New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-09
REPUDIATING GRANT.
A SIGNIFICANT LETTER.

CAN SUPPORT THE CINCINNATI TICKET AND
NOMINEES.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
BALTIMORE, July S.-A bombshell was thrown
into the midst Of the Admin sraton camp in Baltimore
this afternoon by the publication Of the following letter
from the colored candidate the Grant electoral ticket
OF this State, from the WITH Congress District 1t
Is reported that Mr. Saunders will carry with him TO tho
Liberal Republican party great number of coored
votes:
BALTIMORE, July 8, 1872.
To The Hon. HENRY SToCKBRIDGE, Chairman Baltimore
CITY Delegation 10 the late Republican Competition.
SIR: Please accept for yourself and colleagues from
the WITH Congress District to the late Convention OF
April o. 1882 my grateful thanks for tho conspicuous
favor conferred by placing my name on the Grant
electoral ticket and the Of my kindly apprec
alton OF this and other marks of confidence dur
ing my participation In the politics OF my
native State. A profound sense OF duty to
my race and the demands OF an unselhsh
patriotism superior to partisan requirements COM
pei me to decline the honor and sever my connection
with the Grant wing OF the Republican party. enter
tain the hope that at distant day colored men, as
American citizens will rise superior to the apparent
selhshness Of their past political action, which has too
often been characterized by adhesion 10 men instead or
devotion to principles, and that they will fully compre-
hond the sacredness of the ballot and tho higher duty OF
citizenship II is but natural that in the past colored
voters should have been consolidated within the ranks
OF that party through whose fundamentally their
rights were IN part secured particularly when the party
itself unit and the rights Of the cOlored ciZeh
made political ssue but now, when some OF the best
men and brightest spirits Of that party decline
to act with it, and join with other cluzehS
in the formation OF newer and better
party with more advanced and more practical ideas,
within whose ranks the rights OF all men are assured
it is an open question whether the Liberal Republican
H.. DaV.ttf rfNy a
country Now that all OF whatever creed or poli-
cal opinion accept the situation recognize the rights of
all men, and guarantee their maintenance, it Is but fair
to suppose that the me is really come TO permit the
dead ns, to b.: ~. dead e@a for al voters to como
up to that comprehensive platform which, "iic t0.
nlzng the equity of equal rights gives Proln,s, In
petual peace and prosperity to the VIII" eVuas' 49,,
the coming Presidential campaign it is of the
pOrtance tI coored cast off the letters political
yassalage ignore the tyranny Of false andvicous party
discipline and, like all other men, exercise their politi
cal franchise according the dictates OF enlightened
aud untrammeed judgment. Even were it possible for
me to remain your ticket / could not approve and
abet the bitter and continued fractional warfare for
which the great party in Maryland is remarkable and
which is dominant characteristic OF that party in every
State in the Union. Neither would any consdera
ton lend myself to the basely ungrateful task of Willy
ing and bounding lifelong friends OF human liberty and
of equal rights, who, by their labors and sacrifices
through period Of more than quarter of century
have made It possible for of my to enjoy the
privileges of American citizenship.
have read carefully that elaborate compilation Of in
definite promises Of the Philadelphia platform, and beg
suggest that IT, after eleven years Of supre
macy and nearly four Of absolute control Of every
department of the Government it is deemed wise to be
prolific in platform declaration just possible that
four years longer lease of power will be made
afa . IN no Darfo Of stuDpudOus
task marked out for the party at Philadelphia That
complete aud exact equality in the enjoyment OF all
CIVIL POLITICAL and public rights without discrimination
account OF race creed color previous condition OF
servitude, OF which the Philadelphia Convention gives
assurance is doubt intended as balm for the col
ored voters of the country and supposed to have
great heading influence through Republican Congress-
utter contempt of this and other promises made at
Philadelphia adjournS nd II 9kes sign. II this Con-
yention was the concentrated voice Of the Republican
party speaking authOrtatiyey for the President Con-
eress and people, it Is incOmprehensble why some OF
these platform sentiments not met at once and
crystallized into Federal statute provisions L do
not question the wisdom Of this eminently ca
pable and respectable body, do doubt the sin
cerity of these declarations, but cannot lose sight
of the fact that it is perous in the extreme 10
nrust the vital measures other and future Congresses
which may not in the eternal fitness Of things be IN
sonance with the Philadelphia Convention
I dissent from the doctrine eDunciated that the
enforcement of the appropriate legislation made by the
recent amendment n the national Constitution only
be trusted to the Grant Administration If the tenure of
American citizenship depends upon the Of any
political party and necessarily jeoparded upon the
periodical return Of each national political contest, then
that exalted right Is more honorary than honorable
Instead Of being object oust patriotic PRIDE 1t would
be boon unsought after and despised when secured
OF course differ widely from these absurd premises so
.ho 90 nnr fnafi M a
that the exercise the rights and the employment OF
the privileges Of citizenship by the colored people
of the country depends not upon the success or poh
cal party which is oftener factonal or sectional than
national but upon the better sentiment, broad charity,
and advanced civilization Of the American people as
nation In the light OF the limited intelligence am
enabled to bring bear upon the issues now before the
people of the country constrained to see in the
Philadelphia platform confession Of weakness II any
oltica Marty after three successive terms OF the ad
mnistration OF governmental power has need OF such
profsion of PROMISE evidently for the purpose OF Sc
curing perpetuate its existence 1t IS WITHIN the
male OF possibility that the country will survive Its
defeat and go forward to the accomplishment OF Its
high destiny without the special guardianship of such
party
am persuaded that the Cincinnati platform does not
differ very widely in decarat, 1f principles from the
Philadelphia instrument, and that all voters OF what
aver political opinion stand upon II without sacrifice
OF principle and support the Liberal Republican nomi'
nees without qualification, and consider the indorse-
ment Of these candidates by other than the Cincinnati
convention as additional evidence OF their acceptabiity
20 the American people, believe it to be the duty as
well rs right OF every American citizen TO exercise his
political prerogative freely and fearessy and on occa-
sion give full expression to his sentiments, while care
fully respecting the duty and right in all other
men, and that in governments like ours all effort to
control the political action Of the citizen by class CASTE
or sectional prejudice, for individual factona OF par
tsan aggrandzement, II successful TO any extent and
tbrouph any considerable period OF time, will inevitably
tand toward the subverson OF the very
objects for which cooperative or republican gov