Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-12
Andrew D. Whites Letter.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

ITHACA, N. Y, Aug. 8, 1872.
Rec J. W. LOguen, Bishop of the african ".
T.. Church:
Dear sir: In recent letter, bearing Mr.. Sum-
ners signature, occur certain statements regard
ing the treatment of our friend, Frederick
Douglass, at the hands of the president of the
United States and of the Dominican commits
sion. As these statements were so evidently in
spired by political bitterness, and as their IN
justice has been shown by Mr.. Douglass HIM
self, it did not seem worth while to answer
them. | simply regretted them as unworthy
the honored name of Charles Sumner. But as
| have evidence that some colored men wish to
know the exact truth, permit me to give it as
conclusiyely as possible.
First-When the commission TO st. Domingo
was appointed, President Grant attached to it
two special secretaries AS one of these he
chose General Franz Sigel and as the other,
passing over a multitude of white men anxious
TO go, he selected Frederick Douglass-thus ris-
ing above old preiudices and recognizing the
rights of coored citizens, as no president save
Abraham Lincoln had ever done.
Second-Having chosen him, orders were
given-orders understood to proceed from the
presldent-that MIR. Douglass should, in all re-
spects, be treated as honOrably ard provided for
as comfortably as the most favored persons in
the expedition. Mr.. Douglass was given room
In the admlrafs cabin, adjoining those of the
commission; he was assigned position at the
table in the admraPs dining room with the com.
mission; he was associated with them socially
on equal terms; treated in all respects as well
as the best And for the first time in the history
OF the American navy, colOred citizen of the
United States walked the quarter deck of an
American frigate-the accepted equal of its
ommander-respected and honOred by all on
board.
Third-During the stay OF the commissioners
at the Dominican capital Mr.. Douglass lived i'm
their house and sat at their table. There was
nothing strange in this, for each of the commits
sioners was an abolitiOnist long before Mr.
Sumner was; there was no sacrifice in it, for
never was guest more agreeable All present
must have felt that whatever honor there was
in the matter was conferred by Mr. Douglass
Social, genial, refined in culture, noble in pur-
pose, he had from the first the respect of all
thus associated with him. The manly utter
ances of the accomplished editorial correspond
ent of the World bore testimony to this at the
time.
Fourth-After the landing of the commission.
ers at Charleston, Dir. Douglass constantly oc.
cupied tue same conveyance and sat at the same
table witha them. AT one or two stopping
places ID the south there were some manilesta-
tons OF feeling against this, but these were not
allowed to change Mr.. Douglass position in the
slightest degree
Embarked upon the Potomac steamer-the
commissioners having seated themselves for
dinner at the public table-lound that Mr.. Doug
lnat ne mad been refused Abundance to the
ulnlng-room on account Of his color Having
demonstrated IN vain against this Outrape the
commissioners and all Immediately connected
with them Immediately left the table before 4
dlsh was served them, and although thew had
Deeh WITHOUT 1000 since early in the morning,
they remained fasting until their arrival r.
Washington late in the evening. The instructive
feeling was that TO do otherwise Womb ho "a
sanction an execrable infringement upon the
rights OF fellow citizen.
This Is the transaction of which Mr.. Sumner
speaks when he says that Mr.. Douglass was
thrust forth" from the commissioner table
No choice of language could be more upfortun.
ate. BY this mode Of statement has the idea
been spread that Mr. Douglass was Thrust
forth" with the sanction or permission of his
associates. Nothing could be more wide of the
fact. One point just here which throws much
light on some questions now before your people
When we demonstrated with the chief function.
airy on the boat he was supported in his out
rage, apparently, by all the southern men pres
ent. They were long and loud in argument, and
the general chorus, in which all joined, was,
that they would not submit TO this "tterterence
Ouh he" rVhts," IN forcing a negro on their
The same men are now clamorous against
tue administration, whose main sin in their eyes
IS that II has carried out the laws made 10 pro-
tect the colored men Of the south; and it seems
somewhat omlnous that the loudest shrieks OF
these phineu oppressOfs are now, as then
against the so-called "iaterterence NTH theiT
rights" What this means my experience that
day taught me. II meant then interference
with the right 70 keep the coored man pariah
what docs the same cry in the same mouths
mean n0UY
Fllth-on arriving at Washington the dnties
Of Mr. Douglass and Gen. Sigel were ended. The
former had submitted very careful report based