Year: 1872

grave, where he sleeps, to aggravate the pas
sions of a political conflict, and arrest the
longing for concord. And here is the essen
tial difference between you and me, at this
iuncture. seize the opportunity to make
the equal rights of all secure, through peace
and reconciliation but this infinite boon you
would postpone. Seven years have passed
since we laid aside our arms but unhappily,
during all this period, there has been hostile
spirit toward each other, while the rights of
nv colored fellow.citizens have been in per.
petual question.


Seven years mark material period Of hu.
man life. Should not the spirit be changed
with the body? Can wenot, after seven years,
commence new life, especially when those
once our foes repeat the saying, "Thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my God?"
declare my preference for an original Aboli-
ZIONIST as President, and you seek to create .
diversion by crying out that Democrats will
support him; to which I reply, 80 much the
better. Their support is the assurance that
the cause he has so constantly guarded, ~hsth.
er of equal rights or reconciliation, is accepted
by Democrats and this is the pledge Of
true union, beyond anything in our history.
It is a victory of ideas, without which all 9TH
er victories must fail.


To intensity your allegations, you insist
that am ranged with Jefferson Davis and
Robert Toombs but, pardon me; nobody
knows how the former will vote, while Robert
Toombs is boisterous against Horace Greeley
and with him are Stephens, Wise and Mosby.
This is all very poor, and I mention it only to
exhibit the character of your attempt. In
the same spirit, you seek to avoid the real is'
sue, by holding up the possibility Of what you
call Democratic administration, and you
have the courage to assert, as within my
knowledge, that by the election Of Horace
Greeley, Congress is handed over to the con:
troll of the party who have positively denied
the rights Of the black men. You say that l
know this. Mr.. Speaker, I know no such
thing, and you should be sufficiently thought
full not to assert it. .


I am entirely satisfied that canvass like
the present, where the principles declared at
Cincinnati are openly accepted on one side
and not contested on the other, must result in
larger number of Congressional representa-
tives sincerely devoted to the rights Of the
colored citizen than ever before. The Demo-
Gratis will be pledged, as never before, to the
ruling principle-that all men are equal be-
fore the law-and also to the three constitu-
tional amendments, with the clause in each
empowering Congress to enforce the same by
appropriate legislation. But, besides Demo-
Gratis, there will be Liberal Republicans
pledged likewise, and also your peculiar asso-
ciates, who, trust, will not betray the cause.
Senators and Representatives calling them
selves Republicans have been latterly in 9
large majority in both Houses, but the final
measure Of civil rights, to which you refer,
though urged by me almost daily, has failed
to become law less, fear, from Democrat
ic opposition than Republican lukewarmness
and the want of support in the President,


The great issue which the people are called
to decide in November is on the President,
and nobody knows better than yourself that
the House of Representatives, chosen at the
same time, will naturally harmonic with
him. So it has been in our history. Now,
harmony with Horace Greeley involves what
I most desire. With such President, Con-
gress will be changed. For the first time
since the war, the equal rights Of all will
have declared representative at the head OF
the Government, whose presence there will
be of higher significance than that Of any
victor in war; being not only a t; testimony,
but constant motive power in this great
cause. Opposition, whether open hostility or
more subtle treachery, will yield to the steady
influence of such representative. There
fore, in looking to the President, look also
to Congress; which will take its character in
a large measure from him.


In choosing Horace Greeley, we do the
best we can for the whole Government; not
only in the executive, but in the legislative
branch; while we decline to support nepotism,
repayment of personal gifts by official pat
ronage, seizure Of the war powers, and indig-
nifty to the black republic; also, the various
incapacities exhibited by the President, and
the rings by which he governs; none of which
can you defend. You know well that the
rings are already condemned by the Ameri.
can people. For myself, say plainly, and
without hesitation, that 1 prefer Horace
Greeley with any Congress possible, on the
Cincinnati platform, to President Grant, with
his pretensions and his rings, vote for whom
involves the support of all his pretensions,
with prolonged power in all the rings


There must be another influence and an
other example. The Administration, in all
its parts, is impressed by the President Let
his soul be enlarged with the sentiment Of
justice, and quickened by industry; and not
only the two Houses Of Congress, but the
whole country, will feel the irresistible author
ity overspreading, pervading and permeating
everywhere. Therefore, in proportion as you
are in earnest for the rights Of the colored
citizen, aud place them above partisan tn
umph, you will be glad to support the candi-
date whose heart has always throbbed for hu-
manity. The country needs such motive
power at the White House. 1t needs gen.
erous fountain there. In one word, it needs
somebody different from the present incum-
bent and nobody knows this better than
Speaker Blaine.


The personal imputation you make upon
me, repel with the indignation of an honest
heart. I was faithful supporter Of the
President until somewhat tardily awakened,
BY his conduct on the island of St. Domingo,
involving the seizure of the war power, in VI
olation Of the Constitution, and indignity to
the black republic, in violation of interna-
tional law; and when I demonstrated against
these intolerable outrages, was set upon by
those acting in his behalf Such is the origin
of my opposition. Icould not have done less,
without failure in that duty which is, with me,
the rule of life; nor can I doubt that, when
partisan sentiments are less active, you will
regret the wrong you have done me. Mean:
WHILE I appeal confidently to the candid
Judgment Of those who, amidst all present diff
ferences of opinion, unite in the great object,
far above party or President, to which my life
is devoted.


I ano cir uonr ohedient servant