The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-04

minies. which is. the Spanish part Of the
Island, and shrinking at nothing, be began
nent. in flasrant violation Of the be- oehstita.
ti6n. and then, atagreat expenditure Of
mepey, sent seyeraA armed ships Of the navy,
tnplnding monitors, to maintain ,ths usurper
pE1s Easspsas e esaas b. nsh ss
thia andaolous didtAtorship, he Yroeeeded' to
atxika at the iddepend dence of tho black re-
public ~ open manaee pf var, and Al With
ous rAs saHStioa SSagfe9 e WHEN e
into The hsrS6r & biPort.sS R2 ;sh oas
most powerful tn onitor. the DiotetorJ proper
ly named for this service, also the frfgate Be-
vern as oopsort end other mepitora IN their
from Washington, proceeded 20 tho executive
mansion, accompanied by ofioersn Of his
squadron, and theps pointing to the great
WAT ships in sight from the windows, dealt
Capture Hsyfien' ships. Tie psesidens was a.
black, not whiteJl The Admiral would have
done no isuch, thing: TO any white rulers nor
would our country have tolerated such me-
onY to y hS
publicl ,withits populstion Of 100000. but to
the African race everywhere, aud especially
In our own country. Nor did It end here.
For months the navy OF the United States
wae lowering on the coast, keeping that in
suited people in constant anxietYs while Pre-
sident tlrant was to them like hawk sailing
In the air, and ready to swoop upon hia prey.
This heartless, cruel proceeding. found q VIC
tim among our white fellow-Sitlzenb. An ex-
cellent merchant of Connbcticut. praised by
AL who know him, was plunged into prison
by Baez, %here he was immured because it
WAS feared be would write against the treaty
Of annexion. and this captivity Was prolonged
ha ivo ~ fvun 20 oHk pra.
sident, one Of whom finds constant favor
with him, and is part Of the military ring i'm
mediately about him. That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows the little regard
OF the PreHident for human rights, whether
In white or black.
confess my trials, as was called to wit
ness these things. Always supporter OF the
Administration, and sincerely desiring to
regard to 1t except in kindness. My early op-
position to the treaty OF annexation was re-.
served, 80 that for some time my opinions
we're pnknoT7. It was only when saw the
breach OF al law, human and divine, that I
vas aroused. and then began the anger OF the
President and OF his rings. military and sena-
torial. Devoted to the African race, I felt for
them. besides being humbled that the great
republic, acting through its President. could
Constitution, international law and humanity
were al sacrificed. Especially wac moved
when saw the indignity to the oolored race
which was accomplished by trampling upon q
fundamental principle OF international law,
declaring the equality Of nations, as our De-
olaration Of Independence declares the equal
ity OF men. This terrible transaction, which
nobody can defend, is among the "antece.
dents" OF President Grant, from which you
upon his heartfelt sympathies." Nor can it
be forgotten. that shortly afterward, on the
return Of the commission from this island.
Hon. Frederick ouglass, the coiored orator,
accomplished in manners as in eloquenoe. was
thrust away from the company Of the COM
missioners at the common table Of the mail
packet on the Potomac, almost within sight of
the Executive Mansion, simply on account of
his color; but the President, at whose invita-
ton he had joined the commission, never ut
tered word in condemnation OF this exc!u
sion, and when entertaining the returned
commissioners at dinner, carefully omitted
Mr. Douglass, who was in Washington at the
time. and thus repeated the indignity. Other
things might be mentioned showing tho sym
pathies Of the President, but I cannot forget
the civil rights bill, which is the cap.stons of
that equality before tho law to which all are
entitled, without distinction OF color. Presi-
for his St. Domingo scheme. full Of wrong to
the oolored race, could do nothing for this
benefcent measure. During long session
Of Congress, it was discussed constantly, and
the colored people everywhere hung upon the
debate. but there was no word OF 'heartfelt
sympathy "from the President. Atlast, just be-
fore the nominating convention, he addressed
letter to a meeting OF coiored fellow. citizens
in Washingto called to advance this cause,
where ne avoided the question, by declaring e
himself In favor of ''the exercise OF those
rights to which every citizen should be Justly
entitled" !" leaving it uncertain whether oolored
people are justly entitled to the rights se-
cured by the pending bill. understand that
Horace Greeley has already been assailed by
an impraoticable Democrat as friendly to this
bill, but nobody has lisped against President
Grant on this account.
Among "antecedents," deem 1t my duty
to mention the little capacity or industry Of
the President in protecting colored people
and In ashnring peace at tho South. Nobody
can doubt that q small portion or the effort
and earnest will, even without the lobbying
80 freely given to the San Domingo scheme,
would hsvo averted those Ku Ktux outrsges
which we deplore, so that there would have
been no pretence for further legislation by
Congress-. But he was disabled both by cha
racter and the drawback OF his own conduct.
After violating the Constitution and interna.
tional Law to insult the black republic. and
setting. an example Of insnbordinatiop, he
WAS not In condition to rebuke law-breakers.
II. Passing from "antecedents," I como
now to the "present position" OF the twc can.
didates, which Is the subject OF your next in
quiry. II in any former particulars the two
are on an equality, yet in all substantial re-
spects the obvious advantage is With Horace
Graalay Each kad hu.