Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-08-08

Dred Scott decision Horace Gree
ley, from early life, was earnest anC
constant against slavery, full Of sym
pathy with the colored race and al
ways foremost in the great battle fol
their rights President Grant, except
as a 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 ear
nestly desired that colored citizens
should vote, and ably championet
impartial suffrage; but President
Grant was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts, which are
marked, it cannot be forgotten thai
Horace Greeley is a person Of large
heart and large understanding, train
ed to the support of human rights, al
ways beniiicent to the poor, always
ready for any good cause, never de-
tered by any opposition or reproach
as when for long years he betriended
your people. Add to these qualities
conspicuous in his life--untiring in.
dustry, which leaves no moment with
out its fruit, abundant political knowl,
edge, acquaintance with history. the
instinct and grasp Of craftsmanship
an amiable nature, Il magnanimous
soul, and, above all, an honesty which
no suspicion has touched, and you
have brief portraiture. These are
the antecedents of Horace Greeley.
Few of these things appear in the
president. His great success in the
war and the honors he has won can,
not change the record of his conduct
toward your people, especially in con-
trast with the lifetime fidelity Of his
competitor, while there are unhappy
antecedents, showing that in the pro-
secutiOn of his plans he cares nothing
for the colored race. The story is
painful, but it must be told. | refer
to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hayti, with its 100000 blacks, engag-
ed in the great experiment of self
government. Here is most instruc-
tive antecedent, revealing beyond
question his true nature, and the
whole is attested by documentary ev-
idence. Conceiving the idea of annex
ing San Domingo, which is the Span
ish part Of the island, and shrinking
from nothing, he began by Selling the
war powers Of the government, III
fragrant violation of the constitution.
and then at great expenditure of
money, sent several armed ships of
the navy, including the Monitors, to
continue the usurper, Baez, in power,
that through him he might obtain the
coveted prize. Not contented with
this audacious dictatorship, he pro-
ceeded to strike at the independence
Of the Black Republic in open menace
Of war, and all without the sanction
Of Congress-, to which is committed
the war-making power. Sailing into
the harbor Of Port an Prince with our
most powerful monitor, the "Dicta-
tor" (properly named for the service)
also the frigate Severn as consort and
other monitors in their train, the adj
miral, acting under instructions from
Washington, proceeded to the eXecu-
tive mansion, accompanied by the
officers Of his squadron, and then,
pointing to the great warships in sight
from the windows, dealt his menace
Of war, threatening to sink or capture
the Haytien ships. The president
was black, not white. The admiral
would have done no such thing to any
white ruler, nor would our country
have. tolerated as much from any gov
ernment in the world. Here was an
indignity, not only to the black re-
public, with its population Of 800, 900,
but to the African race everywhere,
especially in our own country. Nor
did it end here. For months the navy
of the United States was lowering on
the coast, keeping that insulted peo-
! pie in constant anxiety, while Presi-
dent Grant was like a hawk sailing
in air ready to swoop upon his prey.
This heartless, cruel proceeding found
a victim among our white fellow citi-
zens. An excellent merchant of Con-
necticut, priced by all who knew him,
was plunged into prison by Baez,
where he was immured because it was
feared he would write against the trea-
ty Of annexation and this captivity
was prolonged with the connivance of
the two agents Of the president, one
Of whom is found constantly with him
and is part Of the military ring i'm
mediately about him. That such an
outrage should go unpunished shows
the little regard the president has for
human rights, whether in white or
black.
l confess my trial, as was called to
witness these things. Always a sup
porter Of the administration, and sin
cerely desiring to labor with it, l had
never uttered word with regard to
it, except in kindness. My early op-
position to the treaty of annexation
was reserved, so that for some time
my opinions were unknown. 1t was
only when / saw the breach Of all law,
human and divine, that was aroused,
and then began the anger of the pres
ident and his rings. Devoted to the
African race, felt for them, besides
being troubled that the great republic,
acting through it's president, could
set such an example, wherein the nat
ional constitution, international law