Year: 1872

l notice especially that while adimadverting
upon my support of Horace Greeley, you say
not one word in yindicatiOn of that compound
OF prctcnsions known "a Grantism in contra
distinction to Rcpublicanism, which you would
install anew i'll the Government. You are
greatly concerned about the company l
keep. TO quiet your solicitudc, 1 beg leave
TO say that i'll joining the Republicans,
who brought forward an original AbOlitiOnist,
l find myself with so many others devoted to
the that have served always, that
l had not missed you until you fastened to
port my absence, had L taken account of
the "SOuthcrn Scccssionists,'' vino, as you aver,
are now cooperating with me in the support of
this original aboitiOnist, except to rejoice that
il among former associates, some like yourself
hesitate, their places are Supplied i'll an unex-
pcctcu quarter. You entirely misunderstood
me, when you Introduce an incident OF the past
and build on it an argument why should not
support Horace Greeley. What has Preston
Brooks to do with the Presidential election >
Never while sufferer, did anybody hear me
speak of him in unkindness, and now after the
lapse OF moro than half generation, will not
unite with you i'll dragging him from the grave
where he sleeps to aggravatc the passions OF a
political conflict and arrest the longing for con-
cord, and here is the essential difference be-
tween you and me at this juncture. L seize the
opportunity to make the equal rights OF all secure
through peace and recOnciliatiOn but this i'll
finite boon you would postpone. Seven years
have passed since we laid aside ours arms, but
unhappiIy, during all this period, there has
been hostile feeling towards each other, while
the rights of our colored fellOw-ctizcns has
been perpetual question seven ycars-mark
a natural period of human life. Should not the
spirit be changed with the body; can we not,
after seven years, commence new life, cspec-
tally when those once our foes respect the say
ing ''Thy people shall be my people, and thy
God my Cod declare my preference for an
abolitonist as President, and you seek to create
a diversion by crying out that Democrats will
support him, to which reply, 50 much the bet
ter their support is the assurance that the cause
he has constantly guarded, whether OF equal
rights reconciliation, is accepted by the
Democrats, and this is the pledge of true union
beyond anything i'll our history. 1t is victory
OF ideas, without which all other victories must
fail to intensity your allegation. You insist
that | ranged with jefferson Davis and
Robert Toombs, but pardon, nobody knows
how the former will vote, while kobt. TOOmbs
is Ooisterous against Horace Greeley, and with
him are Stephens, Wise and MoSby This is
all very poor, and L mention it only to exhibit
the character Of your attemps i'll the same spi-





up the possibility OF what you cali Democrat
ic administration, and you have the courage to
assert, within nay knowledge that, by the
election OF Horace Greeley, Congress is handed
over to the control OF the party who have posi-
lively denied the rights OF the black man.
You say that know this, Mr.. Speaker. know
10 such thing, and you should be sufficiently
thoug ghtful not to assert it. l entirely salts
tied that a canvass like the present, when tho
principles declared at Cincinnati are openly
accepted one side and not contested on the
other, must result i'll a larger number OF COl:-
greSsiOnal representatives sincerely devoted to
the rights of the cOlOre citizen than ever b. -
fore. The Democrats will be pledged, as
never before, to the ruling principle, that all
men are equal before the law, and also to tho
three constitutional amendments, with the
clause i'll each empowering Congress to enforce
the same by appropriate legislation; but be-
sides Democrats there will be Liberal Rcpul .
ilcans pledged likewise, and also your peculiar
associates, who, l trust will not bctray the
cause. Senators and Representatives calling
themselves Republicans, have been latt Crly in
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 Democratic
opposition than from Republican lukCWarm-
ness and the want OF support III the President.
The great issue which the people called
upon to decide i'll November is on the President


and nobody knows better than yourself that the
House OF Representatives, chosen at the same
time, will naturally harmonzo with hm-so it
has been i'll history. Now harmony with
Horace Greeley involves what l most desire
with such President Congress will be changed
for the first time since the the equal ri ghts
of all Will have Il declared representative ut the
head OF the government, whose presence there
will be of higher significance than that of any
victor i'll war, being not only n testimony but a
constant motive power i'll this great cause. Op-
position, whether open hostility or more subtle
trcachery, will yield to the steady influence OF
such representative. Therefore, i'll looking to
the President, 1 look also to Congress, which
will take its character III large measure from
him. In choosing Horace Greeley we do the
best for the whole government, not only
in the executive but in the legislative branch,
while we decline to support ncpotisn, repay
mcnt of personal gifts by official patronage,
seizure of the war powers, indignity TO the
black republic, also the various incapacity cx-
hibitcd by the President and the rings by which
he governs, none OF which can;yOu defined. You
know well that the rings arc already condemn
cd by the American people for myself, say
plainly and with out hesitation, that l prefer
Horace Greeley with any Congress possible on
the Cincinnati platform, to President Grant
with his prctcnsiOns and his ring
a vote for whom involves the support OF all his
TretensiOns with prolonged power in all the
rings. There must be another influence and
another example. The administration i'll all
its parts is impressed by the President. Let his
soul bc enlarged with the sentiment of justice,
quickCned by industry, and not only the two
houses OF Congress, but the whole country, will
feel the irresistible authority pervading
permeating everywhere; therefore in propor-
tion you earnest for the rights of the col
Ored citizen, and place them above all partisan
triumph, you will be glad to support the cam
didate whose heart has always thrObbcd
for humanity. The country needs such
motive power in the White House.
1t needs generous fountain there


In one word, it needs somebody different from
the present incumbent, and nobody knows this
better than Speaker Blaine. The personal i'm
putation you make upon me 1 repel with the
Indignation of an honest man. was faithful
supporter of the President until somewhat
tardily wakened by his painful conduc in the
Island OF ST. Domingo, involving the seizure OF
the power in violation OF the Constitution


and ind gnity TO the Re pub lie, III violation OF
International law; and when L demonstrated
against these intolerablc outragas | was set
upon by those acting in his behalf. Such is the
origin of my opposition. L could not have done
less without failure i'll that duty which is with
me, the rule of life, nor can doubt that when
partisan sentiments are less active, you will
regret the wrong you have done me meanwhile
appeal confidently to the candid judgment of
+b Osc who amidst all present differences of