Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-31
Gbs gaiu spn aaIorsr, saturOap unng august 3d. 1872

seek for no equality and no rights in church or
state when the white folks objected
we are not unmindlul of how much we owe
TO him and his paper for their earnest opposition
to the extension of slavery, but when YOU bid us
90 beyond that you compel us to be accurate in
the measurement of his services to our race.
We know as well as you do, sir, how much the
war has done for us, and we cannot forget that,
had Mr.. Greeley had his way, there would now
be an independent southern republic, holding
4,0OO,OOO OF colored Americans in bondage. We
cannot forget that, at any time during those
four years of war; Mr.. Greeley was ready and
anxious for peace, however ignomious, with
our southern masters, though not shackle-
should be struck from the limbs Of the black
man. we cannot forget that after Mr.. Lincoln
had decTeed emancipation, Mr.. Greeley proposed
10 pacify the shareholders by paying them four
hundreds millions of dollars as the market price
OF our bodies. These facts are known of all
men, and yet in the face of them you call him
an abOlltonist, and bid us be grateful 10 him as
our friend. In the face Of them YOU bid us to
give him our votes for the presidency and turn
away from the man who said as long ago as
August, 1858: 1t became patent to my mind
early in the rebellion that the north and south
could never live in peace with each other except
as one nation, and that without slavery. would
not, therefore, be willing 10 see any settlement
until this question is forever settled
"Mr Greeley was willing that the Union
should be dissolved, and to leave us to our fate
He was willing TO purchase peace, though we
should remain in slavery. When slavery was
past salvation, he was willing to reconcile slave
holders TO its loss by the payment of four hun
dred millions of dollars. General Grant on the
contrary, meant to have the Union, and have it
without slavery; he would consent TO no peace
till that question was settled forever, and he
fought it out on that line for several summers!
Yet you ask us to accept one of these men as
our friend and believe the other our enemy.
is thy servant a dog, that he should do this
thingP
81 will not canvass Mr. sGreeley's personal
character. He is said by those who ought to
know him, to be vain and eccentric man;
tickle and untrustworthy; feeble Of purpose
moved by motives which nobody can fathom;
seeking his ends with cunning that knows no
sCruple, and choosing for his most intimate
companions and friends men who have won no.
toriety as politicians through devious ways, or
those whose regulations are otherwise question
able Whether all this be true or not, it is
enough for me that he, who all his life has been
opposed to democrats, has become the demo-
cratic candidate In so doing he seems to me
to be tickle of purpose aud untrustworthy in
principle; governed by motives which | do not
pretend to lderstand, and no longer worthy of
confidence as the friend of my race. General
Grant, on the contrary, has shown himself by
four years of war and four years of peace to be
true to his country, true to the welfare of my
people and true to the best instincts of his own
heart. NV vote, and l hope that of every col
ored man in the United States, will be given to
Grant.
81 am, sir, with great respect, your grateful,
| though not obedient servant,
GAMES F. THOMAS.
''New York, Aug. 8, 1872"