The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-10
Summers Advice to the Coiored People.
WAeuINaToN d. O. July % 1872

sumne,'s Advice to the Coiored People.
WAeuINeToN. D. c.. July 20. 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
am touched by the appeal you mako. 1t ia
true that am the friend OF your race, and
am glad to be assured that in your opinion l
have held a consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate OF your
rights. That course, by the blessing or God,
mean to hold 30 long rs life lasts. l 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 FREQ
from personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
In .answerinR your inquiries. I oan have no
feeling except for your good, which / most
kind be allowed to interfere. The occasion is
too solemn. Especially is thero no room for
personal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
NO man or party can expect power except for
the general welfare; thHrefore, they must be
brought to tho standard OF truth, that they
MAY be seen in life and a. ct. You are right in
saying that the choice for the Presidency ia
now narrowed down to President Grant or
Horace Greeley. One Of these Is to DO taken;
and my observation OF their lives, you invite
my judgment between them, asking mo espe.
cially which OF the two, judging from their
would enforce tho Constitution and laws, Sc
curing your civil and political rights, with the
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Here remark that, in'ithis inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in tho fore
ground. So do I-belicv:ng most sincerely
that the best interests Of the whole country
arc associated With the completest recognition
OF your rights, 80 that The two races shall live
together in. unbroken harmony. I also re-
mark that you call attention to two things,
tho "anteoedents'' OF the two candidates; and
secondly, their present position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance Of
the most heartfelt sympathy and greateet
yigor in the maintenance Of your rights; in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your trueAt friend.
The communication with which you have
honored me is not alone. Colored fellow.citi-
zsns in other parts Of the country, I may say
in nearly every State Of the Union, have mado
similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. lam not insensible
to this appeal: But il my opinion 10 given, it
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming With the antecedents Of the candidates.
l. Hotate Greeley was born to poverty and
educated himself in printing office. Presi-
dent Grant, fortunate in early patronage, be.
came cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed ct the public expense. One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started with q military commission.
One was trainedas q civilian; the other as
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as q re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
listed aa pro.slavery Democrat, and, at the
election Of James Buch anan, fortified by his
y t3I
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley.
from early life was earnest and constant
against slavery, full OF sympathy with the
colored race, and always foremost in tho
great battle for their rights. President
Grant, except as q soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident Of war, never did nnytbing
against slavery. nor has he at any time
shown any sympathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colored
citizens should vote and ably chnmpioned i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the other side. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked itcannot be forgotten that Grace
Greeley Is q psrson Of large heart and large
understanding, trained to the support OF
human rights, always benefcent 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 leaves no
knowledge with history-the
inatinct and grasp OF statesmanship--an
amiable nature-a magnanimous soul, and,
above ALL an honesty which no suspicion has
touched, and you have brief porttaiture
OF what are the anteoedents of Horace Gree
sident. His great success in war, and the
honors he has won. cannotiohange the record
OF his conduct toward your people, especially
in contract with the lifetime fidelity of his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
oedents" showing that in the prosecution OF
his plans be carea nothing for the oolored
race. The story is painful but it must be told.
Hayti with its 800, ,OG0' blacks, engaged In
the great experiment ,ofl ,self-government.
Here 10 O most, instructive |.antecedent," re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole is attested BY documentary evi:
dence!. Conceiving the idea of annexing Do.