The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-02


the greatest vigor.
We hope and trust you will favor us with
such reply as will serve TO enllghten our minds
upon this subjects, and lmpel our people to go
forward In the right direction. Our conf
dence In your Judgment is so firm that ln our
opinion, thousands of the Intelligent coored
voters of the country will be guided In their
actIon by your statement and advice.
Hoping TO receive reply soon, we have the
honor to be, with great respect, your ooedlent
servants: A. T. Augusta, II. D., David Fisher,
Sr., Jshn Il. Smith, Edward Cruiser, VIM. a..
A. Wormley, VIM. P. Wilson, 4. w. Tompkins,
John A. Brown, Henry Lacey, ". q. Bell, j.
L. N. Bowen, NJ. D., Jacob De Wltter, Samuel
Proctor, J. j. Ketchum, Chas. N. Thomas, VIM.
D. johnson, Ch:ls. A. Fleetwood, Charles F.
Bruce, David Fisher, Jr., David King, VIM.
Polkeny.
Below we print in full Senator Summers az
swer to the above:
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1872.
Gentlemen and FelLo,o-C CitizenS-lf have de-
layed answering your communication OF July
| IL, which was duly placed in my hands by
your committee, 1t is not because the proper
course for you seemed doubtful, but because I
wished to reflect upon 1t and be aided by the
information which time might supply. Since
then have carefully considered the inquiries
you have addressed me, and listened 10 much
on both sides, but my best judgment now Is IN
harmony with my early conclusion.
am touched by the appeal you make. 1t is
true that am the friend OF your race, and I
am glad to be assured that In your opinion l
have held consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate of your
rights. That course, oy The blessing of God,
mean 10 hold 90 long as life lasts. know
your Infinite wrongs, and feel for them as my
~l,, 10 oil ntn r7h ~
you add belief that my counsel, at this critl-
cal juncture Of your citizenship, would be
free from personal feelings and partisan pre-
judice. In answering your Inquiries, l can
nave no feeling except Tor your good, which l
most anXiously seek; nor can any prejudice OF
any kind be allowed 10 Interfere. The occa-
sion is too solemn. Especially is there no
room for personal feeling or for partisan pre-.
judIce. no man or party can expect power
except for the general welfare. Therefore
they must be brought to the standard of truth,
that they may be seen In life and act.
You are right In saying that the choice for
the Presidency is now narrowed down" to
President Grant or Horace Greeley. One OF
these Is to be taken, and, assuming my ac-
ouaintance with both and my observation OF
their lives, you invite my judgment between
them, asking me especially which Of the two.
| Judging from their antecedents as well as
present position, would enforce the consLltu-
ton and laws securing your civil and political
rights with the most heartfelt sympathy and
the greatest vigor Here remark that, in
this inquiry, you naturally put your rights In
the foreground. 80 do l; believing most sln-
cerely tnat the best interests OF the whole
country are associated with the completest
recognition OF your rights, 80 that the two
races shall live together in unbroken har-
mony. also remark that you call attention
TO two things, the ''antecedents" of the two
two candidates; and secondly, the "present
posltion.n You wish to know from these
which gives assurance OF the most heartfelt
sympathy and greatest vlgor In the mainte-
nance OF your rights; In other words, which,
Judging BY the pasC, will be your truest friend.
The communication With which you have
honored me is not alone. Coiored fellow-citi-
zens In other parts Of the country-l may say
in nearly every State Of the Unon-have made
similar request, and some complain that
have thus far kept silent. am not lnsensi6le
to this appeal. But If my opinion Is given. 1t
must be candldly according to my conscience.
In this spirit answer your Inquiries, begin
with the antecedents of the two candidates.
l. Horace Greeley was born to poverty. and
educated himself in printing ofhce. Presl-
dent Grant, fortunate In early patronage, be-
came cadet at West Point, and was educated
ing but Industry and character; the other
started with military commission. Ore was
trained as a civilian; the other as soldier.
Horace Greeley stood forth as relormer and
abolltionIst. President Grant enlisted as a
pro-savery Democrat, and, at the election OF
James Buchanan, fortified by his vote all the
pretentions of slavery, including the Dred
Scott decision. Horace Greeley from early
life was earnest and constant against slavery,
full of sympathy with the colored race, and
ALWAYS foremost In the great battle tor their
rights. President Grant, except as soldier,
summoned by the terrible accident of war,
| never did anything against slavery, nor has he
at any time shown any sympathy with the color
| ed race. Horace Greeley earnestly desired that
championed impartial suffrage; but President
Grant was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts, which are marked,
| It cannot be forgotten that Horace Greeley is
| person Of large heart and large understand.
ing, trained to The support of human rights,
always bene6cent with the poor, always ready
| for any good cause, and never deferred by op
position or reproaeh, as when for long years
| he betrlended your people. Add to these
qualities, conspicuous In his life, untiring In
| dustry. which leaves no moment without its
| fruit; abundant political knowledge; acquRint
ance with history; the instinct aud grasp ol
craftsmanship; an amiable nature; magnanl
NOUS soul, and, above all, an honesty which
no suspicion has touched, and you have
OrleI VI dutCCCuCato VI 3Ol oCe
Greeley.
Few of these things appear In the President
Hls great success In war, and the honors he
has won, cannot change the record OF bis con-
| duct toward your people, especially In contrast
with the lifeline fidelity of his competitor
while there are unhappy ''anlecedents" show
| ing that in the prosecution of his plans he
cares nothing for the coored race. The story
is painful, but it must be told.
refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Haytl with its eight hundred thousand blacks,
engaged in the great experiment OF self gov
ernment. Here is most Instructive "ante
cedent," revealing beyond question his true
nature, and the whole Is attested by docu,
| mentary evidence. ConcefVing the Idea ol
annexing Dominica, which Is the Spanish
part of the island, aud shrinking at nothing,
| he began by seizing the war powers OF tne
government, in fragrant violation of the con.
stitution, and then, at great expenditure o
money, sent several armed ships OF the navy
including monitors, to maintain the usurpel
Baez in power, that through him he might
obtain the coveted prize. Not content with
this audacious dictatorship, he proceeded tc
strike at the independence of the Black Re
public by open menace of war; and all with
out the sanction of Congress, to which is com