The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-06
"What Has Preston Brooks to Do with
the Presidential Election %
Are the Black Mans Rights
To Be Denied?
mr.. SPEAKER, | KNOW OF NO SUCH THNG.'
Massachusetts DemOSthenes Indignantly Re.
pels the Base Assertions Of the
Umpire Of Debate.
wAsnINaroN, August 8, 1872.

WASHINGTON August 8, 1872
Senator Sumner thus replies to Speaker Blaine:-
WASHINGTON, August 8. 1872
DEAR SIR have seen the letter addressed to me
clally that, while anlmadverting upon my support
Or v horacs greeley you a say not one word
tinction to republicanism, which you would would
install anew in the government. You are greatly
yonr solicitude beg to say that in Joining the re-
publlcans who brought forward an original ab0li-
ons ST. hnd myself with 50 many Others
had not missed you until you. fastened to
Of tSa nor had taken
as you aver, are now cooperating with me in sup
port or this original abolit0nst, except to rejoice
tnat II among my former associates some, like your
selI hesitate, their places are supplied in an unex
pectcd quarter. You entirely misunderstood mo
When when YOU Introduce an incident Of the past and
Horace Greeley.
, - WHAT HAS PRESTON BROOKS TO DO
with the presidential election? Never while suf-
ferer did anybody hear me speak of hin In unkind-
ness, and now, after the lapse Of more than hall
generation viii not unite with You in dragging
the passions OF political conflict and arrest the
longing for concord. And here Is the
s "ns between seize you the and opp one
tunIty to make the equal rights Of 'ps all
secure through peace and reconciliation. But THIS
INFINITE boon you would postpone. Seven years
have passed since We laid aside our arms; but un-
happily during all this period there has been hos
tile spirit towards each other, While the rights OF
coOred fellow citizens have been In perpetual ques-
ton. Seven years mark natural period OF human
life Should not the spirit he changed with the
body Can we not, after seven years, commence
new llfe especially when those once our foes re-
peat tn the saying Thy people shall be my people,
PREFERENCE FOR AN ORIGINAL ABoLITroNIsr
as President and you seek to create q diversion by
crying out that democrats VIII support him; to
HAITI ftsttr
the assurance that the cause he has so constantly
guarded whether OF equal rights or reconstruction,
true union beyond anything in our history. It is
victory Of ideas, without which all other victories
must fail. TO intensity your alteration you insist
Robert Toombs; but, pardon me, nobody knows
how the former will vote, while Robert T0ombs ia
stepnenss Wise and moSy dsd ali ver
poor, and mention it only to exhibit the character
OF your attempt. In the same spirit you seek to
avoid the real issue by holding up the possibility OF
what you call democratic administration, and you
have the courage to assert as within my knowl-
handed over to the control or the party
VIII have have positively denied ths ghts mot Of
h M know no say tnng and VOW
should be sufficiently thoughtful not to assert IL.
am entirely satisfied that canvass like the present.
where the principles declared at Cincinnati are
openly accepted on one side and not contested on
the other must result In larger number Of Con-
gressonal representatives sincerely devoted to the
rights Of the c00red citizen than ever before.
THE DEMOCRATS WILL BE PLEDGED
as never before to the ruling principle that oil men
amendments with the clause in each
empowering Congress to enforce the same by ap-
prOpriate leglslati0n but besides democrats there
will be liberal republicans pledged likewise, and
also your peculiar associates, who trust, win not
DETRAY THE CAUSE.
senators and Representatives, calling themselves
republicans, have been latterly In large majority
In both Houses; but the final measure OF civil
rights, to which you refer though urged by me
almost daily, has failed to become law, less, I
fear from democratic opposition than from repub-
llcan lukewarmness and the want OF support in
the President. The great issue which the people
are called 10 decide in November is on the Presi-
dent, and nobody knows better than yourself that
the House OF Representatives chosen at the same
time viii naturally harmonize with him. SO 1t has
been in our history. Now,
HARMONY WITH HORACE GREELEY
involves what most desire. With such q Presi.
dent Congress will be changed. For the first time
since the war the equal rights OF all viii have u
declared representative at the head Of the govern
ment whose presence there win be of higher Sig
nifcance than that of any victor of war. being not
only testimony, but constant motive power in
this great cause. Opposition, whether open hos
tility or more subtle treachery, will yield to the
steady influence OF such representative. There
fore
IN LOOKING TO THE PRESIDENT
look also to Congress, which will take its charac-
ter In large measure from him. In choosing
Horace Greeley we do the best we can Tor the
whole government, not only in the executive, but
in the legislative branch while we decline TO
support nepotism repayment Of personal gifts by
the Iineapacity exhibited BY the President
OF which can yon defend. You know wen that the
rings are already condemned by the American
people,. For myself say plainly and without hest
tation that prefer Horace Greeley with any Con-
gress possible on the Cincinnati platform to Presi-
dent Grant with his preten5ions and his rings, q
vote for whom involves the support OF all his pre-
tensions, with prolonged
POWER IN ALL THE RINGS.
There must be another influence and another ex-
q m
pressed by the President. Let his soul be enlarged
Try and not only the two Houses OF Congress, but
the whole country will feel the irresistible authority
oversprcading pervading, permeating everywhere.
Therefore In proportion US you are earnest for
the rights Of the colOred citizen, and
place them above all partisan triumph, you will be-
glad to support the candidate whose heart has al
such motive poweri in the White House. II needs
o generous fountain there. In one word. IL needs
different ftom the present incumbent,
and nobody knows this better than Speaker Blainc
The personal imputaton you make upon me repeI
with the indignation OF an honest man. was %
faithful supporter OF the President until somewhat
tardily
AWAKENED BY HIS PAINFUL CONDUCT
on the Island OF st. Domingo involving seizure OF
the war power, In violation or the constitution and
lndignity to the black republic, in violation OF inter-
these intolerable outrages l was set upon by
those acting In his behalf such Is the
origin Of my opposition | could not have have,
which Is with me the rule OF life; nor
can doubt that when partisan sentiments are less
active y0u will regret the wrong you nave done me.
ment OF those who, amid all present differences OF
opinion, unto in the great objects, far above party
or President TO which my life is devoted
CHARLES SUMNER.
The Honorable Speaker BLAINE.