Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-06
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Summers Reply to Speaker Blaine.
The ''Origin of His Opposition"

WASHINGTON, August 5.-Senator Sumner
thus replies to Speaker Blaine:
WASHINGTON, August 8, 1872.
Dear Sir:
have seen the letter addressed to me by You
through the public prints. And notice especially
that, while animadyerting upon my support of
Horace Greeley, you say not one word in vindi-
cation of that compound of pretensionS known
as Gransm in cOntradistinction TO republican
ISM which you would install anew in the govern
mcnt. You are greatly concerned about the
company | keep. To quiet your solicitude, beg
to say that, in joining the republicans who
brought forward an original abolitiOnst, find
myself with so many Others devoted TO the cause
| have served always, that had not missed you
until yOu FASTENED to report absence, nor had
taken account of the southern secesSionists
who, as YOU aver, are now cooperating with me
in support of this original abolitionst, except
to rejoice that if among my former associates
some like yourself, heSitateI heir places are sup
piled in an unexpected manner,
You entirely misunderstood me when you
introduce an incident of the past and build on it
an argument why should not support Horace
| Greeley. What has Preston Brooks to do with
| the presidential election? Never while suffer
err did anybody hear me speak of him in unkiud-
| ness; and now, after the lapse Of more than
| half generation, will not unite with you in
| dragging him from the grave where he sleeps to
aggrayate the passions of political conflict and
| arrest the longing for concord. And here is the
| essential difference between you and me at this
| iuncture. l seize the opportunity 10 make the
| equal rights of all secure through peace aud
| reconciliation; but this infinite boon you would
| postpone,
Seven years have passed since We laid aside
our arms but unhappily during all this period
| there has been a hostile spirit towards each
| other, while the rights of coored fellow citizens
have been in perpetual question. Seven years
| - 4.
| not the spirit be changed with the bOdy2 Can
| we not, after seven years, Commence a ieR life,
| especially when those once our foes repeat the
| saying "Thy people shall lie MY people, and
thy God my bodP | declare thy ptoiefeiict for
| an original abolitionist as president, and you
seek to create division by crying out that dem
oerats will support himi TO which reply, so
much the better. Their support is the asstr
ance that the cause he has so constantly guarded
whether of equal rights or reconciliation, is ac-
| cepted by the democrats, and this is the pledge
| Of true union beyond anything in our history
| 1t is a victory of ideas, without which all other
| victories must fail.
| 10 intensity your allegations yoU insist that
| I am ranked With jeitets6i Davis aid Robert
| Toombs; but, pardon me, nobody knows how
the former will vote, while Robert Toombs is
1 boisterous against Horace Greeley; and with
/ him are Stephens, Wise and Mosby This is all
| Very poor, and mention 1t only to exhibit the
| character of your attempt In the SAME report
you seek to avoid the real issue, by holding up
the possibility of what you call a democratic
| administration; and you have the courage TO
assert as within my knowledge that by the
| election of Greeley congress is handed over to
the control of the party who positively
| denied the rights of the black man. You say
| that know this. Mr.. Speaker, know no such
thing, and you should be sufficiently thoughtful
| not TO assert it.
| am entirely satisfied that canvass like the
ntrhn 1nf lava ut Yin.
cinnati are openly accepted on one side and not
| contested on the other must result in larger
number of congressional representatives sim
| cerely devoted TO the rights of cOlored citizens
than ever before. The democrats will be
| pledged as never before to the ruling principle
that all men are equal before the law, and also
to the three constitutional amendments, with
| the clause in each empowering congress to en-
force the same by appropriate legislation. But
| besides democrats there will be liberal republi
cans pledged likewise, and also your peculiar
! associates, who trust will not betray the cause
Senators and representatives calling themselves
republicans have been latterly in a large major,
ity in both houses, but the final measure Of civil
rights, to which you refer, though urged by me
| almost daily, has failed 10 become law, less
| / fear, from democratic opposition than from
| republican lukewarmness and the want Of sup
port in the president.
| The great issue which the people are called to
| decide in November is on the president, and
| nobody knows better than yourself that the
house of representatives chosen at the same
| time will naturally harmonic with him. So ii
has been in our history. Now harmony with
Horace Greeley involves what | most desire
| With such president congress will be changed.
For the first time since the war the equal rights OF
all will have declared representative at the head
| of the government, whose presence there W i'll
be of higher significance than that o. any vic
tor of war, being not only testimony, but a
| constant motive power in this great cause.
| Opposition, whether open hostility or more sub
| tie treachery, will yield to the steady influence
| of such representative. Therefore, in looking
| to the president | look also to congress- which
| will take its character in a large measure from
| him.
In choosing Horace Greeley we do the best
| we can for the whole government, not only in
the executive but in the legislative branch
while we decline TO support nepotism, repay
| ment of personal gifts by official patronage,
seizure Of the war powers, and indignity to the
black republic, and the various incapacities ex-
| hl0lted by the president and the rings by which
| he governs, none of which you can defend.
fou know well that the rings are already con-
| demned by the American people.
For myself, say plainly and without hesta-
ton, that prefer Horace Greeley, with any
| congress possible on the Cincinnati platform, to
President Grant with his pretensions and his
rings, vote for whom involves the support of
all his pretensions with prolonged power in all
/
another example. The administration in all
its parts is impressed by the president. Let his
| soul be enlarged with the sentiment of justice
| quickened by industry, and not only the two
houses OF congress, but the whole country, will
feel the irresistible authority overspreading .,
| pervadlng, permeating everywhere.
| Therefore, in proportion as you are earnest
| for the rights of the colored citizen, and place
them above all partisan triumph, you will be
| glad TO support the candidate whose heart has
| always throbbed for humanity. The country
| needs such motive power in the white house.
/ Ii needs generous fountain there In one
| word, it needs somebody different from the pres.
| ent incumbent, and nobody knows this better
| than Speaker Blaine.
The personal imputation you make upon me
| repe with the indignation of an honest man.
| | was faithful supporter Of the president until
| somewhat tardily awakened by his painful CON
| duct on the Island of st. Domingo, involving
the seizure of the war power in violation Of the
| constitution and indignity to the black repub-
| lie in violation of international law; and when
| | demonstrated against these intOlerable out
| RACES | was set upon by those acting in his
| behalf. Such is the origin of my opposition
| could not have done less without failure in
| that duty which is with me the rule of life.
| Nor can doubt that when partisan sentiments
| are less active you will regret the wrong you
| have done me. Meanwhile appeal confidently
| to the candid judgment Of those who, amidst
| all present differences of opinion, unite in the
which my life is devoted, am, sir,
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES SUMNER.
To the Honorable Speaker Blaine