Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-08-08
Letter from senator sumner.


ator Sumner to the colored citizens of the
United States is published. 1t is written in
reply to q communication addressed to him
by number of colored citizens who regard
him as the best and purest friend of their
race, and who ask his Judgment and advice
as to which of the two Presidential candi-
dates, judging from antecedents and their
present position, viii, if elected, enforce the
requirements of the Constitution and law
respecting their civil and political rights, and
will, consequently, be the proper person for
them to vote. The letter is dated July 18th.
The reply from Summer is dated July goth
and is very long, making about two news
paper columns. After expressing gratifica-
ton at knowing that they place SO great con-
fidence in his friendship for them and his
political judgment, he assures them that his
opinion will be given, as they rightly suppose,
free from personal or partisan prejudice. He
remarks that in their Inquiry they naturally
put their rights in the foreground; and this,
he also does, believing that the best interest
OF the whole country are associated with the
the two races shall live together in unbroken
harmony. He says their inquiry is only one
of many similar ones from colored citizens in
other parts of the country. He win, he says,
answer these inquiries candidly and conscien-
tiously, and begins with the antecedents of
the two candidates. He proceeds to contrast
the life of Greeley and Grant from early life,
referring to the disadvantages of the former
in being born poor and obliged to educate
himself in printing office, while Grant was
educated at the public expenses; one started
with nothing but industry and character, and
the other with q military commission; one
q trained civilian, and the other soldier;
Greeley stood forth as mer-aholitionist,
while President Grant enlisted as a pro.slavery
Democrat, and at the election of Buchanan
fortified by his vote all the pfetensions OF. the
Dfed Scott decision; Greeley from early life
was earnest and constant against slavery and
in full sympathy with the colored race, al
ways foremost in the great battle for their
rights; President Grant, except as q soldier
summoned by the terrible accident of war,
never Gid anything against slavery, nor had
he at any time shown any sympathy for the
c5l0Fed race; Greeley earnestly desired that
his coloFed fellow-citizens' should vote, and
ably championed impartial suffrage while
Gfant was on the other side. .gAil0 haloIu2
! Having shown that Greeley was the life.
long friend of the colored race, he proceeds
to give his reasons for believing that Grant is
not their friend, and first reviews at length the
history of the San Domingo scheme, which
he denounces as great outrage upon the
colored race, repeating in substance the argu-
i
the Senate on that subject. "a t'-8g a3.
He next passes to the present position of
the two candidates, and contrasts the two
conventions which nominated them and the
platforms upon which they stand, and argues
that the Cincinnati Convention was more
properly Republican Convention with the
Cincinnati platform than the Philadelphia
Convention, and more truly a Republican
platform than the Philadelphia platform. and
that, therefore, Greeley has the advantage
over Grant, not only in antecedents but in his
present position.
He next contrasts the supporters of Greeley
and Grant, and declares that here Greeley also
has the advantage, Grant being supported by
ofice-holders and members of rings; while
Greeley is backed by large number of Re-
publicans unwilling to continue the present
misrule, and by the regenerated Democratic
party, which, in coming forward to unite in
the Liberal movement and in supporting q
lifelong abolitionist. have become Repu6li-.
cans, or, rather, Democrats, according to the
original signification of the term. He re-
CARDS it as idle to say that Greeley end the
Republicans who nominated him, are any
the less Republicans because the Democrats
unite with them; or that the election of
Greeley and Brown, both Interchangeable Re-
publicans, will be the return of the Demo.
cratic party to power, and declares that their
election win be the strongest assurance that
the Republican principles of equal rights to
all, viii be carried out in the government
Speaking for himself, he says his vote
will be given for Horace Greeley, and in
giving it he does not go to the democratic
party, nor is he any the less Republican.
In conclusion, he unhesitatingly advises his
colored fellow-citizens to support Greeley and
Brown, as true Republicans and friends of
their race. 6 G..Sl.
PROCLAMATION of the Governor OF Are
kansas. 8
L1TTLE Rock, July 81.--The Governor is
sued proclamation this morning regarding
the troubles in Pope county, saying:
am advised that citizens in the vicinity
of Dover are now armed and determined TO
resist the authority of the law and its officers.
do not desire to place Pope county under
martial law, or subject its citizens to loss
OF property consequent upon quartering
militia In the county, but the law must and
shall be enforced, respected and obeyed, and
if necessary, the entire forces of the State
win be employed for that purpose The
citizens must return to their homes and lay
down their arms, and attend to their daily
avocations of life."
UTICA, N. Y, July 30.-President Grant
and party were met nine miles out by Mayer
Butterfield and the Common Council and