The Portland daily press., 1872-08-06
WASHINGTON.


N,
replies to Speaker Blaine: "a t Fr
WASHINGTON, Aug {. 1872
/ Lear Sir Il have seen the letter addressed
10 me by you through the public prints, and
notice especially that while animadverting upon
my support of Horace Greeley you say not one
word in vindication of that compound of pre-
tensions known as Grantism In contradstinc-
ton to republicanism which you would install
anew IN the Government. You are greatly con-
cerned about the company | keep. To quiet
your solicitude, beg to say that in joining the
| republicans who brought forward an original
aDohtonist find myself with so many others
devoted to the cause L have served always that
mad not missed until you fastened to report
absence, nor had taken account of the South
efn secessionists who, as you aver, are now CO.
operating with me in support of this original
aDolltionist, except to rejoice that if among my
associates some like yourself hesitate their
| places are supplied In an unexpected quarter.
You entirely misunderstood me when you in
troduce 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 residential election? Never while a suf-
icref dld anybody hear my speak of him in IN
klnaness, and now, after lapse of more than
nan generation, L will not write you in drag
| slng MIN from the grave where he sleeps to ag-
sraVate the passions of political conflict and ar
rest the longing for concord, and here is the es-
senllal dlnerence between you and me. AT this
| JuhcGure L seize the opportunity to make the
| equal rights of all secure through peace and re-
conclllat.on, but this iufnite boom you would
| postpone.
Seven years have passed since we laid aside
our arms but unhappily during all this period
| therG mas been hostile spirit towards each 9th
er while the rights of colored fellow-citizens
nave Deen In perpetual question Seven years
r nnt th natural period of human life. Should
not the spirit be changed with the body? Can
we not alter seven years commence a new life,
| especially when those once our foes repeat the
saying say Thy people shall be my people, and
foS ar moa my tod declare my preference
you seek to create division by crying out that
| the Democrats will support him to which re-
| ply, SO much the better. Their support is the
assurance that the cause he has SO constantly
| guarded, whether of equal rights or reconcilia-
y Hh dhs and this is
our history. 1t is victory Of ideas, without
| fy your allegation you insist that am ranged
| with jeff Davis and Robert Toombs. but nar
don me, nobody knows how the former will
vote, while Robert Toombs is boisterous against
Greeley, and with him are Stephens WISE and
Mosby. VIM
This Is all very poor and mention it only to
exhlDlt the character of your attempt In the
same spirit you seek to avoid the real issue by
holding up the possibility of what you cali
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 have posi-
lively denied the rights of black men. You
say shat know this Mr.. Speaker, 1 know no
such tnlng and you should be sufficiently
tnougntful not to assert it. am entirely salts
he'd that canvass like the present. where the
principles declared at Cincinnati are openly ac-
cepted on one side and not contested on the 9TH
er must result in larger number of Congress
siOnal representatives sincerely devoted tn the
rights OF the colored citizen than ever before
The Democrats will be pledged as never before
to the ruling principle that all men are equal
De1ore the law and also to the three constitu-
tional amendments with the clause in each EN-
towering Congress to enforce the same by ap-
propriate legislation. But besides the Demo
Gratis there will be Liberal Republicans pledged
uKe"lse, aad also your ptcdlac associates who
trust will not betray the cause 81 4.s
Senators and Representatives calling Them
selves Republicans have been latterly in large
majority in both Houses, bnt the final measure
OF civil rights to which you refer, though urged
| by me almost daily has failed to become law.
| less fear from Democratic opposition than
from Republican luke-warmness and the want
| of support of the President The great issue
which the people are called to decide in No
yember II on the President, and nobody knows
| better than yourself that tho House of Repre-
sentatlves, chosen at the same time will natur-
| ally harmonic with him. Now harmony with
Horace Greeley involves what I most desire.
| With such President Congress will be chang
| ea. I OF tne hrst time since the war the equal
| rights OF all will have declared representative
at the head of the government whose presence
| tnere Will be of higher significance than that
OF war being not only a testimony but a con-
slant motiNe power in the great cause Oppo-
sition whether open hostility or more subtle !
treachery, Will yield to the steady influence of
| such representative. Therefore in looking to 1
the President look also to Congress, which
| will take its character in large part from him.
In choosing Horace Greeley we do the best
we can for the whole government, not only in
| the executive but in tho legislative branch,
while we decline to support nepotism, repay
ment OF personal gifts by official patronage
seizure of the war powers and indignity to a
black republic, and various incapacities exhib-
| tied by the President and the rings by which
| he governs, none Of which can You defend.
| You know well that the rings are already con
demned by the American people. ssF tsrr~.
For myself say plainly and without hesitation
that prefer Horace Greeley with any Congress
| possible ON the Cincinnati platform, to Presi-
| dent Grant with his pretensions and his rings,
vote for whom involves the support of all his
| pretenslons with prolonged power in all the
rings There must be another influence and
another example. The administration in all
| Its parts is impressed by the President Let
his soul be enlarged with the sentiment of ius-
tice, ,quckened by industry, and not only the
two Houses OF Congress but the whole country
| will feel an authority overspreading, pervading
! everywhere. Therefore in proportion as Won
are earnest for the rights of the colored citizen,
and place them above all partisan triumph Won
will be glad to support the candidate whose
ucdlo Has anyways tnIODDeu IOr humanity. Ihc
country needs such a motive power in the
| White House.
1t 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 imputaton you make upon me
repel with the indignation of an honest man.
was faithful supporter of the President un-
til somewhat tardily awakened by his painful
conduct on the Island of San Domingo, involy-
ing the seizure Of war power in violation of the
constitution and indignity to the black republic
in violation of international law, and when /
demonstrated against these intolerable outrages
| was set upon by those acting in this behalf
Such is the origin of my opposition. could
not have done less without failure in that duty
which il with me, the rule of life. Nor can 1
| doubt that when partisan sentiments are less
i active, you will regret the wrong you have done
me. Meanwhile I appeal confidently to the
candid Judgment of those who, amidst all pres
emit differences of opinion unite in the great OBJ
jeet: far above party or president to which my
life is devoted,
am, Sir, your obedient servant,
| CHARLES SUMNER