The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, August 08, 1872, Image 2
ANDERSON C. H., S, C.
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, T372.
Saleday.
notwithstanding the rains, there was a large
crowd present on Monday last. The crowd was
pretty orderly until late in the evening, when
it became right jolly. The candidates were
out in full force, doing active service.
The Weather.
Within the last few days copious showers
have fallen in this vicinity, and from appear?
ances, we suppose the rains have been general.
Up to this time, some neighborhoods in the
county were in much need of rain.
.Worth Carolina Election.
The latest dispatch from Charlotte, N. C,
dated August 6, leaves the gubernatorial elec?
tion iu considerable doubt. Both parties claim
the election ; therefore we infer that the contest
has been very close. The Liberals and Demo?
crats have elected a majority of Congressmen
and two-thirds of the Legislature.
Mr. Sumner's Letter.
? To the exclusion of other matter we publish
vc this issue the letter of Hon. Charles Sumner
to colored men who had asked his counsel in
reference to the candidates for the Presidency.
He answers them fully, freely and frankly,
avowing his preference for Mr. Grccley, and
shows the colored man that he is more their
friend than President Grant ha3 been or will
be in the future. Mr. Sumner has always ad?
vocated the freedom and eights of the colored
man, and we can but hope they will heed his
wise counsel now.
Political Meeting at Belton.
We are informed that the Republican meet?
ing at Belton on the 31st was rather slimly at?
tended, considering that it had been announced
several weeks in advance. Speeches were made
by Judge Orr, Capt. Earle, Congressman
Elliott, and others. The burthen of the
speeches was the great necessity for the
re-election of President Grant, because of
his efficiency in putting down Ku EHuxism.
Some of the sneakers were severe in their de?
nunciation of the ring, the fraud and corrup?
tion of State officials, &c. We trust these will
continue their castigation of the party until
they shall have been driven from place and
power. Let them keep up the fire, and prove
their faith by their works. We understand
that whiskey was afloat to some extent.
- m t ?
The Saluda Association.
We presume it is generally known that this
religious body will celebrate its 70th anniver?
sary with the Baptist Church at this place,
commencing on Thursday morning, the 8th
inat., and continuing certainly over the ensuing
Sunday. We understand ample preparations
have been made for the accommodation of del?
egates, ministers and visitors, and it is expect?
ed a very large concourse of citizens, from the
surrounding country will be present. A stand
has been erected in a grove some three or four
hundred yards from the Church, in the midst
of the most comfortable surroundings of water
and shade, at which the public preaching of
the occasion will be conducted generally,
whilst the House is occupied by the represen?
tatives of the churches in counsel. It is ex?
pected that the occasion will be a most inter?
esting one, and this community will be delight?
ed to see its friends from the whole surround?
ing country present.
Public Meeting on Saleday.
On Monday last there was a large and inter?
esting public meeting held in the Court House,
the object of which is best stated by the reso?
lutions published in this issue. It was not our
fortune to be present, but understand that con?
siderable interest was manifested in the object
of the meeting. Hou. J. P. Reed made one of
his rousing speeches, and those who heard him
speak of his effort in highest terms. The res?
olutions provide for a call of a State Conven?
tion on the 28th inst., to be held in Columbia
just one week after the Republican Convention.
Present indications point to a split in the Re?
publican Convention ; and for the sake of hon?
est government it is sincerely hoped that there
will be enough honesty in the Republican
Convention of the 21st, to stem the current of
misrule and corruption, and nominate men who
are decent, honest and capable. Should it do
so, then the Democratic Convention of the
28th will add its hearty amen, and by its voice
and votes assist true Republicans in reforming
the State, and giving to the people true Repub?
lican form of government?a government in
which both white and colored men, and their
children after them, will feel secure in their
fife, liberty and property. The Democratic
party is organizing?not for the purpose of
mere opposition, but that it may husband its
strength for the coming contest, and that it
may throw its whole weight in favor of reform.
Its present motto is?
"To catch the mannen living as they rise,
And to shoot folly as it flics.7'
4@* A correspondent of the Beaufort Repub?
lican giving an account of a meeting at Law
tonville in that county givcj the following re?
port of tho sparring between two of the princi?
pal speakers:
Whipper then took the stand. He proceeded
to point out the fact that Senator Smalls had
voted for every administration measure, and
that he was now going back on the Columbia
ring merely for political purposes. He charged
him with being corrupt, and added that the
whole delegation was equally so. Tho valida?
ting bill, the Blue Ridge swindle, etc., bad re?
ceived the vote of every one except himself.?
He wound up by a defence of Northern men,
asserting that he was proud of having been
born a freeman.
N. B. Myers then took the platform and made
a telling speech. He raked up many damagiug
charges against Whipper. Said that he had
swindled the State iu connection with the Land
Commission, the Sinking Fund, and in the
Legislative expenses, lie asserted that he
could prove by witness present that Attorney
General Chamberlain had paid Whipper five
thousand dollars to he left out of the impeach?
ment resolutions. Upon being requested to
show his witnesses he rather weakened, but
persisted in asserting the truth of the charge
from his own knowledge.
? A Memphis boarding house mistress seized
and held the child of a delinquent boarder, as
security for a debt of SlG.
For the Anderson Intelligencer.
Public Meeting.
Anderson, S. C, August 5,1872.
In response to a call published in the In?
telligencer of last week, inviting the citizens of
Anderson County who are opposed to the ad?
ministration of the Federal and State Govern?
ments, and disposed to unite with the Liberal
Republicans and Democrats in the grand effort
that is now being made to save the country, a
very large meeting, composed chiefly of intel?
ligent farmers, plauters and working men,
from all parts of the County, was convened in
the Court House to-day.
On motion of Col. J. N. Brown, W. H. D.
Gaillard, Esq., was called to the Chair, and
Messrs. A. R. Broyles and W. A. McFall ap?
pointed Secretaries.
On taking the Chair, Mr. Gaillard explain?
ed briefly and intelligently that the object of
the meeting was to consider the action of the
Liberal Republican Convention at Cincinnati;
and the Democratic Convention at Baltimore,
and take such measures in relation thereto as
might be deemed advisable. Whereupon the
following preamble and resolutions wero intro?
duced by Hon. J. P. Reed:
Whereas, After twelve years of practical
disunion between the peoples of the North and
the South?four of them spent in a sanguinary
conflict of arms, and eight in a conflict of pas?
sions and prejudices?under the influence of
which the common government at Washing?
ton, whilst pretending to reconstruct the Union
on the basis of the Constitution, continued, in
fact, to wage against a prostrate and ruined
South, an unrelenting warfare of tyranny and
oppression, depriving her of every muniment
of good government held sacred by free men.
And whereas, by the action of tho Liberal
Republicans at Ciucinnati, and of the Democ?
racy at Baltimore, a National Platform has
been erected on which all good men, of all sec?
tions, who have the welfare of their country at
heart, without regard to race, color, previous
condition, or past political affiliation, may
stand shoulder to shoulder, heart linked to
heart, and grasping hands "across the bloody
chasm," unite in one grand effort, laying aside
all the bitter memories of the past, and looking
steadily to the future, to restore the Federal
Union, with its millions of lately enfranchised
freedmen, to the condition in which it came
from the hands of its illustrious founders,
when, in the enjoyment of peace and good will,
"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may
be effectually guaranteed to all its inhabitants."
And whereas, whilst our fellow-citizens of
every other State iu the Union are rushing
with patriotic enthusiasm to mount the afore?
said platform, and range themselves in line,
under the command of those great civilians,
Horace Greeley, of New York, and B. Gratz
Brown, of Missouri, to aid in the coming con?
flict for the redemption of their country, in
which the pass-word will be "peace," and the
weapons "truth, justice and the Constitution,"
it is the sense of this meeting that South Car?
olina should not longer stand aloof, but that
she, too, with an assurance that a redemption
of the National Government must work out
her political salvation, should claim her "place
in, the picture," and by her energy and gallant?
ry in the common strife, entitle herself to
snare with her sisters the glorious fruits of the
victory they are hastening to achieve. Be it,
therefore,
Resolved, That the Platform adopted by the
Liberal Republicans at Cincinnati, and ap
; proved by the Democracy at Baltimore, with
the candidates placed thereon for President
and Vice President of the United States, are
cordially accepted and ratified as the Platform
and candidates of this meeting; that in the
Horace Greeley of to-day, we recognize the
Benjamin Franklin of '76, and with the meas?
ure that we revere Franklin as one of the
fathers of the American Union, we hope hence?
forward to regard Greeley as its restorer and
preserver, not in theory merely, but in fact, in
j the "hearts of his couutrymen."
I Resolved, That whilst the colored voters, who
are in large majority, remain confined in the
toils of the carpet-bagger, the prospect of car?
rying this State for the Liberal candidates may
seem a forlorn one, we recognize the duty rest?
ing upon us to make the effort, and are not
without hope that the reformation which has
[ commenced to sweep the country may include
I oven unfortunate South Carolina; but whether
! or not, we utterly repudiate the idea so fre?
quently urged, that we should take no interest
in the pending National conflict for fear of
prejudicing our local interests. We are satis
fiea that the redemption of the State from the
hands of its spoilers, is dependent, in a great
measure, on the restoration of the Federal
Government to civil supremacy ander the Con?
stitution and laws, and that by aiding in the elec?
tion of the Liberal?Democratic-Republican?
candidates for President and Vice President,
we adopt the only available means for the res?
toration of our own commonwealth.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meet?
ing that an organization of the friends of the
Liberal candidates for President aud Vice
President should be effected as early as practi?
cable, and to this end we respectfully call upon
our fellow-citizens in the several Counties of
this State, who concur with us in opinion, to
assemble on the earliest practicable day, and
arrange for the appointment of a number of
delegates equal to the number of their repre?
sentatives in the Legislature, to meet in Co?
lumbia on Wednesday, tho 28th August inst.,
for the purpose of organizing for the Presiden?
tial election, and consUlering what action should
be. taken in regard to the State elections.
Resolved, That the citizens of the respective
Townships in this County, who concur in the
objects of this raeetiug, be requested to hold
meetings on Saturday, the 24th August instant,
to appoint two delegates from each Township,
with one additional from each incorporated
Town, to meet in Convention at the Court
House on Mouday, the 2Gth inst., to appoint
four delegates and four alternates to represent
this County in the proposed meeting in Colum?
bia ou Wednesday, the 28th August.
The foregoing preamble and resolutions were
announced to the large audience with great
distinctness, and after a very full explanation
and discussion by the mover in his usual clear,
forcible and eloquent style, were adopted unan?
imously, except that two or three dissenting
voices were heard from toward the colored side
of the house. On motion, it was
Remlved, That the proceedings of this meet?
ing be published in the Anderson Intelligencer,
and that the other Liberal and Democratic pa?
pers in tho State be requested to copy.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
W. H. D. GAILLARD, Chm'n.
A. R. Broyles, )s . .
W. A. McFall, j ?ccrctancfl
Death ok the Notorious Capt. Hamil?
ton.?From a private source, we learn of the
prevalence of a rumor at Thomson, of the
death of the notorious Capt. Hamilton, who
will be remembered as the leader of a band of
robbers, horse thieves and murderers convicted
of their crimes in McDuflie County. At the
time of his death, Hamilton was undergoing a
sentence to the penitentiary for ten years' hard
labor on the Air-Line Railroad.?Augusta
Chronicle.
HSSP A severe hail storm passed through that
portion of Spartan burg County cornering on
Greenville and Laurens on last Sunday even?
ing. Some of the stones were as large as guinea
e^gs, and the damages done to some plantations
was immense. A very heavy and washing rain
fell iu the Northwestern portion of Laurens
County on the same eveuiug.
THE BLACK MAN'S FRIEND.
Senator Smuner's Advice to the Colored
Voters.
The following is a copy of the letter ad?
dressed to Senator Sumner by a number of
colored citizens, residents of Washington City,
requesting his opinion as to what action^the
colored voters should take in the present crisis:
Washington, D. C, July 11.
sir?We, the undersigned, citizens of color,
regarding you as the purest and best friend of
our race, admiring your consistent course in
the United States Senate and elsewhere as the
special advocate of our rights, and believing
that your counsel at this critical juncture in
the period of our citizenship would be free
from personal feeling and partizan prejudice,
have ventured to request your opinion as to
what action the colored voters of the nation
should take in the Presidential contest now
pending.
The choice of our people is now narrowed
down to General Grant, or Horace Greeley.
Your long acquaintance with both, and your j
observation, have enabled you to arrive at a
correct conclusion as to which of the candi-;
dates, judging from their antecedents, as well !
as their present position, will, if elected, en?
force the requirements of the constitution and
the laws respecting our civil' and political i
rights with the most heartfelt sympathy and
the greatest vigor.
We hope and trust you will favor us with
such reply as wi ll serve to enlighten our minds
upon this subject, and impel our people to go
forward in the right direction. Our confidence
in your judgment is so firm that, in our opin?
ion, thousands of the intelligent colored voters,
of the country will be guided iu their action'
by your statement and advice.
Hoping to receive a reply soon, we have the
honor to tie, with great respect, your obedient
servants: A. T. Augusta, M. D., David Fisher,
Sr., John H. Smith, Edward Cruser, Wm. H.
A. Wormlcv, Wrn.T. Wilson, R. W^T?mpkins,,
John H. Brown, Henry Lacey, W. Hr Bell, J.
L. N. Bowcn, M. D., Jacob DeWitteiy Samuel
Proctor, J. J. Ketchum, Chas. N. Thomas, Wm.
H. Shorter, Henry Hill, Turman S. Shadd, Geo.
D. Johnson, Chris. A. Flcetwood, Charles F,
Bruce, David Fisher, Jr., David King, Wm.
Palkeny.
Below we print in full Senator Sumner's an?
swer to the above:
Washington, July 29,1872.
Gentlemen and Fellow- Citizens: If I have de?
layed answering your communication of July
11, which was duly placed in my hands by
your committee, it is not because the proper
course for you seemed doubtful, but because I
wished to reflect upon it and be aided by the
information which time might supply.' Since
then I have carefully considered tW inquiries
you have addressed me, and listened to much
on both sides, but my best judgment iiuw is in
harmony with my early conclusion.
I am touched by the appeal you make. It is
true that I am the friena of your race, and I
am glad to be assured that in your opinion I
have held a consistent course in the Senate
and elsewhere as the special advocate of your
rights. That course, by the blessing of God, I
mean to hold so long as life lasts. I know your
infinite wrongs, and feel for them as my own.
You only do me simple justice when you add a
belief that my counsel, at this critical juncture
of your citizenship, would be free from person?
al feelings and partizan prejudice. In answer?
ing your inquiries, I can have no feeling except
for your good, which I most anxiously seek;
nor can any prejudice of any kind be allowed
to interfere. The occasion is too solemn. Es?
pecially is there no room for personal .feeling
or for partizan prejudice. No maa^or.^party
can expect power except for the general wel?
fare Therefore they must be brought to the
standard of truth, that they may- bo- seen in
life and act. ? :-..<-. > : .
You are right in saying that , the.-choice for
the Presidency is now "narrowed-down" to
Presideut Grant pr.Uorace^.Greclev. One df
these is to be taken, and,''assumnig'my ac?
quaintance with both and my observation of
their lives, you invite my judgment between
them, asking me especially which of the two,
I judging from their antecedents as well as pres?
ent position, would enforce the constitution
and laws securing your civil and political rights
with the most heartfelt sympathy and the great?
est vigor. Here I remark that, in this inquiry,
you naturally put your rights in the foreground.
So do I; believing most sincerely that the best
interests of the whole country are associated
with the completest recognition of.your rights,
so that the two races shall live together in un?
broken harmony. I also remark that you call
attention to two things, the "antecedents" of
the two candidates; and secondly, the "present
position." You wish to know froiu;thes? which
gives assurance of the most heartfelt sympathy
and greatest vigor in the maintenance or your
rights; in other words, which, judging by the
past, will be your truest friend. ?
The communication with . which; you have
honored me is not alone. Colored' fellow-citi?
zens in other parts of the country-r-I may say
in nearly every State of the Union?have made
a similar request, and some complain that I
have thus far kept silent. I am not insensible
to this appeal. But if my opinion is given, it
must be candidly according to my conscience.
In this spirit 1 answer your inquiries, begin?
ning with the antecedents of the two 'candi?
dates.
L Horace Greeley was born to poverty, and
educated himself in a printing office. Presi?
dent Grant, fortunate in early patronage, be?
came a cadet at West Point, and was educated
at the public expense. One started with noth?
ing but industry and character; the other
started with a military commission. One was
trained as a civilian ; the other as a soldier.
Horace Greeley stood forth as a reformer and
abolitionist. President Grant enlisted as a
pro-slavery Democrat, and, at the election of
James Buchanau, fortified by his vote all tho
pretcntions of slavery, including the Dred
Scot* decision. Horace Greeley from early
life was earnest and constant against slavery,
full of sympathy with the colored race, and
always foremost in the great battle for their
rights. President Grant, except as a soldier,
summoned by the terrible accident of war,
never did anything against slavery, nor has ho
at any time shown any sympathy with the col-"
ored race. Horace Greeley earnestly desired
that colored citizens should vote, and earnestly
championed impartial suffrage; but President
Grant was on the other side.
Beyond these contrasts, which are^marked,
it cannot be forgotten that Horace Greeley is
a person of large heart and large understand?
ing, trained to the the support of human rights,
always beneficent with the poor, always ready
for any good cause, and never deterred by op?
position or reproach, as when for long years
he befriended your people. Add to "these
qualities, conspicuous in his life, untiring in?
dustry, which leaves no moment without its
fruit; abundant political knowledge ; acquaint?
ance with history; the instinct and grasp of
statesmanship ; an amiable nature; a magnan?
imous soul, and, above all, an honesty which
no suspicion has touched, and you have a
brief portraiture of the antecedents. nJMHorace
Greeley. " -
Few of these things appearin the President
His great success in war, and the honors he
has Won, cannot change the record e? his- con?
duct toward your people, cspccialjyxn contrast
with the lifetime fidelity of his competitor,'
while there aro unhappy "antecedents" show?
ing that in the prosecution of Wsjolans he
cares nothing for the colored raco. The story
is painful, but it must be told.
I refer to the outrage he perpetrated upon
Hayti with its eight hundred thousand blacks,
engaged in-the great experiment .of self gov?
ernment. Here, is a most instructive "antece?
dent," revealing beyond questionvhis true na-.
ture, and the whole is attested" by docynaehtiiry
evidence. Conceiving ihe,"-|dea of annexing1
Dominica, which is the Spanish part" of the
island, and shrinking at nothing, he. bigan by
seizing the war powers of the government, in |
flagrant violation of the constitution, and then,
at a'great expenditure of money, sent several
armed ships of the navy, including monitors,
to maintain the usurper Baez in power, that j
through him he might obtain the coveted
prize. Not content with this audacious dicta?
torship, he proceeded to strike at the indepen?
dence of the Black Republic by open menace
of war, and all without the sanction of Con?
gress, to which is committed the war-making
power. Sailing into the harbor of Port-au
Prince with our most powerful monitor, the
Dictator, properly named for this service, also
ithe frigate Severn as consort, and other moni
'tors in their train, the admiral, acting under
i instructions from Washington, proceeded to the
Executive Mansion, accompanied by officers of
his squadron, and then, pointing to the great
war ships in sight from the windows, dealt his
menace of war, threatening to sink or capture
Hatien ships. The president was black, not
white. The admiral would have done no such
thing to any white ruler, nor would our coun?
try have tolerated such menace from any gov?
ernment iu the world. Here was indignity,
not only to the Black Republic, with its popu?
lation of eight hundred thousand, but to the
African race everywhere, and especially in our
own country. Nor did it end here. For months
the navy of the United States was hovering on
the coast, keeping that insulted people in con?
stant anxiety, while President Grant was to
them like a hawk sailing in the air, and ready
to swoop upon his prey.
This heartless, cruel proceedings found a
victim among our white fellow-citizens. An
excellent merchant of Connecticut, praised by
all who knew him, was plunged into prison by
Baez, where he was immured because it was
feared he would write against the treaty of an?
nexation, and this captivity was prolonged
with the connivauce ? of two agents of the
President, one of whom finds constant favor
with him and is part of the military ring im?
mediately about him.' That such an outrage
could go unpunished shows the little regard of
the President for human rights, whether in
white or black.
I confess my trials, as I was called to witness
these things. Always a supporter of the ad?
ministration, and sincerely desiring to labor
with it, I had never uttered" a word with regard
to it except in kindness. My early opposition
to the treaty of annexatiou was reserved, so
that for some time my opinions were unknown.
It was only when I saw the breach of all law,
human and devine, that I was aroused, aud
then began the anger of the President and of
his rings, military and senatorial. Devoted to
the African race, I felt for them, besides being
humbled, that the great Republic, acting
through ita President, could set such an exam?
ple, where the national constitution, interna?
tional law and humanity were all sacrificed.?
Especially was I moved when I saw the indig?
nity to the colored race which was accomplished
by tramping upon a fundamental principal of
international law, declaring the equality of na?
tions, as our Declaration of Indepeudence de?
clares the equality of men. ?
. This terrible transaction, which nobody can
defend, is among the "antecedents" of Presi?
dent Grant, from which you can judge how
much the colored race can rely upon his
"heartfelt sympathies." Nor can it be forgot?
ten that shortly afterward, on the return of
the commission from this island, Kofi. Frede?
rick Douglass, the colored orator, accomplished
in manners as in eloquence, was thrust away
from the company of the commissioners at the
common table of the mail packet on the Poto?
mac, almost within sight of the Executive
Mansion, simply on account of his color; but
the President, at whose invitation he had
joined the commission, never uttered a word
in condemnation of this exclusion, and when
entertaining the returned commissioners at
dinners carefully omitted Mr. Douglass, who
was in Washington at the time, and thus re?
peated the indignity.
Other things might be mentioned, showing
the sympathies of the President ; but I cannot
forget the civil rights bill, which is the cap?
stone of that equality before the law to which
all are entitled, without distinction of color.
President Grant, who could lobby so assiduous?
ly for his St. Domingo scheme, full of wrongs
to the colored race, could do nothing for this
beneficent measure. During a long session of
Congress it was discussed constantly, and the
colored people everywhere hung upon the de?
bate ; but there was no word of "heartfelt sym?
pathy" from the President. At last, just be?
fore the nominating convention, he addressed
a letter to a meeting of colored fellow-citizens
in Washington, called to advance this cause,
where he avoided the question by declaring
himself in favor of "the exercise of those
rights to which every citizen should bo justly
entitled," leaving it uncertain whether colored
people are justly entitled to the rights secured
by the pending bill. I understand that Horace
Grecley has Been already assailed by an im?
practicable Democrat as friendly to this bill;
but nobody has lisped against President Grant
on this account
Among "antecedents," I deem it my duty to
mention the little capacity or industry of the
President in protecting colored people, and in
assuring peace at the South. Nobody can
doubt that a small portion of the effort and
earnest will, even without the lobbying, so
freely given to the St. Domingo scheme, would
.have averted those Ku Klux outrages which
we deplore, so that there would have been no
pretence for further legislation by Congress.
But he was disabled both by character and the
drawback of his own conduct. After violating
the constitution and international law to insult
the Black Republic, and Betting an example of
insubordination, ho was not in condition to re?
buke law-breakers.
II. Passing from "antecedents," I come now
to the "present position" of the two candidates,
which is the subject of your next inquiry. If
in any former particulars the two are "on an
equality, yet in all substantial respects the ob?
vious advantage is with Horace Greeley.
Each was nominated by a Republican con?
vention, one at Cincinnati and the other at
Philadelphia, so that in this respect they may
seem to be on an equality. But it will not fail
to be observed that the convention at Cincin?
nati was composed of able and acknowledged
Republicans, many of whom have acted with
the party from its first formation, who, without
previous organization, came together voluntari?
ly for the sake of reform aud purity in the
government; while, on tho other hand, the
convention at Philadelphia was composed of
delegates chosen largely under tho influence of
office-holders, who assembled to sustain what
is known as Grantism, being the personal gov?
ernment and personal pretensions of President
Grant, involving nepotism, repayment of gifts
bv official patronage, neglect of public duty,
absenteeism, military rule, disregard of consti?
tution and law, with general unfitness and in?
dignity to the colored race?all of which is so
unrep?blican as to make its support impossible
for true Republicans. Therefore, the conven?
tion at Philadelphia, though calling itself Re?
publican, was less Republican in reality than
that at Cincinnati.
The two platforms, so far as concerns espe?
cially the colored race, are alike iu substance,
but that of Cincinnati is expressed in terms
most worthy of the equal rights it states and
-Claims: "We recognise the equality of all
men before the law, and hold that it is the
duty of the government in its dealings with
the people to mete out equal and exact justice
to all of whatever nativity, race, color or per?
suasion, religious or political." In other re?
spects the platform of Cincinnati is the most
Republican, inasmuch as it sets itself against
-those unrep?blican abuses which have been
?nursed by the President into pernicious activ?
ity.
From the two nominations and two plat?
forms I come to the supporters of the candi?
dates ; and here I look, first, at those immedi?
ately about them ; and, secondly, at the. jtopu
;Jnr.*sup"poM*be1ilnd.v
Horace Grecley has among :Ms:'immediate
pupporters. in all ports of the country,, devoted
and consistent Republicans, always earnest for
reform and purity in government, on whose
lives there is no shadow of suspicion?being a j
contrast in character to those Rings which play '
such a part in the present Administration.?
The country knows too well the Military Ring,
the Senatorial Ring, aud the Custom House
Ring, through which the President acts. Such
supporters are a very poor recommendation.
Looking at the popular support behind, the
advantage is still with Horace Greeley. Presi?
dent Grant has at his back the diversified army
of office-holders, drilled to obey the word of
command. The speeches praising him are by
office-holders and members of rings. Horace
Greeley finds flocking to his support large
numbers of Republicans unwilling to-continue
the existing misrule, and as allies with them a
I regenerated party which comes forward to unite
in the Liberal movement. Democrats in join?
ing Horace Greeley have changed simply as
President Grant changed when he joined the Re?
publicans, except that he was rewarded at once
with high office. The change is open. Adopting
the Republican platform which places the equal
rights of all uuder the safeguard of irreversible
guarantees, and at the same time accepting the
nomination of a life-time abolitionist, who rep?
resents pre-eminently the sentiment of duty to
the colored race, they have set their corporate
seal to the sacred covenant. Thsy may con?
tinue Democrats in name, but t\ey are in reali?
ty Republicans, by the same title that those
who sustain Republican principles are Repub?
licans, or rather they are Democrats, according
to the original signification of that word, dedi?
cated to the rights of the people.
It is idle to say that Horace Greeley and the
Republicans that nominated him are any less
Republicans because Democrats unite with
them in support of cherished principles and
the candidate who represents them. Conver?
sions are always welcome, and not less so be?
cause the change is a multitude rather than an
individual. A political party cannot, if it
would, and should not if it could, shut the
door against converts, whether counted by the
score, the hundred, or the thousand; and so
we find that the supporters of Grant announce
with partisan triumph the adhesion of a single
Democratic politician or a single Democratic
newspaper. On equal reason and with higher
pride may the supporters of Horace Greeley
announce the adhesion of the Democratic par?
ty, which, turning from the things that are be?
hind, presses on to those that are before.
It is also idle to say that the election of Hor?
ace Greeley as President, with Gratz Brown as
Vice President?both unchangeable Republi?
cans?will be the return of the Democratic
party to power. On the contrary, it will be
the inauguration of Republican principles, un?
der the safeguard of a Republican President
and Republican Vice President, with Demo?
crats as avowed supporters. In the organiza?
tion of his administration and in the conduct
of affairs Horace Greeley will naturally lean
upon those who represent best the great prom?
ises made of equal rights and reconciliation at
Cincinnati.* If Democrats are taken, it will be
as Republicans in heart, recognizing the asso?
ciate terms of the settlement as an irreversible
finality.
The hardihood of political falsehood reaches
its extreme point when it is asserted that under
Horace Greeley the frecdmen will be reinslav
ed, or that colored people will in any way suf?
fer in their equal rights. On the contrary, they
have in his election not only the promises of
the platform, but also the splendid example
for a full generation, during which he has never
wavered in the assertion of their rights. To
suppose that Horace Greeley, when placed
where he can do them the most good, will de?
part from the rule of his honest life is an in?
sult to reason.
It is noue the less idle to suppose that Dem?
ocrats supporting Horace Greeley expect or
desire that he should depart from those princi?
ples which are the glory of his character.?
They have accepted the Cincinnati platform
with its two-fold promises, aud intend in good
faith to maintain it. Democrats cannot turn
back, who at the convention adopting this
platform, sang Greeley songs to the tune of
"Old John Brown, his soul is marching on."
Seeking especially the establishment of char?
acter in the National Government, they will
expect their President to he always true to him?
self.
Therefore I put aside the partisan allegations
that Horace Greeley has gone to the Demo?
crats, or that he will be controlled by Demo?
crats. Each is without foundation or reason,
according to ray judgment. They are attempts
to avoid what you recognize as the true issue,
being the question between the two candidates,
or, perhaps, they may be considered as scare?
crows, to deter the timid. Nobody who votes
for Horace Greeley will go to the Democrats,
nor do I believe that, when elected, Horace
Greeley will be under any influence except that
enlightened conscience which will keep him
ever true to the principles he represents.
Gentlemen, in thus answering your two in?
quiries, I have shown why you, as colored fel?
low-citizens, and also all who would uphold
your rights and save the colored race from in?
dignity, should refuse to sanction the re-election
of the President, and put your trust in Horace
Greeley. I ought to add that with him will be
associated, as Vice President, Gratz Brown,
whom I have known for years as a most deter?
mined abolitionist. The two together will car?
ry into the National Government an unswerv?
ing devotion to your rights, not to be disturbed
by partisan dictation or sectional prejudice.
Besides all this, which may fitly guide you
in determining between the two candidates, it
is my duty to remind you that, as citizens of
the United States, and part of the country,
your welfare is indissolubly associated with
that of the whole country. Where all are
prosperous you will be gainers. Therefore,
while justly careful of your own rights, you
cannot be indifferent to the blessing of good
government. It is for you to consider whether
the time has not come for something better
than the sword, and whether a character like
Horace Greeley does not give stronger assur?
ance of good government that can bo found in
the insulter of the colored race, already famous
from the rings about him aud his plain inapti?
tude for civil life. The supporters of President
Grant compel us to observe his offences and
short-comings. The comparison they challenge
cannot be declined. It will be for others in
the present canvass to hold it before the Amer?
ican people.
Speaking now for myself, I have to say that
my vote will be given for Horace Greeley; but,
in giving it, I do not go to the Democratic par?
ty, nor am I any less a Republican. On the
contrary, I am so much of a Republican that I
cannot support a candidate whose conduct in
civil life shows an incapacity to appreciate
Republican principles, and whose administra?
tion is marked by acts of delinquency, especi?
ally toward the colored race, by the side of
which the allegations on the impeachment of
Andrew Johnson were technical and trivial.
Unquestionably President Grant deserved im?
peachment for high crimes and misdemeanors
rather than a renomination, and on the trial it
would have been enough to exhibit his seizure
of the war power and ins indignity to the Black
Pepublic, with its population of eight hundred
thousand, in violation of the National Consti?
tution and of international law. And here a
contrast arises between him and Abraham Lin?
coln. The latter in his first annual message
recommended the recognition of what he called
the "independence and sovereignty of Hayti;"
but it is at these that President Grant has
struck. One of Abraham Lincoln's first acts
I was to put the Black Republic on an equality
' with other powers; one of President Graut's
was to degrade it.
I am so much of a Republican that 1 wish
to see in the Presidential chair a life-time
Abolitionist. I also wish a President sincerely
devoted to civil service reform, begiuuiug with
the "one-term principle," which President
Grant onqe accepted but now disowns. I also
?wish" a- President, who sets .the example of in?
dustry and unselfish dedication, of the public
good. A nil! \i-:h to see a President through
whom we may expect peace and harmony in?
stead of discord. Strangely President Grant
seems to delight in strife. If he finds :ao ene?
my, he falls upon his friends, as when he
struck at the Black Republic, insulted Russia
in his annual message, offended both France
and Germany, and then, in personal relations,
quarrelled generally.
My own personal experience teaches how
futile is the charge that because Horace Gree
ley receives Democratic votes, therefore he be?
comes a Democrat, or lapses under Democratic
control. I was first chosen to the Senate by a
coalition of Free Soilers and Democrats.?
Domocratic votes helped make me Senator
from Massachusetts, as they also helped make
my excellent friend, Mr. Chase, Senator from
Ohio, and will help make Horace Greeley
President. But neither Mr. Chase nor myself
was on this account less faithful as Frei} Soiler,
and, ausweringfor myself, I know that I never
became a Democrat or lapsed under Democrat?
ic control. I do not doubt that Horace Gree?
ley will be equally consistent, The charge to
the contrary, so vehemently repeated, seems to
reflect the character of those who make it, ex
\ cept that many repeat it by rote.
There is a common saying, "Principles, not
men," and on this ground an appeal is made
for President Grant, feeling justly that, in any
personal comparison with Horace Greeley, he
must fall. But a better saying is "Principles
and men." I am for the principles of the Re?
publican party in contradistinction of Grantism,
and I am for the man who truly represents
them. By these principles I shall stand, for
them I shall labor, and in their triumph I
always rejoice. If any valued friend separates
from me now, it will be because he places a
man above principles. Early in public life I
declared very little heed for party, and my in?
difference to the name by which I am ca lied:
and now I confess my want of sympathy with
those who would ding to the form after its
spirit has fled.
Allow me to call attention to another and
controlling consideration, which cannot be
neglected by the good citizen. Watching the
remarkable movement that has ended in the
double nomination of Horace Greeley, it is
easy to see that it did not proceed from politi?
cians, whether at Cincinnati or Baltimore. Ev?
idently it was the heart of the people, sorely
wrung by war and the controversies it engen?
dered, which found this expression. Sir Philip
Sidney said of the uprising in the Netherlands,
"It is the spirit of the Ix>rd, and is irresistible,"
and such a spirit is manifest now. Notwith?
standing the counteracting influence of politi?
cians, Republicans and Democrats?in the face
of persistent ridicule?and against the extrav?
agance of unscrupulous opposition, the nomi?
nation at Cincinnati was triumphantly adop?
ted at Baltimore. Such an unprecedented
victory without concert or propulsion of any
kind can be explained only by supposing that
it is in harmony with apopular longing. That
Democrats, and. especially those of the South,
should adopt a life-time Abolitionist for Presi?
dent, is an assurance of willingness to associate
the rights of their colored fellow-citizens with
that reconciliation of which Horace Greeley
was an early representative. In standing by
Jefferson Davis at his trial and signing his
bail-bond, he showed the same sentiment of
humanity he so constantly displayed in stand?
ing by the colored race throughout their pro?
longed trial, so that the two discordant races
find kindred hospitality in him, and he thus
becomes a tie of union.
The nomination has been adopted by the
Democrats in convention assembled. This was
an event which the supporters of President
Grant declared impossible. I do not see how
it can be regarded otherwise than as a peace
offering. As such it is of infinite value. It is
a revolution, and its success in pacifying the
country will be in proportion to its acceptance
by us. I dare not neglect the great opportunity,
nor can I stand aloof. It is in harmony with
my life which places peace above all things
except the rights of men. Thus far, in con?
stant efforts for the colored race, I have sin?
cerely sought the good of all, which I was sure
would be best obtained in fulfilling the promises
of the Declaration of Independence, making:
all equal in rights. The spirit in which I acted
appears in an early speech where I said:
"Nothing in hate; nothing in vengeance."
Never have I asked for punishment. Most
anxiously I have looked for the time, which
seems now at hand, when there should be re?
conciliation, not only between the North and
South, but between the two races, so that the
two sections and the two races may be lifted
from the ruts and grooves in which they are
now fastened, and instead of irritating antago?
nism without end, thereshall be sympathetic co?
operation.
The existing differences ought to be ended.
There is a time for all things, and we are ad?
monished by a widespread popular uprising,
bursting the bonds of party, that the time has
come for estrangment to cease between people,
who, by the ordinance of God, must live to?
gether, uladly do I welcome the happy signs;
nor can I observe without regret the colored
people in organized masses resisting the friend?
ly overtures, even to the extent of intimidating
those who are the other way. It is for them
to consider carefully whether they should not
take advantage of the unexpected opening and
recognize the bail-bond given at Baltimore as
the assurance of peace, holding the parties to
the full performance of its conditions. Provi?
ded always that their rights are fixed, I am
sure it cannot be best for the colored people to
band together in a hostile camp, provoking an?
tagonism and keeping alive the separation of
races. Above all, there must be no intimida?
tion, but every voter must act freely, without
constraint from league or lodge. Much better
will it be when the two political parties com?
pete for your votes, each anxious for your sup?
port. Only then will that citizenship, by
which you are entitled to the ?qual rights of
all, have its natural fruits. Only then will
there be that harmony which is essential to a
true civilization.
The present position of the colored citizen
is perilous. He is exposed to injurious pres
ure when he needs support. But 1 see no early
extrication except in the way proposed. Let
him cut adrift from managers who would wield
him merely as a political force, with little re?
gard to his own good, and bravely stand by the
candidate who has stood by him. If Demo?
crats unite with him, so much the better. The
association once begun must naturally ripen in
common friendship and trust
I am for peace in reality as in name. From
the bottom of my heart I am for peace, and I
welcome all that makes for peace. With deep
felt satisfaction I remember that no citizen who
drew his sword against us has suffered by the
hand of the executioner. In just association
with his humanity will be the triumph of
equal rights wheu the promises of the great
declaration are all fulfilled, and our people are
united, as never before, in the enduring fellow?
ship of a common citizenship. To this end
there must be reconciliation, nor can I with?
hold my hand. Freely I accept the hand that
is offered, and reach forth my own in friendly
grasp. I am against the policy of hate; I am
against fanning ancient flames into continual
life; I am against raking in the ashes of the
past for coals of fire yet burning. Pile up the
ashes; extinguish the flames; abolish the hate
?such is my desire. And now. turning to the
Democratic party, I hold it to all the covenants
solemnly given in the adoption of a Republi?
can platform with Horace Greeley as candidate.
There can be no backward step.
With no common sympathy I have observed
that Mr. Heudricks, a leading Democrat, whom
I knew and esteemed in the benato, has recent?
ly announced his acceptance of ;;hc constitu?
tional amendments with their logical results.
He proposes, as a propcrfcey-note to the extra
, ordinary movement now swelling to a sure tri?
umph : ""Just Laws and Public Virtue." This
is a worthy aspiration, entirely fit on this occa?
sion.. My key-note is: "The Unity of the
Republic, and the Equal Rights of all, with
Reconciriation." Such is my cry, and-wherever
my voice tan reach, there do I insist upon all