The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-04
sumner's Advice 10 tho oolored People.


SumnoT's Advice 10 tho Oolorcd People.
WAsnIsezos. .. c.. 5a!y 2a. 1879. >.
GENTLEMEN AND FELLow CITIZENS: =
true that lam the friend Of your race, and l
am glad to be assured thatin your opinion
have held aconsistent couree IN the Senate
rights. That course, By the blei.ing 81 God,
I mean to hold so 3ong as life lasts. 4Iknow
your infinite wrongs, and feel them as for my
own. You only do me simple justice when
you odd belief that my COUNSEL, st this oriti-
cal junoture Of your citizenship, would bS free
from personal feelings and pa rfisan prejudice.
In answering your inquiries. I oah shave no
feeling exoept for your good, which I most
Rnxlouely e96k; nor can any prejudice Of any.
kind, be allowed to Interfere. The occasion is
700 solemn.A Especially is there no room for
peraonal feeling or for partisan prejudice.
No man OF party can expect POWER except for
broughtto the standard OF truth, that they
saying thsE ehe. dhoioS' for tie Presidehoy is is
Hor.os qsa ONE hcss Rsssses
and, assuming my acquaintance with both.
and my observation OF their lives, you invite
my Judgment between them. asking me espe.
cialiy which OF tho two, judging from their
would enforce the Constitution and laws, se-
curing your oivii and political righta, with the
most heartfelt sympathy and tho greatest
vlgor. Here remark that, in this inquiry,
ground 80 do I-beleving. most sincerely
that the best interests Of the whole country
are associated with the oompletest recognition
Of your rights, go thatthe tworaoes shall live
mark that you call attention to two things,
the "anteceaente' Of the two candidates and
secondly thti ''present position" You wish
to know fTom these which gives assurance OF
vigor In ehe maintensnce Of -FOUR rights; in
other words, which. judging by the past, will
be your truest friend.
,oroess The SC%%p9sgsti9n mn a. with yhish ySu have
gems In other parts Of the country, I may cay
In nearly every State Of the Unton, have made
. similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept Silent. lam not insensible
muat be cspdidly. according to my coincidence.
In this spirit answer your inquiries, begin
ming with the autecedents Of the candidates.
I: Horace Greeley was born to poverty and
dent Grant. fortunste in eatlypat atronage, be-
came cadet at West Point, Eni was educat-
ed ut the public expense. One started with
nothing b4t industry and character; the
One was trained "a civilian; the other as a
soldier. Horace Greeley stood forth as a re-
former and Abolitionist. President Grant en-
listed as pro.slavery Democrat, and, st the
vote all the pretensions OF slavery, including
the Dred Scott decision. Horace Greeley
from early life was earnest saa constant
against slavery, full OF sympathy with the
great battlo for their rights. President
Grant. except as a soldier, summoned by the
terrible accident Of war, never did anything
against slavery, nor has he at any time
nhown any sympathy with the colored race.
Horace Greeley earnestly desired that colored
citizens should vote and ably championed i'm.
partial suffrage; but President Grant WAS on
the other side. Beyond theseq qpntrssts, which
Greeley is Q person OF large heart and large
understanding, trained co. ythe support Of
human rights, always b6neHcent Will, the
never dsterred by opposition or reproaoh. as
when ?or long years he befrfended your peo-
pie. Add to these qualities, conspicuous in
MS lie. untirinR industry, which leaves no
moment without it's fruit-abundant political
kinow;iedge-acquaintsnse +. n.,;ne with history the
emfable 9Ature-a magnAnimous soul, and,
above ell an honesty which no suspicion has
t9H9hed, and You have q brief portrsiture
otlwhat are the sntecedents Of Horace Gree
lsy. Few OF these things appear,.in the Pre-
honors he has won, cannot!change the record
OF hie conduct toward your people, especially
IN contrast with the lifetime fidelity Of his
competitor. while there are unhappy "ante-
cedents" showing that in the prosecution OF
rhee. The story is painful, but 1t must be told.
II refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hayti, with its 100000 blacks, engaged in
the great experiment OF self.government.
Rere is moet instructive "antecedent," re-
vealing beyond question his true nature, and
the whole tH, attested by documentary evil
denoe. Conceiving the idea Of annexing Do.
IT. ANN pAVgNMcIR YTAIn