The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-16

ment. in isgrant violation OF the Constitu-
ZION, and then, at great expenditure OF
money, sent several armed ships Of the navy.
including monitors, to maintain the usurper
Baez in power, that through him lie might
obtain the coveted priZo. Not content with
this audacious Dictatorship, he proceeded to
strike at the independence Of tho black re-
public by open menace Of war, and all with
out the sanction of Congress-, to which il
committed the war making power. Sailing
into the hnrbor Of Port-au-Prince with our
| ~ named for this service, also the frigate Sc
vern as consort and other monitors in their
train, the Admiral, acting under Instructions
from Washington, proceeded to the executive
mansion, accompanied by officers OF hs
squadron. and then, pointing to the great
war ships in sight from the windows dealt
his menace of war. threatening to sink or
eot HsEen shit SHIPS Ibe President was
done no such thing to any white ruler, nor
would our country have tolerated such me-
mace from any Government in the world.
Here was indignity not Only to tho black re-
the African race everywhere, and especially
in our own country. Nor did it end hero.
For months the navy OF the United States
was hovering on the coast, keeping that in
suited people in constant anxiety, while Pro-
sident Grant was to them like hawk sailing
IN the air, and ready to swoop upon his prey.
This heartless, cruel proceeding found u vic
tim among our white fellow citizens. An ex-
ccllcnt merchant OF Connecticut, praise by
all who know him, WAS plunged into prison
by Batz, where he was immured because ii
was fenrod he would write against the tire atty
OF annexion, and this captivity was prnlong ed
with the connivance Of two agents Of tho Pro-
| sident, one OF whom finds const ant favor
! with him, and Ia part Of tho military ring i'm
mediately about him. That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows the little regard
Of the President for human rights whether
in white or black.
I confess my trials, ns was called to wit
ness these things. Always support er of the
Administration. and sincerely desiring to
labor with it, had never uttered word with
regard to it except in kindness. My early op
position to the treaty OF annexation was re-
were unknown. 1t WAS only when saw the
breach OF all law, human and divine, that
was aroused, and then began the anger OF the
President and Of his rings, military and sena-
| t0rial. Devoted to the African race, 1 felt for
them. besides being humbled that tho great
| republic, acting through it's President. could
set such an example. where tho National
Constitution. international law and humanity
when saw the indignity to the colored race
which WIS accomplished by trampling upon Il
fundamental principle of international law,
declaring the equality Of Dations, as our De-
caration of independence declares tho eGuul
ity of men. This terrible transaction. which
nobody can defend, is among tho "antccc
dents" OF President Grant. from which YOU
can judge how much the colored race can rely
be forgotten, that shortly afterwaId, on the
return of the comniesion from this island,
Hon. Frederick ouglas the colured orator,
accomplished in manners asin eloqucncc, was
thrust away frIm tho company 1T the COM
miesoners ut the common table Of the mail
packet OH tho Potomac, almost within sight 0t
the Executive Mansion, simply on account of
his color; but the President, at whose invita-
tion he had joined the commission, never ut
tered a word i'll condemnation of this cxclu
sion, and VIXEN entertaining the returned
commissioners at dinner, carefully omitted
Mr.. Douglass, who was in Washington ut the
time and thus repeated the indignity. Other
things might be mentioned showing tho SYM
pathies of the President, but cannot forget
the civil rights bill, which is the cap stone of
that equality before the law to which all are
entitled, without distinction OF color. Presi-
dent Grant, who Q, uld lobby 80 assiduously
for his 1T. Domingo scheme. full of wrong to
the colored race, could do nothing for this
beneicent measure. During lon., session
the colored people everywhere hung upon the
debate. but there was no word Of ''heartfelt
sympathy from the President. At last, just be-
fore the nominating convention, he addressed
in Washington. called to advance this cause,
whore he avoided the question, by declaring
himself in favor Of "the exc, se Of those
rights to which every citizen Id be justly
people arc justly entitled to - rights se-
cured by the pending bill. un arstaDd that
Horace Greeley has already been aseailed by
an impracticable Democrat as friendly to this
bill, but nobody has lisped against President
Grant on this account.
Among "nntecedents," deem it my duty
to mention the little capacity or industry Of
the President in protecting coiored p nplc
and i'll assuring peace at tho South. Nobody
can doubt that q small portion OF tho effort
and earnest will, even without the lobbying
| 30 freely given to the San Domingo achemo.
would have averted those Ku Klux outrages
which we deplore. 30 that there would have
been no pretence for further legislation by
Congress. But ho was disabled both by cha
ractor and the drawback OF his own conduct.
After violating the Constitution and interna-
tional law to insult the black republic, and
aettipg an example OF characterization, he
was not in condition TO rebuke law-breakers.
ii. Passing from "antecedents." l como
now to the ''present position" OF the two CAN
didates, which is tire subject ut yonr mex. in
quiry. II in any former particulars tho two
are on an equality, yet in all rubst antiai re-
spects ths obvious advantage is With Horace
Greeley. Each was nominated by RepubH-
can convention, ono At Cincinnati and the
other at Philadelphia, so that in THE respect
they may seem to he Oh AL equality. But 1t
will not fail to b0 observed that the conyen-
ton 1t Cincinnati WAS composed OF able and
acknowledged Republicans. many OF whom
have acted with the party from it's first for
nation, who, without previous organization,
came together voluntarily for the sake OF re-
| form aud purity Ill tle Government; while, on
the other hand, the convention at Philadcl-
phia WAS composed OF delegates chosen
In ryolS. ~ .1,p1I