The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-20
sumne,,s Is ADVICE to ,he colorea People.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. July 20. 1872.

WARRINGTON, D. c.. July 20, 1872.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLOW CITIzENs:
true that am the friend OF your race, aud
am glad to be asspEed that in your opinion
have held q consistent course in tho Senate
aud elsewhere as the special advocate of your
rights. That course, by the bles ing OF God,
mean to hold 30 long as life lasts. l know
your infinite wrongs, and feel them as for my
own. You only do me simple justice when
you add a belief that my counsel, at this criti-
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be free
from personal feelings and partisan rcjudice.
In answering your inquiries. can have no
feeling except for your goud, which l most
an1iously seek; nor oan any prejudice Of any
kind be allowed to interfere. The occasion liz
too solemn. Especially s there no room for
personal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
No man or party can expect pow. except for
the general welfare; therefore, they must hc
brought TO the standard OF truth, that they
! may be seen in life and act. You are right in
saying that the choice for the Presidency is
Horace Greeley. One of these Is to bo taken;
| ana, assuming my acquaintance with both.
| and my observation OF their lives, you invite
my judgment between them, asking me espe-
CHILLY which OF tho two, judging from their
fanteccdents, as we'll as present position,
would enforce the Constitution and laws, se-
| curing your civil and political rights, with the
most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
vigor. Hcre remark that, i'll this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. So do I-believing most sincerely
that the best interests Of tho whole country
are associated with the competest recognition
of your rights, so thatthe two races hall live
together in unbrokcn harmony. / also
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "antecedents" OF the two candidates; and
secondly. the tir ''present position" You wish
to know from these which gives assurance of
the most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor in the maintenance OF YOUR rights; in
other words, which, judging by the past, will
be your truest friend.
THE communication with which, bo1
honOred me III not alone. Colored fellow-citi-
gems in other parts Of the country, may say
ih>1early every State Of the Union, have made
q similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. 1 am not insensible
to this appeal. But il my opinion is given, it
must be candidly, according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your inquiries. begin
ming with the autecedcnts of the candidates.
1. Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
educated himself in a printing Office. Presi-
dent Grant. fortunate in early patronage, be-
camo cadet at West Point, and was educat-
ed at the public expenee. One started with
nothing but industry and character; the
other started with a military commission.
One was trained as civilian; the other as a
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as a re-
former and A6olitionist. President Grant en-
listed as a pro. elavery Democrat, and, at the
election Of James Buchanan, fortified by Ills
vote all the prctensiOns of slavery, including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early life was earnest and constant
against slavery, FULL Of sympathy with the
cOlored rnce, and always foremost in the
great battle for their rights. President
Grant. exec pit as n soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident of war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has he at any time
shown any sympathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desire that colored
citizens should vote and ably championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant was on
the other side. Beyond these contrasts, which
are marked, it cannot be forg ott en- that Fl Grace
Greeley is person 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, c6nspicuous in
his life. untiring industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
neutrality-suspicious. with history-the
instinct and grasp OF etatesmanship-an
| amiable nature-a magnanimoue soul, and,
above all, an honesty which no suspicion has
| touched, and you have brief portraiture
Of what are the antect dents Of Horace Gree
ley. Few Of these things appear in the Pre-
eident. His great success In war, and the
honore he has won, cannot'change the record
of his conduct toward your people, especially
in contrast with tho lifetime fidelity OF his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
oedents" showing that in the prosecution OF
his plans he cares nothing for the colored
race. The story ie painful, but it must be told.
refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hayti, with it's 10000 blacks, engaged i'll
the great experiment OF self-government.
| vealing beyond question his true nature, and
J the whole is attested by documentary evil
denco. Conceiying the idea of annexing Do