Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-16
SUMNER AND GRANT.

SUMNER AND GRANT.
Charles Summers Tie,rs as to Pyesidcn
Grants Nomination for u Second Term.
The Rev. Mr.. Frothingham's "Life O
Gerrit Smith has just appeared. 1t contains
the following private letter from Charles
Sumner to Mr.. Smith on the question Of
second term for President Grant
Private.
NAHANT, Mass, Aug. 20, 1871.
My DEAR FR1END-Your note and it's in
closure reached me at this retreat, where
am with my friend Longfellow. l regre
much that l cannot SEQ the presidential aues
as you see it.
l know few politicians who think that
Grant can be reelected. Greeley told me
last week that he looked upon his defeat as
inevitable; and Forney, who is friendly to
INN and has just accepted the collectorship
OF Philadelphia, told me that he did not see
how he could be reelected. although lie
thought he could obtain the nomination; to
which replied that he would not be nomi-
mated if it appeared that he could not be re-
elected.
Therefore when you ask me to withdraw
opposition to Grant, you ask me to aid in
the defeat of the Republican party. have
too much interest in this party to dc any
such thing.
But, waving the question of his success.
he does not deserve the nomination. zone
term is enough for anybody, especially for
one who being tried, is found SO incapable
SO personal, SO selfish, SO vindictive and SO
entirely preoccupied by himself. All who
have known him best testify to his incapacity.
Don't forget Stanton's Judgment.
IT hard tf, goa tho k1,k1 Inv rofr;p,, ,,,I n
good people dying through his lukewarm-
ness and Indifference. 1t is my solemn judg-
ment, which at the proper time 1 shall de-
clare, that the much criticised legislation of
the last congress would have been entirely
unnecessary if this Republican President
mad shown decent energy in enforcing ex-
1stlng laws, and III manifesting sympathy
with the oppressed there. On him is that
innocent blood which flowed while he circu-
lated at entertainments, excursions, horse
racing. Instead OF being at Long Branch, a
good President wovld have been at Savannah
and Mobile, OF at least he wonld have made
himself felt at those places.
Consider, then, the insncerity of his mes
sage about St. Domingo. One million of
blacks are now kept in anxiety and terror by
the Republican President, whom you hail as
representing 'moral ideas!'' Instead of
abandoning his ill-omened scheme he is now
pressing it, working at home, like Hamlet's
ghost, under ground, and at the island with
most expensive fleet. His war dance about
the island has cost several millions. Instead
OF making peace between the two contending
parties and setting each on its legs, in the
spirit of disinterested benevolence, he sends
money to Baez, under pretence of sham
treaty, to keep alive civil war. Nothing has
aroused me more since the fugitive-slave bill
and the outrases in Kansas. The same old
spirit is revived in the treatment of the HAY
ten republic.
And | am asked to help the denomination
OF such man. Impossible! l love the Re-
publican party-love my countrywide well to
have hand i'll such a thing
In these conclusions l am governed by no
personal feelings-more than had to Frank
lin Pierce or James Buchanan! How can [.
an old public servant, devoted to a cause
turn aside on any personal feeling? No, my
dear friend, | write in sadness and sincerity,
hoping yet to do something by which the
cause of our country shall be saved Think
OF five years under this vindictive imperial
ism! Surely you must hesitate.
Grant is full of personal enmities. He has
Quarreled with two members of his cabinet, O
minister to England chairman of a senate
ColuAIAttee, one OF Two or the diplomatic
corps, the governor of a territory, and nu-
merous others-all good and faithful Kepub-
hcans or friendly to him. I was always his
true friend, never breathing word except
III Kindness and respect, anxious for the vel
fare of his administration and yet, when
telt it my duty to oppose his st. Domingo
scheme, always without one word of allusion
to him, he was moved to vindictiveness. Ask
any member of tho committee, or any sena-
tor, If, In the debate of the committee on ex-
ira service, 1 made any allusion to him, ex-
ccpt to express a regret that no had entered
upon this mistaken policy. And yet the ven
geanCc came.
A1terward, when he still persevered, felt
1t my duty to arraign him openly. Had I
been representative, | should have felt it
my duty to move his impeachment. I shall
be astonlshed if, at the next session, his inn
parchment is not moved. His chance of i'm
parchment is better than that of reelection.
Why then, press him for candidate? I'm
questionably the hardest possible to elect,
and unquestionably the poorest calling him
self Republican. There are forty good Re
publicans i'll the Union, any one of whom
can be nominated without hazard to the
party, and when elected, will be better
President. So | believe, ON my conscience.
and on this belief l must act. At the proper
time shall communicate Mr.. Stanton's and
my Judgment. Ever sincerely yours,
CHARLES SUMNER.