The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
to Gerrit Smith on tho question of second term for

Iopgellow. ! regret much that CANNOT SEQ tuc
Presidential question as you SEQ II.
know few politicians who think that Grant can DC
reelected. Greeley told me last week thal no iocNeu
upon his defeat inevitable and torney, VINO ~
friendly him Just accepted the Collectorsnp
told me thai he did not see how ne cocla
be reelected although he thought he would obtain
the nomination /: 10 which replied that would not
be rcnomnaled II appeared that no coud not 90 re
elected.
Therefore when YOU ask me 10 withdraw opposition
10 Grant you nsk me the defeat OF the repub
can party. have too much interest IN TINS party 70
do any such thing.
But. waving Inc question OF his success, he docs
deserve the nomination. some term - enough
for anybody, especially Tor one who. oeng iried y
found 50 incapable, so personai 50 sensh SO Vihaio
tive and so entirely preoccupieu by himself All VINO
have known him best testify 10 his hcapacty' Don
forget Slantons judgment
is harl 10 see the Ku Klux as ing and good peo-
pie dying through his u1ewarmness aId nuiiierehce;
Ii is my solemn Judgment which ut the proper TINE
shall declare that the much criticised Legislation Of
the last Congress would have been entirely unneces
sary if TINS republican had shown decent
energy In enforcing existing laws and in manifcstns
sympathy with the oppressed there On MN 10 that
lnpoceGt blood which flowed while circulated ut en-
tertainments. excursions, horse races lAstcau VI
being Long Branch good President would nave
been at Savannah and Mobile, or at lens, nc would
have made himself felt in those places
Consider them the insincerty OF mis- message about
ST. Domingo 0ne million OF blacks are now kept N
anxiety terror by the republican President, whom
you hal as representing mora ideas! instead o.
abandoning his il-omened scheme no Is now pressing
ground and at tho Island with most expensive heet
HIS about the island has cost several mil
ions. Instead OF making peace between the TWO con
tending parties and setting each on us legs, IN the
spirit misunderstood benevolence, ne sends money 10
Bacz under protenca OF sham treaty. TO Keep awe
civil war. Nothing has aroused me moro since the
Fugitive Slave bin ana the ourages Kansas. The
old spirit is revived IN the treatment oil the nay
tian Republic
man. lmpossibe love The republican party--love
my country well 10 have a hand IN such u thing
In these conclusions am governed by no personal
icelings-more nan had 10 Franklin Pierce or James
buchanan How can /, an old public acrvani, De.
voted 10 u cause turn aside on any personal leehgf
No. my dear friend, write IN sadness and sincerity,
hoping yet ethng by which the cause oil our
country shall be saved Think oil 1--WE years under his
vlDdictivc imperialism Surely you must hesitate
Grant IS tall OF personal enmites. he mas quar-
rced with two members of his Cabinet, Minister 10
England, n chairman OF Senate COMMITTEE, one or
two OF :hc diplomatic corps, the Governor OF Terri
tory and numerous Others, all good ana lalthtu re-
pub!icaus or friendly TO him. was always his true
friend, never breathing a word except IN Kindness
and respect, anxious Tor the welfare OF his udtlis-
tration, and yet when felt IL my duty TO oppose us
ST. Domingo schcnc always without Que word ol anu
sion 10 him. he moved TO vindctivoness ASK any
member OF the committee or any Senator II IN tho de-
bate Of the committee on extra service made any
aiuson him, except 10 express regret hnt ne had
entered upon this mistaken policy And yet the ven
gcance came. .
duty to arraign him openly. Had been a Represen-
iatvc should have felt IL my duty to move his I'M
parchment. snail be astonishea II at the next SEES
sion his Impeachment is not moved HIS chance OF
inpeacn ment lis better than that OF reelection why
then press him for Il candidate Inquest ionaby the
noorsst calling himself republican There are forty
good republicans IN the Union any one OF whom can
be nominated without hazard 10 the party and when
elected will be better President. so believe, on
my conscience, and this belief must act. At The
propcr time shall communicate NJ. Sianton's and
NY JUS CHARLEs SUMNER.
f,r,vatel NAmANT, August rs, 1871
NY DEAR FEIESp-l am happy tnat you do not take
unkndy my very positive difference from yourself on
an Important question.
The more reflect on the~sluestion the moro am
fhn nul,l nuFIv lf
the idea of Grants denomination. We could better
have lost OF his bloody victories. His rule Tor tho
second term would be the imperialism Oh seinshness
ana vindictven ess-witnout moral sense, without
ideas, without knowledge.
| think you will aunt that he Is the lowest Presi-
dent whether intellectually or morally, VIC have ever
had. Undoubtedly he IS the richest since Washing.
ton. although nc was very poor at the beginning OF
tho war.
Mr. Stanton's judgment of him positive and
given under circumstances Of singular socmnity, aud
the thing he said at great length and with much
detail 10 Mr. Hooper some months before. no SAID
that he knew Grant better than any other man or the
country could know hun; that II was MS duty TO
STUDY him, and ne did study him night ana day
when he saw and when he did not see HIM then
declared his utter incapacity. And you arc, cleo
pioneering Tor this PERSONS rc elcctionl
Think OF ms vndictve quarrcs, since he has becn
PreAaent God does not quarrel. what right mas
President OF the United states TO quarrel anu pur
sue supporters with vindiclive hate!
DO not charge me with personal feelings. My life
is my witness. ain old servant, VINO has always
Thought OF the and Of my country. Never have
sought anything Tor myself have simply worked
and served was SO doing when felt it my duty 10
oppose what seemed u mistaken policy
oil the President. Never in my lie did
act more simply and sincerely. could not
have done otherwise without failing In my duty.
Then attacks and all that small nature
surrounded and prompted by small men could DO !
such a man President tor u second term, God Forbid
CHARLES SUMNER
NAuAXT, Sept. 8, 1871.
Ny DEAR FRrESD--i know not why my opinions ex-
pressed answer to an appeal from you should DO
characterized proceeding IRON 'long continued and
intens ooding his lGrant's iaus." You asked
me 10 abandon IN opposition TO which have boon
driven by solemn conviction or knowledge with con
slant Opportunities Tor information, and wnen ven
turcd to assign reasons Tor these opinions you at
tribute them to .'long continued ana intense brood
ing - Here YOU do me Injustice My opinions arc
honestly iormed-on my conscence--and commun-
Gated 10 you only IN reply to your appeal Had you
written to me on tue subject be assured should
have said nothing about ~
am mere with friends seeking repose, and in such
time as l command, reviewing the history OF our
an-siavcry struggle thinking NIUE OF count except
when my opnion is challenged, as By yourself II
am broodngo II Is on our great battle where you did
so much. ana revising my own humble contributions
10 II. - :,
You think Grant cannot be below tho 'nfcrnally
pro-slavery Pierccyr Why not? Was he not IN tho
time OF PIERCE lust .iniernaly pro-slavery,' and
has not done things worse ihan any attributed TO
PierceY .
leave that TO others How rarely In history has 4
good general been good statesman See Buckle.
AS for ''morals, ull his thoughts Ideas ana senti-
mcnts arc on low pldDc--iUNoT any ITosiucHt
before has reached.
You inquire il he is corrupt have never said
anything OH this head You know well that he does
not hesitate buy by Office, as no other Prcs-
dent has done; does no hesitate TO receive
'piitsip
You discard the testimony OF Stanton, who had tho
best opportunity 81 knowing Grant ana you discard
minc althou IL have had some opportunity. Whose
will you takeG VIII you name any person, not an
actual present member Of his Cabinet whose Judgment
testimony Is OF any weignLY AS Chase, VINO knows
him we'll lie Will speak 10 you Of his incompetency.
Unhappy this incompetency runs into the moral
region.
And yet yon not ouly become his partisan, but re-
buke me, In my seciuson, because frankly confess
that cannot see the idol as you see IT,
In another letter he says
/ never alsked Grant. When you alloge that you
again invent. ON the contrary, ! Was his sincere
friend ana supporter until became aware OF his
course ia HaytL and the more think OF That tho
more utterly iudcensblo 1t appears. IL IS revolving
so soc It, and for this reason began TO Judge him.
Is it Just, when those things were known 10 you,
that YOU should hunt Tor personal motivesf deny
the wnOlc imputation, in gross ana detail.
Would II not have been more candid, more III &C.