The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-31
WASHINGTON.
MIR. Sumner Declares for the ID cmcsratic


MIR. Sumner Declares for the ID cmosratie
Nominees.
wAsHrSaToH, July 3o.-In reply to letter
from several colored men, Mr.. Sumner has
written the following letter.
WAsHNorox, July 49, 1879.
Gentlemen and FeHow Citizens:-H I have
delayed answering your communication of
July 18th, which was duly placed in my hands
by your committee, it Is not because the proper
course for you seemed doubtful, but because
wished to reflect upon it, and be sided by tho
information which time might supply. Since
then have carefully considered the enquiries
you have addressed to mo and listened to much
on both sides, but my best Judgment is IN har-
mony with my early conclusion. 1 am touched
by the appeal you make 1t is time that am
the friend of your race and am glad to be as
sured that in your opinion have held . con-
slant course in the Senate and elsewhere as the
special advocate OF your rights. That course
by the blessing of God mean to hold so long
as life lasts. know your, great wrongs and
feel for them as my own. You only do me SIM
pie justice when you add belief that my
council at this critical juncture of your citizen
ship would be free from personal feelings and
partizan prejudice. In answering your tpquir-
les can have no feeling except for your good,
which most anxiously seek. Nor can any
prejudice Of any kind be allowed to. interfere
The occasion is too solemn especially is thero
no room for personal feeling or for partisan
"
except for the general welfare. Therefore they
must be brought to the standard of truth that
they may be seen in life act. e4
You are right in saying the choice for the
Presidency is now narrowed down to President
Grant or Horace Greeley. One of them is to
be taken, and assuming my acquaintance with
both and my observation OF their lines you in
vite my Judgement between them asking me
especially which OF the two, Judging from their
antecedents as well as present position. would
tba Dst t,,tio md ov, xyOyIr
civil and political rights with the most heart
felt, sympathy and greatest vigor. Here re-
mark that IN this inquiry, you naturally put
your rights in the foreground. So do l, believ-
ing most sincerely the best interests of the
whole country are associated with the COM
pletest recognition of your rights so that two
voices shall live together in unbroken harmony.
1 also remark that you call attention to two
things, the.antecedants of the two candidates
and second their present position you wish to
know from these which gives assuI ance of the
most heartfelt sympathy and greatest vigor, in
the maintenance of your rights; in other words.
which, Judging from the past will be your true
fried. The communication with which you
have honored me and not alone Colored fell
low citizens in other parts of the country,
may say in nearly every state of the union,
have made a similar request and some COM
plain that have thus far kept silent.
am not insensible to this appeal but il my
opinion is given it must be eandldly aocordlog-
ly 10 my conscience
In this spirit l answer your inquiries Begin
ming with the antecedents of the candidates.
Horace Greeley was born to poverty and edu-
Gated himself in a printing Office.
President Grant fortunate in early patronage
became a cadet at West Point and was educated
at the public expense One started with moth
ing but industry and . character The other
started with a military commission. One was
trained as a civilian; the other as q soldier
Horace Greeley stood forth as reformer and
aboiitionst President Grant enlisted as pro-
slavery Democrat, and at the ELECTION of James
Buchanan, fortified by his vote ali the preten-
sions of slavery, including the bred Scott de-
cision.
Horace Greeley from.early:life was earnest
and constant against slavery, full of sympathy
with the colored race and slwas foremost in the
great battle for their rights. President Grant,
except as o soldier, summoned By the terrible
accident of war, never did anything against
slavery, nor has he at any time shown any SYM
pathy with the colsred race. Horace Greeley
earnestly desired that the colored citizens should
vote and ably champoned impartial suffrage,
but President Grant was on the other side
Beyond these contrasts which we marked it
cannot be forgotten that Horace Greeley is a
person of large heart and large understanding,
trained to the support of human rights, always
| beneticent with the poor, always ready for any
good course and never deferred by opposition or
rcproach, as when for long years he befriended
| your people.