
upon his ''heartfelt sympathies." Nor can 1t
be forgotten, that shortly afterwGrd on the
return of the commission from this island,
Hon. Frederick Douglass, the colored orator,
accomplished in manners sin eloquence, was
thrust away from the company Of the COM
missioners at the common table of the mail
packet on the Potomac, almost within sight OF
tho Executive Mansion, simply on account OF
his color; but tho President, at whose invita-
| ho cd ioin Tho l.
tered q word in condemnation OF this eXclu.
sion, and when entertaining tho returned
commissioners at dinner, carefully omitted
AIr. Douglass, who WAS in Washington at the
time, and thus repeated the indignity. Othel
things might bo mentioned showing tho sym
pathies of the President, but I cannot forget
tho civil rights bill, which is the cap-stonc o
that equality before the law to which all are
entitled, without distinction of color. Presi
dent Grant, who could lobby so assidnously
for his st. Domingo scheme. full of wrong. t.
the colorcd race, could do nothing Tor thls
beneficent measure. During long session
of Congress, it was discussed constantly, anC
the colored people everywhere hung upon tht
debate, but there was no word OF heartfelt
sympathy from the President. At last, Just be
} letter to . meeting OF colored fcllow-citizen'
in Washington. called to advance this cause
where ho avoided tho question, by declaring
: himself in favor of "the exercise Of those
rights to which every citizen should be justl,
entitled" leaving it uncertain whether coloret
people arc Justly entitled to the rights Sc
cured by the pending bill. understand tina
. Horace Greeley has already been assailed b,
an impracticable Democrat as friendly to this
bill, but nobody has lisped against Presiden
Grant on this account.
I Among ''antecedents," deem it my dut,
/ to mention the little capacity or industry o
Fthe President in protecting colol ed p upl'
and in assuring peace at the South. Nonod,
can doubt that small portion, pf the effort
, and earnest will, even withoutSSAe lobbying
: 30 freely given to the San DOmif}SA scheme
would have averted those Ku KluA ontragei
> which we deplore. 30 that there woald have
been no pretence for further legislation b,
> Congress. But he Was disabled both by cha
t raoter and the drawback OF his own conduct
After violating the Constitution and interna
tional law to insult the black republic, ant
setting an example OF insubordination, h'
was not in condition TO rebuke law-breakers
II. Passing from "antecedents." come
: now to the "present position" OF the two can
: didates, which ia the subject OF your next in
quiry. II in any FORMER particulars the two
0 are on an equality, yet in all substantial re
. spects the obvious advantage is With Horac!
\ Greeley. Each was nominated by q Republ
can convention, one at Cincinnati and th
: other at Philadelphia, 30 that In this reepec
Q they may seem to be on an equality. But
3 will not fail to be observed that the conven
3 tion at Cincinnati was composed of able ant
= acknowledged Republicans. many OF whom
t have acted with the party from it's fret for