New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-15
Letter From wheeling.
How the CoIored People OF West Virginia
Regard mr.. summers letter.

Regard Mr.. summers Letter.
| Hessrs. Editors baltimore American:
Having read in your paper of July'3lst the
| long-loOked for reply of the Hon. Charles
sumner to certain colored citizens of the
| District of Columbia and others, you will dc
| US great favor by inserting few lines just
| to show the light in which some, at least, OF
the colored voters in this part of the country
| view both the appeal and the reply. Not
that we expect to control the opinion of any,
nor that we feel any fears in regard to final
results, but we think the time has come when
it should be known that cOlored citizens so
| understand the interests involved in the po-
litical issues of the day that they cannot al
ford to be the dupes of either friend or foe.
Sirs, we are sorry that any one claiming in
telligence as colOred citizen should deem it
necessary for themselves and others to apply
to Mr.. Sumner for instructions how to vote.
This course seems to place US just where our
enemies say we are, the mere tools of design
ing men and then again, the reply, if not so
intended, is a good electIoneering document
in the hands of enemies, and beyond doubt
will lead astray some of orr colored citizens
who do not think for themselves. Sirs, we es-
TEEN and venerate Mr.. Sumner rs a faithful
friend and advocate Of human rights, but we
must confess, if we had known it before, that
he is but human after all. He is appealed to
by few colored people in Washington for
aid in making their decision, whether they
ought TO vote for Grant or Greeley, he (Mr.
s. being long acquainted with the antece-
dents of the two. Why, sirs, we cOlored
citizens away up here il the mountains are
familiar with the antecedents of these can
didates, say from twelve years back to the
present, (and that is about as far back as we
care to go.) and we find a great contrast be-
tween them; and by applying what we think
is the best rule by which to form an estimate
of character, that is. to judge Of men by what
they do rather than what they may know, we
have no difficulty in deciding. Now, as this
is the rule we go by, the way Of duty is so
clear that the question whether we should
vote for Grant does not arise at all, more es-
pecially as he is, as he has been, the true
and faithful standard-bearer of the good old
National Republican ship. He was Captain
when she was beating around the shores and
rocks at Richmond; finally he got her off
into deep water.
We are willing, judging from the past, to
trust him four years longer that he may finish
his well-begun work. The fact of his havin.
received military education has not caused
any detriment to the cOlOred citizens of the
nation, nor do we think that the fact that
Mr.. Greeley was a poor boy who by his in
dustry and talents has acquired tho title of
philosopher, entities him to our votes unless
there be something further in his antecedents
or present position. But what are his ante
cedents or present position touching the great,
paramount question with Us? We know that
he has both spoken and written much and
we'll upon human rights, and thank him for
it, but then many speak and write merely for
the sake of theorizing or for the sake Of pop
ularity or money making.
Where was Mr.. Greeley and what was he
doing in '64 while General Grant, with his
life in his hands, was standin. in defense of
the liberty, which not only he but the people
of this nation enjoy? Is it true, or does his
tory lie in sayn. that Mr.. Greeley was at
that critical moment back in the rear, actin.
mediator between those who were enemies
to freedom and the Republican party, and
taking advantage of the situation, trying to
induce the Republican party to bring upon
itself the odium of endorsing that unhOly
doctrine the right of property in man, by an
agreement to pay for four million human be-
ings? Sirs, with this single antecedent we
are left to wonder how any colored citizen
claiming intelligence can be in doubt how he
should vote. But then what is his present
position? Why did the Liberal Republicans,
Of whom Mr.. Greeley is the head, defeat the
Republicans general amnesty bill rather
than pass the supplementary civil rights bill :?
Now, Messrs. Editors, with these antece-
dents before us as facts in regard to Mr.
Greeley's present position, although he may
say that he is good Republican, still we can
only say to him land you too, Bfutus."