Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-08-12

ence to the reelection of these Demo-
cratic members who are cooperating
with you in the support of Mr.. Greeley.
Do you not know, Mr., Sumner, and will
you not as candid man acknowledge
that with these men in power in Con-
gress, the rights of the colored men are
absolutely sacrificed so far as those
rights depend on Federal legislation.
Still further: the rights of the colored |
men are secured, if secured at all, by
the three great Constitutional amend
ments, the 18th, l4th. and 10th. To
give these amendments full scope and
effect, legislation by Congress, is imper-
atively required, as you have SO often
and so eloquently demonstrated. But
the Democratic party are on record in
the most conspicuous manner against
any Legislation on the subject. 1t was
only in the month of February last that
my colleague, Mr.. Peters, offered res
olution in the House of Representatives,
affirming ''the validity of the Constitu-
tional Congress as may be necessary to
make them in their letter and spirit
ofectual." This resolution-very mild,
and guarded as you will see-was adopt
ed by l24 yeas to So nays; only eight
of the yeas were Democrats ; all the nays
were Democrats.
The resolution of Mr.. Peters was fol-
lowed, week later, by one offered by
Mr. Stephenson of Ohio, as follows
"ResotUed, That we recognize as val
id and binding all existing laws passed
by Congress for the enforcement of the
thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
amendments of the Constitution of the
United States, and for the protection of
citizens in their rights under the Con-
st1tution as amended
Of the vote upon this resolution there
were l07 yeas to 65 nays. All the
yeas were Republicans, and they are
now unanimous in support of President
Grant All the nays were Democrats
who are now equally unanimous in sup
port of Mr.. Greeley.
1t is idle to affirm, as some Democrats
did in resolution offered by Mr.. Brooks
of New York, that '.these amendments
are valid parts of the Constitution" so
long as the same men on the same day
vote that the provisions of those amend
ments should not be enforced by Con-
gressional legislation. The amendments
are but sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals" to the colored man until Con-
gress makes them effective and practical.
Nay, more if the rights of the colored
men are to be Congressional Intervention.
he would under Democratic Admins
tration be deprived of the right of suf-
frage in less than two years, and he
would be very lucky if he escaped some
form of chattel slavery or peonage. And
in proof of this danger l might quote
volumes of wisdom and warning from
the speeches of Charles Sumner
When, therefore, you point out to the
colored men that their rights will be safe
in the hands of the Democratic party
you delude and mislead them-I do not
say willfully, but none the less really
The small handful of Republicans-com
6 pared with the whole mass-who unit,
with yourself and Mr.. Greeley in goins
over to the Democratic party, canno
leaven that lump of political unsound
! ness even if you preserve your own orig
inal principles in the contact. The adj
ministration of Mr.. Greeley therefore
should he be elected, would be in tn
whole and in detail a Democratic AID
ministration and you would be compel
led to go with the current or repent ant
!. turn back when too late to mend th
evil you had done. Your argument tina
Horace Greeley does not become Dem
ocrat by receiving Democratic votes-il
Illustrating it by the analogy of your owl
election to the Senate-is hardly pert
+: :, nent. The point is not what Mr.. Gree
ley will become personally, but wha
! will be the complexion of the great Leg
islative branch of the Government wit
9 all its vast and controlling power. 70
know very we'll, MIR. Sumner, that
Mr.. Greeley is elected President, Cor
gress is handed over to the control of tn
:. party who have persisistently denied tn
rights of the black man. What cours
.. you will pursue toward the colored ma
:, is of small consequence after you hav
transferred the power of Government t
his enemy
The colored men of this country al
not, as a class, enlightened but the
have wonderful instincts, and when the
read your letter they will know that {
: a great crisis in their fate you deserte
: them. Charles Sumner co-operatin
with Jefferson Davis is not the san
: Charles Sumner they have hitherto lido
ized-any more than Horace Creole,
?, cheered to the echo in Tammany Ha
) is the same Horace Greeley whom tt
:, Republicans have hitherto trusted. II
:. black men of this country will never |
= ungrateful for what you have done f,
: them in the past-nor, in the bitterne
y of their hearts will tbav avar forrnt RI.