Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-09
sU.ry.rRR,s LITTER.
DAISY DoTT


the colored men who wrote to him for ad
take in the.presidential contest now pend
ing, is as follows
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1872.
Gentlemen and Fellow. citizens: If |
have delayed answering your communica-
tion of July IL, which was duly placed in
my hands by your committee, it is not be-
cause the proper course for you seemed
doubtful, but because l wished to reflect on
it and be aided by information which time
might supply.
Since then / have carefully considered
the inquiries you have addressed me, and
listened to much ON both sides, and my
best Judgment is in harmony with my early
conclusion.
am touched by the appeal you make. 1t
is true am friend of your race, and am
glad to be assured that, in your opinion, 1
have held a consistent course in the Senate
and elsewh here as a special advocate of your
rights. In that course, by the blessing of
God, will continue so long as life lasts. 1
know your infinite wrongs, and feel for
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
prejudice. In answering your inquiries, /
can have no feelings except my earnest de-
sire for your good, nor can any prejudice
of any kind be allowed to interfere. The
occasion is too solemn. Especially is there
no room for personal feeling, or for parti-
san prejudice. No men or party ask power
except for the general welfare, therefore
they must be 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 now narrowed down
to President Grant or Horace Greeley. One
of these is to be taken, and assuming my
acquaintance with both, and my observa-
ton of their lives, you invite my judgment
between them, asking me, especially which
of the two, Judging from their antecedents,
as well as present position, would enforce
| the constitution and the laws securing
| your civil and political rights with the
| most heartfelt sympathy and the greatest
| vigor
Here l remark that in this inquiry you
naturally put your rights in the foreground.
| So do /, believing most sincerely that the
best interests of the whole country are as
| socated with the competest recognition ol
| your rights, so that the two races shall live
| together in unbroken harmony. also re-
mark that you call attention to two things
| first the "antecedents' of the two candi-
dates and secondly their "present position"
You wish to now from these which gives
assurance of the most heartfelt sympathy
and the greatest vigor in the maintenance
| of your rights. In other words, which
| Judging from the past, will be your trues
4 friend.
The communication with which you have
honored me is not the only one your color
ed fellow citizens in other parts Of the coun
try, / may say in nearly every state Of thu
Union, have made similar request an,
the same compliments. I have thus ia
kept silent. am not insensible to this ap
peal, but, if my opinion is given, 1t mus
be candidly, according TO my conscience
In this spirit answer your inquiries, be
ginning with the antecedents of the tw
candidates.
Horace Greeley was born to poverty, AM
educated himselfin printing office. Presi
dent Grant was fortunate in early patron
age, became a cadet at West Point, an
was educated at the public expense. On
started with nothing but industry and
character; the other started with militar
commission. One was trained as a civilian
l 10
stood forth as a reformer and an abolition
ist; President Grant enlisted as pro-sa
very democrat, and at the election of jaime
Buchanan fortified by his vote all the pre-
tensions of slavery, including the Dire
Scott decision. Horace Greeley, from earl
life, was earnest and constant against sa
very, full of sympathy with the colore
race and always foremost in the great bal
tie for their rights President Grant, eS
cept as a soldier summoned by the terribl
accident of war, never did anything again'
slavery, nor has he at any time shown an
sympathy with the colored race. HoraC
Greeley earnestly desired that colored cit
zens should vote, and ably champione
impartial suffrage ; but President Graz
was on the other side
Beyond these contrasts, which are mari
ed, 1t cannot be.forgotten that Horace Gre
ley is person of large heart and large III
derstanding, trained to the support of HI
man rights, always beneiicent TO the poo
, always ready for any good cause, never d
tered by any opposition or reproach
when for long years he befriended yol
people. Add to these qualities conspic