The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-08-07
Mr.. Summers Letter.

WASHINGTON, July 30.-Mr. Sum-
ner has written a long letter to q
number of colored citizens who lately
addressed him. MI. Sumner declares
for Greeley. The following is syn
opsis of his etter: He addresses his
correspondents as gentlemen and fel-
low citizens. He delayed answering
that be might reflect and fully inform
himself. lie has listened to much
from both sides but his best judgment
is now in harmony with his early
conclusion. He is touched by the ap-
peal his correspondents make; he has
been tho friend of their race and is
glad they consider him the special
advocate of their rights. They do
him ample justice when they believe
that his counsel at this critical junct-
ure would be free from personal or
partisan prejudice. Mr.. Sumner con-
trasts the two enthusiastically
was born in poverty and educated
himself in a printing Office. Grant
fortunate in early parentage became a
cadet at West Point and was educated
at the public expense; one started
with nothing but industry and charac-
ter, the other with a military commits
sion. One was trained as civilian
the other as a soldier. Horace Gree
lev stood forth as reformer and abo-
litionist. The President enlisted Us q
pfoslavery Democrat, and at tho
election of James Buchanan, fortified
by Bis vote all the pretensions OF sla-
very even the Dred Scott decision.
Greeley from early life was earnest
and constant against slavery, fnll of
sympathy with the colored race, and
always foremoset in the great battle
for their rights. President Grant,
except as soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident of war, never did
anything against slavery, nor has ne
atany time shown any sympathy with
the colored race. Horace Greeley
earnestly desired that the colored cit
liens should vote, and ably champion
cd impartial suffrage, but President
Grant was on the other sido. Beyond
these contrasts which are marked, it
cansnot be forgotten that Horace
Greeley is a person Of large heart and
large understanding trained to sup
port human rights. Mr.. Greeley's in
dustry, general knowledge and amia-
bic rature and above all, honesty,
which no suspicion has touched, are
maintained-few Of these things ap-
near in President Grant. His great
success in war cannot change his rec
ord tow ard the color,d people while
there are antecedents showing that
iu the prosecution of his plans he
cares nothing for the colored race.
Mr.. Sumner. prefacing that the
story is painful but must DO told,
gives the history of Santo Domingo
and Hayti, where he outraged eight
hundred thousand blacks, who were
engaged in the great experiment OF
self government. Hero follows a
history of the attempt at annexation
He alludes to tho disrcspect with
which Grant treated Fred Douglas,
who. bv his invitation was one of the
Santo Domingo Commissioners. Grant
little capacity or industry in protect
ing colored people and assuming
peace at the South. After violating
The Constitution and internationaI
law to insult the black Republic and
setting an example of INSTRUMENTATION
he is not in q condition to rebnke law
breakers.
Mr.. Sumner. then considers the
present position of the two candi
dates. Each was nominated by {
Republican Convention; he lauds tho
material composing the Cincinnati
Convention comparing the character
Of the supporters of the two candl'
dates. He says the country knows
too we'll the military ring, the senate
rial ring, the custom house ring
through the President acts, such sup
eorters are very poor recommenda
ton. He says it is idle to say that
Horaee Greeley and the Republicans
which nominated him at Cincinnati
are any less Republicans because
Democrats united with them in the
support of cherished principles ane
the candidate who represents them
Mr.. Sumner says the hardihood o
political falsehood reaches it's extreme
point when it is assorted that unde'
Horace Greeley, the freedmen will b
re-enslaved, or that the eolored C PEI!
nIe will in many ways suffer in thei
equal rights. On the contrary, the! ae
have in his election not only TN
promise of the platform, but also I'M
snlenaid example for tull generation
during which he has never waVeree
in the assertion of their ri ghts. It
supposeo that Horace Greeley wher
nlaeed, wbero he can do them th'
most good will depart from the ruiz
Of ms honest life is an insult to rea
sonr 40 1t is mono the less idle to sup
nose that Democrats in supporting
Horace Greeley expect or desire thai
he should depart from those prinel
nles which are the glory Of ma char ma:
aeter. They have accepted O., the so o'n II,
c;nnati platform with two.fold prom