Grant or
or Greeley?
Greeley? The
The Abolitionist
Abolitionist
Grant
Dilemma in
in the
the Election
Election of
of 1872
1872
Dilemma
JAMES M. MCPHERSON*
THE important
important role
role in
in the
the Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican party
party of
of 1872
1872 played
played by
by such
such
THE
as Charles
Francis
erstwhile Free-Sailers
Free-Sailers and
and antislavery
antislavery Republicans
Republicans as
erstwhile
Charles Francis
Adams, Salmon
Salmon P.
P. Chase,
Chase, Horace
Horace Greeley,
Greeley, George
George W.
W. Julian,
Julian, Carl
Carl
Adams,
Schurz, Charles
Charles Sumner,
Sumner, and
and Lyman
Lyman Trumbull
Trumbull was
was noted
noted by
Schurz,
by contempocontemporaries
historians alike.
for example,
example, wrote
wrote in
his memoirs
raries and
and historians
alike. Julian,
Julian, for
in his
memoirs that
that
he
1848 and
and
he was
was "delighted"
"delighted" by
by the
the presence
presence "of
"of the
the old
old Free
Free Sailers
Sailers of
of 1848
1852" at
at the
the Liberals'
Liberals' Convention.
Convention. And
And aa careful
careful historian
historian has
has stated
1852"
stated that
that
"the
most striking
striking feature"
feature" of
of the
the Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican party
party "was
"was the
the large
large
"the most
number of
party" in
number
of free-soilers
free-soilers and
and founders
founders of
of the
the Republican
Republican party"
in its
its ranks.
ranks.'1
This
so, one
former aboliThis being
being so,
one might
might also
also expect
expect to
to find
find aa majority
majority of
of those
those former
abolitionists
still alive
alive in
in 1872
1872 among
among the
the supporters
supporters of
of the
the Liberal
Liberal movement.
movement. In
In
tionists still
fact, however,
however, more
more than
than three-fourths
three-fourths of
of the
the abolitionists
abolitionists favored
favored the
the rerefact,
election of
of President
President Grant
Grant over
over his
his Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican challenger,
challenger, Horace
Horace
election
Greeley.
Greeley.
The reasons
reasons for
for the
the abolitionists'
abolitionists' overwhelming
overwhelming support
support of
of Grant
Grant were
The
were
rooted in
in their
their continuing
continuing concern
concern for
for the
the welfare
welfare of
of the
the freedmen.
freedmen. During
During
rooted
and after
after the
the Civil
Civil War,
War, the
the abolitionists
abolitionists had
had championed
championed aa program
program of
of
and
economic assistance,
assistance, education,
education, and
and equal
equal rights
rights for
for the
the freedmen,
freedmen, much
much
economic
of which
which had
had been
been enacted
enacted by
of
by the
the Fourteenth
Fourteenth and
and Fifteenth
Fifteenth Amendments
Amendments
2
Most abolitionists
abolitionists disdisand
and the
the large
large body
body of
of Reconstruction
Reconstruction legislation.
Iegislation.f
Most
cerned grave
grave dangers
dangers for
for the
the Negro
Negro in
in the
the Liberal
Liberal program
program of
of "conciliation"
"conciliation"
cerned
The Liberal
Liberal
of southern
southern whites
whites and
and "self-government"
"self-government" for
for southern
southern states.
states. The
of
Republican movement
movement was
was an
an anomalous
anomalous compound
compound of
of many
many personalities
personalities
Republican
and
major issues
issues were
were tariff
tariff reduction,
reduction, civil
civil service
service reform,
reform,
and forces,
forces, and
and its
its major
and
reconciliation. But
party's nominee,
nominee, Horace
and sectional
sectional reconciliation.
But the
the party's
Horace Greeley,
Greeley, was
was
hostile toward
toward the
the first
first and
and indifferent
indifferent toward
toward the
the second,
second, which
which left
left
hostile
An assistant
assistant professor
professor at
at Princeton
is the
the author
author of
of The Struggle
•• An
Princeton University,
University, Mr.
Mr. McPherson
McPherson is
for
Equality; Abolitionists and the Negro in the Civil War and Reconstruction
Reconstruction (Princeton,
(Princeton, N.
J.,
for Equality:
N. J.,
1964). He
He is
is interested
interested primarily
primarily in
in the
the status
status of
of the
the Negro
Negro during
during and
and after
after the
the Civil
Civil War.
War.
1964).
11 George
George W.
W. Julian,
Julian, Political
Political Recollections, 1840 to 1872 (Chicago,
(Chicago, 1884),337;
1884),337; Earle
Earle Dudley
Dudley
Ross, The Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican Movement (New
(New York,
York, 1919), 61.
Ross,
James M.
M. McPherson,
McPherson, The Struggle for
Equality; Abolitionists and the Negro in the Civil
2 James
for Equality:
J., 1964).
Reconstruction (Princeton,
(Princeton, N.
N. J.,
War and Reconstruction
43
43
44
44
James
James M.
M. McPherson
McPherson
amnesty
amnesty and
and home
home rule
rule for
for the
the South
South as
as the
the "chief
"chief issue"
issue" and
and "great
"great watchwatchword"
word" of
of the
the Liberals
Liberals in
in 1872.3
1872.3 The
The Liberal
Liberal appeal
appeal to
to white
white supremacist
supremacist
southerners
southerners left
left most
most abolitionists
abolitionists with
with no
no choice
choice but
but to
to support
support Grant
Grant and
and
the
the regular
regular Republicans,
Republicans, who,
who, despite
despite their
their shortcomings,
shortcomings, seemed
seemed to
to stand
stand
for federal
federal enforcement
enforcement of
of the
the freedmen's
freedmen's rights
rights in
in the
the South.
South.
for
The origins
origins of
of the
the "southern
"southern question"
question" as
as an
an issue
issue in
in the
the election
election of
of 1872
1872
The
go back
back to
to the
the first
first year
year of
of Grant's
Grant's administration.
administration. In
In 1869
1869 many
many abolitionists
abolitionists
go
were sharply
sharply critical
critical of
of the
the President's
President's failure
failure to
to curb
curb the
the growing
growing antiantiwere
Negro violence
violence in
in the
the South.
South. Before
Before his
his election
election Grant
Grant had
had struck
struck aa vibrant
vibrant
Negro
chord
chord in
in both
both North
North and
and South
South with
with his
his statement,
statement, "Let
"Let us
us have
have peace,"
peace," but
but
to some
some abolitionists
abolitionists Grant's
Grant's long
long summer
summer sojourn
sojourn at
at Long
Long Branch
Branch while
while
to
reports of
of Ku
Ku Klux
Klux Klan
Klan activity
activity multiplied
multiplied seemed
seemed to
to indicate
indicate aa willingwillingreports
ness
peace by giving free rein to southern terrorists. The National
ness to secure
secure peace
organ of
of the
the American
American Anti-Slavery
Anti-Slavery Society,
Society, comcomAnti-Slavery Standard, organ
plained that
that "while
"while the
the President
President smokes,
smokes, drives,
drives, bathes
bathes and
and dances
dances at
at Long
Long
plained
Branch, the
the Ku-Klux
Ku-Klux flourish
flourish in
in Georgia."
Georgia." Wendell
Wendell Phillips
Phillips declared
declared in
in disBranch,
disgust that
that "Gen.
"Gen. Grant
Grant is
is not
not aa traitor;
traitor; he
he is
is only
only King
King Log."
Log." And
And David
David
gust
Lee
Lee Child
Child asked:
asked: "What
"What does
does our
our Pres[ident]
Pres[ident] &
& Gen[
Gen[ eral]
eral] mean
mean by
by singsinging
ing 'peace,
'peace, peace'
peace' &
& dancing
dancing down
down the
the watering
watering places,
places, while
while his
his friends,
friends,
friends
friends of
of the
the country
country ...
... are
are dying
dying over
over nearly
nearly half
half of
of it
it by
by midnight
midnight asassassination
sassination?,,4
?"4
Two
Two omens
omens in
in the
the summer
summer of
of 1869
1869 that
that seemed
seemed to
to threaten
threaten the
the rights
rights of
of
Negroes and
and the
the dominance
dominance of
of Radical
Radical Republicans
Republicans in
in the
the South
South (for
(for most
most
Negroes
abolitionists these
these two
two things
things were
were synonymous)
synonymous) were
were the
the growth
growth of
of
abolitionists
amnesty-reconciliation
amnesty-reconciliation sentiment
sentiment in
in the
the North
North and
and the
the capture
capture of
of two
two south.
southern state
state governments
governments by
by aa coalition
coalition of
of conservative
conservative Republicans
Republicans and
and
ern
Democrats. Greeley's
Greeley's New
New York
York Tribune spearheaded
spearheaded the
the drive
drive for
for
Democrats.
amnesty.
amnesty. Greeley
Greeley believed
believed that
that no
no reconstruction
reconstruction could
could be
be successful
successful withwithout
out the
the voluntary
voluntary cooperation
cooperation of
of "the
"the better
better class"
class" of
of southern
southern whites,
whites, espeespecially
cially those
those of
of Whiggish
Whiggish antecedents.
antecedents. Such
Such cooperation
cooperation could
could be
be secured,
secured,
Greeley
Greeley maintained,
maintained, only
only by
by granting
granting amnesty
amnesty to
to all
all Confederates
Confederates and
and by
by
adopting aa let-alone
let-alone policy
policy toward
toward the
the South.
South. Continued
Continued governmental
governmental interinteradopting
he said,
said, would
would drive
drive all
all southern
southern whites
whites into
into the
the DemoDemoference in
in the
the South,
South, he
ference
cratic party
party and
and intensify
intensify anti-Negro
anti-Negro terrorism;
terrorism; amnesty
amnesty and
and restraint
restraint would
would
cratic
Ross, Liberal Republican Movement, 174--'75;
174--'75; see
see also
also ibid., 12,
12, 16,
16, 130,
130, 173,
173, 176--'77;
176--'77;
aa Ross,
and
and Patrick
Patrick W.
W. Riddleberger,
Riddleberger, "The
"The Radicals'
Radicals' Abandonment
Abandonment of
of the
the Negro
Negro during
during Reconstruction,"
Reconstruction,"
Journal
[ournal of Negro History, XLV
XLV (Apr.
(Apr. 1960),
1960), 92--<)4.
92--<)4. The
The New
New York
York Nation stated
stated that
that "recon"reconciliation
ciliation between
between North
North and
and South"
South" was
was the
the "main
"main if
if not
not the
the only
only point"
point" in
in the
the Liberal
Liberal camcampaign.
paign. (Nation, XV
XV [Nov.
[Nov. 14,
14, 1872],
1872], 308.)
308.)
~ National Anti-Slavery Standard, July
July 31,
31, Sept.
Sept. 25,
25, 1869;
1869; David
David L.
L. Child
Child to
to Charles
Charles SumSumner,
ner, Oct.
Oct. 19,
19, 1869,
1869, Charles
Charles Sumner
Sumner Papers,
Papers, Houghton
Houghton Library,
Library, Harvard
Harvard University.
University.
Grant or Greeley?
45
45
encourage the
the growth
growth of
of aa southern
southern Republican
Republican party
party dominated
dominated by
by the
the
encourage
South's "natural
who would
would provide
provide local
protection for
for the
South's
"natural leaders,"
leaders," who
local protection
the freedfreedmen
men and
and cooperate
cooperate with
with moderate
moderate Republicans
Republicans in
in the
the North
North on
on national
national
political and
and economic
economic issues.
issues,"5
political
Most abolitionists
abolitionists were
were appalled
appalled by
Greeley's formula.
formula. They
Most
by Greeley's
They believed
believed
that to
to entrust
entrust the
the guardianship
guardianship of
of equal
equal rights
rights to
to former
former slaveholders
slaveholders and
and
that
rebels would
would be
be aa surrender
surrender of
of the
the nation's
nation's obligation
obligation to
to the
the freedmen.
freedmen. If
If
rebels
"the present
present Virginia,
Virginia, Tribune, 'conservative,'
"the
'conservative,' doughfaced
doughfaced Amnesty
Amnesty movemovement" should
should succeed,
succeed, wrote
wrote Aaron
Aaron M.
M. Powell,
Powell, editor
editor of
of the
the Anti-Slavery
ment"
"the sequence
sequence would
would be
be ...
... the
the rehabilitation
rehabilitation of
of the
the old
old ruling
ruling
Standard, "the
whites, the
the rebels
rebels of
of the
the South,
South, in
in power."
power." Richard
Richard J.
J. Hinton,
Hinton, aa British-born
British-born
whites,
abolitionist and
and former
former associate
associate of
of John
John Brown,
Brown, declared
declared in
in 1869
1869 that
that "this
"this
abolitionist
Chase-Henderson-Greeley-Virginia conservative
conservative dodge
dodge of
of universal
universal suffrage
suffrage
Chase-Henderson-Greeley-Virginia
and amnesty,
amnesty, can
can only
only result
result ...
... in
in disorganizing
disorganizing the
the reconstruction
reconstruction policy
policy
and
of Congress
Congress and
and disrupting
disrupting the
party in
of
the Republican
Republican party
in the
the South."6
South.?" A
A Radical
Radical
Republican
is doing
doing us
us aa
Republican leader
leader agreed
agreed with
with abolitionists
abolitionists that
that "the
"the Tribune is
vast
mischief. It
It is
is aa regular
regular impostor,-a
vast amount
amount of
of mischief.
impostor,-a conservative
conservative guerrilla,
guerrilla, in
in
radical
radical ranks."7
ranks."?
The Tribune doctrine
doctrine first
first bore
fruit in
The
The
bore fruit
in Virginia
Virginia and
and Tennessee.
Tennessee. The
Republican parties
parties in
states split
split into
into radical
radical and
and conservative
conservative factions
factions
Republican
in those
those states
in the
the summer
summer of
of 1869,
1869, and
and with
with the
the support
support of
of the
the Democrats,
Democrats, the
the conservconservin
atives in
in both
both states
states triumphed
triumphed in
in the
the elections
elections of
of 1869.8
1869.8 In spite
conatives
spite of
of the
the conservatives'
Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments,
servatives' pledge
pledge to
to uphold
uphold the
the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth
Amendments,
abolitionists
feared that
results of
elections boded
for the
the freedfreedabolitionists feared
that the
the results
of these
these elections
boded ill for
men. Their
Their apprehensions
apprehensions were
were confirmed
confirmed when
when the
the new
new conservative
conservative govgovmen.
of Tennessee
Tennessee repealed
repealed the
ernment of
ernment
the state-wide
state-wide compulsory
compulsory school
school law,
law, an
an
was followed
followed by
by the
closing of
of most
most public
public schools
schools for
for Negroes
Negroes
action
action that
that was
the closing
Startled from
from its
its lethargy
lethargy by
by events
events in
in
state,"9 Startled
in Virginia
Virginia and
and Tennessee,
Tennessee,
in the
the state.
Horace Greeley,
Greeley, Nineteenth-Century Crusader
Crusader (Philadelphia,
e~ Glyndon G. Van Deusen, Horace
1953), 380-82; New York Tribune, Jan. 23, Feb. 18, 27, June 9, July 7, 8, 16, 21, Aug. 7,
Sept. 28, Dec.
Dec. 16, 20, 1869.
6 National Anti-Slavery Standard, Jan. 23, 30, 1869.
Ibid., Sept. 25, 1869.
7 lbid.,
Hamilton J.
J. Eckenrode,
Eckenrode, The Political
Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction
Reconstruction (Balti(Balti8 Hamilton
II 6-25; Thomas B.
B. Alexander, Political
Political Reconstruction
Reconstruction in Tennessee (Nashville,
more, 1904), 116-25;
1950), 199-225.
Tennessee, I865-I880 (Washington, D. C., 1941), 182.
9 Alrutheus A. Taylor, The Negro in Tennessee,
John W. Alvord, a veteran abolitionist who was serving as superintendent of education of the
Tennessee in January 1870 and found that most of the
Freedmen's Bureau, made a visit to Tennessee
schools had been
public schools
been shut down. The repeal of the state school
school law had left each county with
schools, and Alvord reported that only two
the option of continuing or closing the public schools,
schools open. "It
"It makes the heart ache," wrote Alvord,
of the eighty-five counties had kept the schools
"to see
see the late flourishing
flourishing system
system of this State so suddenly overturned."
overturned," (John W. Alvord, Letters
from the South, Relating to the Condition of the Freedmen, Addressed to Major
General
Major General
O. O.
O. Howard [Washington, D. C., 1870], 28-32.)
O.
46
James M. McPherson
the Grant
success of
of the
the regular
regular
the
Grant administration
administration took
took steps
steps to
to ensure
ensure the
the success
Republicans
in the
the Mississippi
Mississippi and
and Texas
Texas elections
elections late
late in
in 1869.
1869. Nevertheless,
Nevertheless,
Republicans in
some abolitionists
abolitionists predicted
predicted gloomily
that the
the conservative-Democratic
conservative-Democratic
some
gloomily that
coalition in
in Virginia
Virginia and
and Tennessee
Tennessee would
would pave
pave the
the way
way to
to aa similar
similar coalicoalicoalition
1872.10
tion at
at the
the national
national level
level in
in 1872.10
tion
During the
the next
next two
two congressional
congressional sessions
sessions (I
(I 86$)-1871),
86$)-1871), many
many abolitionabolitionDuring
ists urged
urged the
the Republicans
to redress
redress the
the deteriorating
deteriorating situation
situation in
in the
the South
South
ists
Republicans to
by passing
passing legislation
legislation to
to protect
protect the
the Negro's
Negro's voting
voting rights
rights and
and to
to suppress
suppress
by
the Ku
Ku Klux
Klux Klan.
Klan. "Unless
"Unless there
there be
be some
some change
change for
for the
the better,"
better," proclaimed
proclaimed
the
the Anti-Slavery Standard, "nothing
"nothing is
is more
more certain
certain than
than the
the absolute
absolute failure
failure
the
of reconstruction,
reconstruction, and
and aa new,
new, and
and formidable
formidable consolidation
consolidation of
of the
the whites
whites of
of
of
The Standard's Washington
Washington correspondent,
correspondent,
the
the South
South as
as aa political
political unit."
unit." The
J. Hinton,
Hinton, noted
noted in
in February
February 1870
1870 that
that the
the conservative
Richard
conservative government
government
Richard J.
of
had adopted
adopted aa poll
poll tax
tax and
and had
had passed
passed aa vagrancy
of Tennessee
Tennessee had
vagrancy law
law that
that
placed
the rights
rights of
Negro laborers.
"It is
is in
in aa hundred
hundred ways
ways
placed restrictions
restrictions on
on the
of Negro
laborers. "It
like
this," wrote
wrote Hinton,
Hinton, "that
"that the
the subtile
subtile Southern
Southern perverts
perverts ...
... will
will seek
seek to
to
like this,"
imdestroy,
and wear
wear away
away the
the full
full value
value of
of the
the rights
rights now
now imdestroy, disintegrate
disintegrate and
bedded in
in the
the National
National Constitution."l1
Aaron M.
that
bedded
Constitution.l'P Aaron
M. Powell
Powell maintained
maintained that
"the
of Constitutional
Constitutional Amendments
Amendments to
to guarguar"the adoption and ratification only of
to the
antee equal
equal civil
civil and
and political
political rights
rights to
antee
the colored
colored people
people of
of the
the South,
South, will
will
be
practical value
by ADEQUATE
ADEQUATE PROVIPROVIbe of
of little
little practical
value unless
unless supplemented
supplemented by
SION FOR
FOR THEIR
THEIR RIGOROUS
RIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT."
ENFORCEMENT." If
If the
the government
SION
government
did
Klan, said
said Frederick
Frederick Douglass,
Douglass, the
the South
would
did not
not crush
crush the
the Ku
Ku Klux
Klux Klan,
South would
"remand the
the negro
negro to
to aa condition
condition in
in some
some respects
respects worse
worse than
than that
that from
from
"remand
him."12
which the
the war
war for
for the
the Union
which
Union delivered
delivered him."12
In aa series
series of
18;'0-1871, Congress
Congress legislated
legislated
In
of Enforcement
Enforcement Acts
Acts passed
passed in
in 18;'0-1871,
to vote
vote and
and authorized
authorized the
the use
use of
of
federal protection
protection for
federal
for the
the Negro's
Negro's right
right to
troops to
to suppress
suppress terrorism
terrorism in
in the
the South.
troops
South. President
President Grant's
Grant's strong
strong support
support
of
of this
this legislation,
legislation, plus
plus his
his energetic
energetic measures
measures to
to quash
quash the
the Klan
Klan and
and uphold
uphold
Radical
Radical Republican
Republican governments
governments in
in the
the South,
South, caused
caused most
most abolitionists
abolitionists to
to
13
President.P
reverse their
their earlier
earlier critical
critical appraisal
appraisal of
of the
reverse
the President.
10
B. Hesseltine, Ulysses
Ulysses S. Grant, Politician
Politician (New York, 1935), 180-84; National
10 William B.
10, 17, 31, Aug. 7, 14, Sept. II, 1869; Boston
Boston CommonAnti-Slavery Standard, June 26, July 10,
wealth, July 10, 17, Aug. 14, 21, 1869; Wendell Phillips to Moncure Conway, Aug. 18, 1869,
M. Maloney-Wendell
Maloney-Wendell P. Garrison Papers, New York Public Library. The
Lucy McKim-Margaret M.
leading historian of the Liberal Republican party concluded that "the Virginia movement was
later held, probably with essential
essential correctness,
correctness, to be a real beginning of Liberal Republicanism."
(Ross, Liberal Republican Movement,
Movement, 26.)
(Ross,
Anti-Slavery Standard, Dec.
11 National Anti-Slavery
Dec. 4, 1869, Feb. 26, 1870.
12
Ibid., Dec. 25, 1869; New National Era, Apr. 6, 1871.
12 lbid.,
18 16
16 US
US Statutes at Large 140-46,
140-46, 433-40,
433-40, and 17 US
US Statutes at Large 13-15; National
18
Ind~­
Anti-Slavery Standard, Apr. 9, 1870; National Standard, Dec. 3, 24, 1870, Oct. 21, 1871; lndeBoston Commonwealth, Apr. 23, 1870, Oct. 14, 1871.
pendent, Dec. 8, 1870; Boston
Grant or Greeley?
47
47
At the same time, however, Grant's lukewarmness toward civil service
reform, his penchant for appointing relatives to office, and his connection
with political and economic spoilsmen had tarnished his image among the
1870 the reformers
reform element in the Republican party. Beginning in 1870
tried to take over the party, and failing in this effort, they bolted the regular organization and formed the Liberal Republican party in 1872.
1872. Their
chief aim, as Carl Schurz phrased it in his keynote address to the Liberal
Convention, was to create a government "which the best people of this country will be proud of."14
When the Liberals looked to the South, they discovered
discovered that some of the
"best people" of that section were the former Confederate leaders, many of
whom were now disqualified from office or otherwise estranged from politpolicy of
ical leadership. From the Liberal viewpoint, the administration's policy
supporting "carpetbag rule" in most of the southern states had resulted in the
well-publicized "corruption and disorder" of southern politics. Inevitably,
the Liberal movement bid for an alliance with southern conservatives on the
acbasis of home rule and amnesty, in return for a southern promise to aclocally the basic rights
cept the Reconstruction amendments and to enforce locally
of
of the
the freedmen.P
freedmen. 15
Theodore Tilton, the brilliant but mercurial editor of the powerful In1863 to 1870,
1870, was one of the first abolitionists to join the
dependent from 1863
Liberal movement. At the end of 1870
1870 Tilton had resigned as editor of the
Independent because of a series
series of disagreements with the paper's owner,
Henry C. Bowen. In March 1871
1871 Tilton founded a new weekly newspaper,
The Golden Age, which he quickly turned into an antiadministration journal. The previous year Tilton had expressed disgust with Grant's appointments to the New York custom house and had enlisted in the cause of civil
1871 Tilton stated that "a renomination of
service reform. In the spring of 1871
so injudicious that it ought to be no longer disGen. Grant would be so
cussed. . . . His administration has been but a mediocre success, and not
worth repeating for another four years."16
At this time most Liberals hoped to reform the Republican party from
1871 Tilton hinted at a possible
possible future Liberalwithin, but as early as March 1871
Democratic coalition.
Speeches, Correspondence and Political
Political Papers
Papers of Carl
Carl Schurz, ed. Frederic Bancroft (6
14 Speeches,
vols., New York, 1913),
1913), II, 359.
vols.,
15
The most
studies of
15 The
most thorough
thorough and
and comprehensive
comprehensive studies
of the
the Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican party
party are
are Ross,
Ross,
Republican Movement; Matthew
Matthew T.
T. Downey,
Downey, "The
"The Rebirth
Rebirth of
of Reform:
Reform: A
A Study
Study of
of
Liberal Republican
doctoral dissertation,
dissertation, Princeton
Princeton University,
University, 1963; and
and
Liberal Reform
Reform Movements,
Movements, 1865-1872," doctoral
Liberal
John G.
G. Sproat,
Sproat, "Party
"Party of
of the
the Center:
Center: The
The Politics
Politics of
of Liberal
Liberal Reform
Reform in
in Post-Civil
Post-Civil War
War
John
Berkeley, 1959.
America," doctoral
University of California, Berkeley,
America,"
doctoral dissertation,
dissertation, University
16 Golden Age, June
June 3,
3, 1871.
16
James
James M.
M. McPherson
McPherson
48
The time
time has
has come
come for
for somebody
somebody to
to say
say from
from aa Radical
Radical Republican
Republican point
point of
of view
view
The
that the
the triumph
triumph of
of the
the Republican
Republican party-which
party-which was
was at
at first
first aa political,
political, then
then aa
that
military, and
and always
always aa moral
moral necessity
necessity to
military,
to the
the country-would
country-would now
now cease
cease to
to be
be
any kind
kind of
of aa necessity
necessity to
to it
it whatever,
whatever, ifif the
the Democratic
Democratic leaders
leaders were
were wise
wise
any
enough
enough to
to take
take aa noble
noble advantage
advantage of
of their
their great
great opportunity.F
opportunity,17
Tilton
Tilton urged
urged the
the Democrats
Democrats to
to repudiate
repudiate their
their past
past opposition
opposition to
to the
the ReReconstruction amendments
amendments and
and return
return to
to their
their Jeffersonian-Jacksonian
Jeffersonian-Jacksonian herihericonstruction
tage of
of equal
equal rights.
rights.
tage
Republican as
as we
we are
are we
we believe
believe that
that the
the greatest
greatest blessing
blessing that
that could
could befall
befall the
the
Republican
1872 would
would be
be to
to see
see the
the Democratic
Democratic party
party ratify
ratify the
the arbitrament
arbitrament of
of the
the
nation in
in 1872
nation
war, accept
accept the
the plan
plan of
of reconstruction,
reconstruction, carry
carry out
out the
the fourteenth
fourteenth and
and fifteenth
fifteenth
war,
amendments
amendments ...
... and
and then,
then, on
on the
the basis
basis of
of universal
universal amnesty
amnesty ...
... take
take victorious
victorious
possession of
of aa government
government which
which President
President Grant
Grant has
has failed
failed to
to administer
administer to
to
possession
country.18
the satisfaction of the country.l"
The New
New York
York World}
World, leading
leading organ
organ of
of the
the Democratic
Democratic party,
party, had
had
The
been
been calling
calling for
for such
such aa "New
"New Departure"
Departure" in
in Democratic
Democratic strategy
strategy for
for several
several
months. In
In May
May 1871
1871 Clement
Clement L.
L. Vallandigham,
Vallandigham, aa notorious
notorious wartime
wartime copcopmonths.
perhead, presented
presented aa series
series of
of resolutions
resolutions to
to aa county
county Democratic
Democratic convention
convention
perhead,
in Ohio
Ohio stating
stating that
that the
the Democrats
Democrats fully
fully accepted
accepted the
the results
results of
of the
the war
war
in
and Reconstruction,
Reconstruction, including
including the
the Fourteenth
Fourteenth and
and Fifteenth
Fifteenth Amendments.
Amendments. In
In
and
subsequent months
months Vallandigham's
Vallandigham's resolutions
resolutions were
were endorsed
endorsed by
by several
several
subsequent
Tilton was
was delighted
delighted by
by the
the "New
"New DeparDeparstate Democratic
Democratic conventions.l"
conventions. 19 Tilton
state
ture." "Since
"Since the
the Democratic
Democratic party
party pledges
pledges itself
itself to
to abide
abide by
by the
the constituconstituture."
declared, "and since it wants universal amnesty
tional amendments," he declared,
...
... why
why not
not therefore
therefore let
let the
the better
better class
class of
of Democrats
Democrats unite
unite with
with the
the antiantiGrant Republicans?
Republicans? "20
Grant
Horace Greeley
Greeley was
was the
the foremost
foremost northern
northern advocate
advocate of
of amnesty
amnesty and
and secsecHorace
tional harmony,
harmony, and
and in
in the
the late
late spring
spring of
of 1871
1871 he
he made
made aa tour
tour of
of the
the South,
South,
tional
receiving everywhere
everywhere the
the plaudits
plaudits of
of southern
southern whites."
whites.21 Tilton,
Tilton, aa personal
personal
receiving
triumphant southsouthfriend of
of Greeley,
Greeley, seized
seized upon
upon the
the occasion
occasion of
of the
the latter's
latter's triumphant
friend
ern tour
tour to
to tout
tout the
the Tribune editor
editor as
as an
an ideal
ideal presidential
presidential candidate.
candidate.
ern
Mr. Greeley's
Greeley's nomination
nomination to
to the
the presidency
presidency would
would do
do more
more to
to persuade
persuade thousands
thousands
Mr.
of freedom-loving
freedom-loving Democrats
Democrats to
to become
become Republicans
Republicans than
than any
any other
other act
act which
which
of
is foreign
foreign to
to our
our spirit
spirit to
to foster
foster hateful
hateful
the Republican
Republican party
party could
could perform.
perform. It
It is
the
memories of
of the
the south
south and
and its
its rebellion....
rebellion .... The
The presentation
presentation of
of Mr.
Mr. Greeley's
Greeley's
memories
name to
to the
the south
south would
would be
be aa tender
tender of
of fraternal
fraternal kindliness
kindliness and
and the
the oblivion
oblivion of
of
name
civil strife.
strife.22
civil
Ibid., Mar.
Mar. 25,
25, 1871.
lbid.,
I8]I.
Ibid.
Ibid.
19
19 Ross,
Ross, Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican Movement,
MotJement, 68-69.
68-69.
20
20 Golden
Golden Age,
Age, June
June 10,
10, I8]I.
1871.
21
21 Van
Van Deusen,
Deusen, Greeley,
Greeley, 383-84;
383-84; New
New York
York Tribune,
Tribune, June
June 13,
13, 18]1.
1871.
22
22 Golden
Golden Age,
Age, June
June 24,
24, July
July I,
I, I8]I.
1871. Greeley
Greeley later
later gave
gave Tilton
Tilton credit
credit for
for "inventing"
"inventing" him
him
as
as aa candidate.
candidate. (Ibid.,
(Ibid., Aug.
Aug. 12,
12, I8]I.)
1871.)
17
17
18
IS
Greeley?
Grant or Greeley?
49
49
Few abolitionists
abolitionists followed
followed Tilton's
Tilton's lead
lead into
into the
the Liberal
Liberal movement
movement in
in
Few
1871.
1871. While
While admitting
admitting that
that Grant
Grant had
had made
made mistakes,
mistakes, most
most abolitionists
abolitionists reremained
mained loyal
loyal to
to the
the President
President because
because they
they believed
believed that
that his
his southern
southern policy
policy
promised
promised the
the best
best protection
protection for
for the
the Negro.
Negro. Frederick
Frederick Douglass
Douglass considered
considered
the
the Liberal
Liberal revolt
revolt "mischievous
"mischievous and
and dangerous,"
dangerous," and
and remarked
remarked that
that "what"whatsoever may
may be
be the
the faults
faults of
of the
the Republican
Republican party,
party, it
it has
has within
within it
it the
the only
only
soever
element of
of friendship
friendship for
for the
the colored
colored man's
man's rights."
rights." Douglass
Douglass would
would rather
rather
element
"put aa pistol
pistol to
to my
my head
head and
and blow
blow my
my brains
brains out,
out, than
than to
to lend
lend myself
myself in
in any
any
"put
wise
wise to
to the
the destruction
destruction or
or defeat
defeat of
of the
the Republican
Republican party
party.... [We]
[We] will
will
[not]
[ not] find
nnd aa candidate
candidate of
of equal
equal strength
strength with
with General
General Grant
Grant.... We
We must
must
take
take him
him or
or take
take division,
division, weakness
weakness and
and defeat."23
defeat."23
Most
Most of
of the
the old-line
old-line abolitionists
abolitionists agreed
agreed with
with Douglass.
Douglass. The
The venerable
venerable
to the
the lecture
lecture platform
platform and
and disputed
disputed the
the LiberalLiberalTheodore Weld
Weld returned
returned to
Theodore
Democratic argument
argument that
that "the
"the old
old issues
issues of
of the
the war
war are
are dead."
dead." Weld
Weld proproDemocratic
claimed that
that these
these issues,
issues, especially
especially the
the duty
duty of
of the
the national
national government
government
claimed
to enforce
enforce equal
equal rights
rights in
in the
the states,
states, "were
"were never
never more
more alive
alive than
than to-day."
to-day."
to
Gerrit Smith
Smith declared
declared that
that "the
"the re-election
re-election of
of President
President Grant
Grant can
can alone
alone
Gerrit
save our
our country
country from
from the
the ruin
ruin of
of coming
coming under
under the
the sway
sway of
of the
the DemoDemosave
cratic party."24
party."24 Lydia
Lydia Maria
Maria Child
Child confessed
confessed that
that she
cratic
she had
had not
not been
been enthusiasenthusiastic about
about Grant
Grant when
when he
he was
was elected,
elected, but
but she
she now
now thought
thought him
him "a
"a better
better
tic
man for
for the
the Presidency,
Presidency, than
than anybody
anybody the
the people
people would
would be
man
be likely
likely to
to elect."
elect."
William
"New Departure,"
Departure," and
and
William Lloyd
Lloyd Garrison
Garrison distrusted
distrusted the
the Democratic
Democratic "New
he
he believed
believed that
that the
the Liberal
Liberal demand
demand for
for local
local self-government
self-government in
in the
the South
South
was
was "a
"a blow
blow aimed
aimed at
at the
the exercise
exercise of
of the
the power
power entrusted
entrusted to
to the
the President
President
by
by Congress
Congress for
for the
the ...
... protection
protection of
of the
the Southern
Southern freedmen
freedmen and
and loyalists
loyalists
barbarities.'>25
against robbery, assassination, and lynch-law barbariries.Y"
As the
the Liberal
Liberal movement
movement gathered
gathered momentum
momentum in
in the
the spring
spring of
of 1872,
1872,
As
there was
was some
some question
question whether
whether the
the country's
country's Negro
Negro voters
voters would
would follow
follow
there
the two
two most
most prominent
prominent antislavery
antislavery Republicans,
Republicans, Greeley
Greeley and
and Sumner,
Sumner, into
into
the
the
the anti-Grant
anti-Grant camp,
camp, or
or would
would side
side with
with Douglass
Douglass and
and aa majority
majority of
of the
the
abolitionists in
in support
support of
of the
the administration.
administration. A
A colored
colored national
national convention
convention
abolitionists
New Orleans
Orleans in
in April,
April, and
and considerable
considerable national
national attention
attention was
was
met at
at New
met
focused
focused on
on its
its proceedings.
proceedings. A
A minority
minority of
of Negroes
Negroes at
at the
the convention
convention favored
favored
28 New National Era,
Era, June
June 8,
8, Aug.
Aug. 10,
10, 1871;
1871; Douglass
Douglass to
to Cassius
Cassius M.
M. Clay,
Clay, July
July 26,
26, 1871,
1871,
C.
Frederick Douglass
Douglass Papers,
Papers, Frederick
Frederick Douglass
Douglass Memorial
Memorial Home,
Home, Washington,
Washington, D.
D. C.
Frederick
24 National Standard, Sept.
Sept. 2,
2, 1871;
1871; Gerrit
Gerrit Smith
Smith to
to Sumner,
Sumner, Aug.
Aug. 8,
8, 1871,
1871, Sumner
Sumner Papers.
Papers.
24
Smith spoke
spoke out
out repeatedly
repeatedly in
in defense
defense of
of the
the Grant
Grant administration,
administration, and
and he
he received
received the
the personal
personal
Smith
thanks of
of the
the President
President for
for his
his efforts.
efforts. (See
(See Smith
Smith to
to Grant,
Grant, Sept.
Sept. 13,
13, 1871,
1871, copy
copy in
in Gerrit
Gerrit Smith
Smith
thanks
Papers, Syracuse
Syracuse University
University Library.)
Library.)
Papers,
25 Lydia
Lydia M.
M. Child
Child to
to George
George W.
W. Julian,
Julian, Jan.
Jan. 3r,
31, 1872,
1872, Joshua
Joshua Giddings-George
Giddings-George W.
W. Julian
Julian
25
Correspondence,
by Garrison
Garrison in
in the
the IndependIndependCorrespondence, Manuscript
Manuscript Division,
Division, Library
Library of
of Congress;
Congress; articles
articles by
4, Apr.
Apr. 4,
4, 1872.
1872.
ent,
ent, Jan.
Jan. 4,
M. Mcl'herson
McPherson
James M.
50
5°
an endorsement
the Liberal
Liberal movement,
movement, but
but under
the leadership
an
endorsement of
of the
under the
leadership of
of
Douglass
the assemblage,
assemblage, by
by aa majority
majority of
of more
more than
than two
two to
to one,
one, resolved
resolved
Douglass the
to support
support Grant,
Grant, "as
"as all
all roads
roads out
out of
of the
the Republican
Republican party
party lead
lead into
into the
the
to
Democratic camp."
camp." From
From this
this time
time until
until the
the election,
election, Douglass'
Douglass' famous
famous
Democratic
aphorism-"the Republican
Republican party
party is
is the
the ship
ship and
and all
all else
else is
is the
the sea"-became
sea"-became
aphorism-"the
the watchword
watchword of
of most
most colored
colored men.
men. 26
the
Despite this
this demonstration
New England
England
Despite
demonstration in
in favor
favor of
of Grant,
Grant, several
several New
abolitionists came
came out
out against
against the
the President's
President's re-election
re-election in
in the
the spring
spring of
of
abolitionists
1872. James
James Freeman
Freeman Clarke
Clarke declared
declared that
that "Grant
"Grant is
obstinate
1872.
is too
too ignorant
ignorant & obstinate
be trusted,"
trusted," and
and William
William S.
S. Robinson,
Robinson, who
who wrote
wrote under
under the
the pen
pen name
name
to be
to
thought that
that "Grant
"Grant has
has not
not the
the
"Warrington" in
in the
the Springfield
Springfield Republican, thought
"Warrington"
is aa perperslightest comprehension
slightest
comprehension of
of political
political government.
government. His
His administration
administration is
sonal one."
one." With
With regard
regard to
to federal
federal protection
protection of
of the
the freedmen,
freedmen, Robinson
Robinson
sonal
believed that
that "the
"the war
war is
is over:
we must
must get
get back
back to
to peace
peace fashions;
fashions; martial
martial
believed
over: we
law must
must give
give way
way to
to civil
civil government....
government.... Sooner
Sooner or
or later
later ...
... the
the work
work of
law
of
begin."27
pacification must
must begin."27
pacification
The Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican Convention
Convention that
that met
at Cincinnati
Cincinnati in
in May
May 1872
1872
The
met at
was aa motley
motley gathering.
service reformers
reformers and
and free
free
was
gathering. High-minded
High-minded civil
civil service
traders
with
traders vied
vied for
for attention
attention with
with office-seeking
office-seeking spoilsmen
spoilsmen out
out of
of favor
favor with
the
the Grant
Grant regime
regime and
and hoping
hoping to
to recoup
recoup their
their political
political fortunes
fortunes through
through an
an
alliance
with
the
Liberals.
Tilton
was
one
of
the
delegates
favoring
the
alliance with the Liberals. Tilton was one of the delegates favoring the
nomination
New England
England aboliabolinomination of
of the
the protectionist
protectionist Greeley,
Greeley, while
while the
the New
tionists at
at Cincinnati
Cincinnati supported
supported Charles
Charles Francis
Francis Adams
Adams and
and tariff
tariff reducreductionists
tion. William
William Lloyd
Lloyd Garrison's
Garrison's youngest
youngest son
son Frank
Frank penned
penned aa revealing
revealing sketch
sketch
tion.
of
the factions
factions gathered
at Cincinnati:
Cincinnati:
of the
gathered at
cannot help
help smiling
smiling to
to see
see such
such detested
detested "Radicals"
"Radicals" as
as "Warrington,"
"Warrington," Frank
Frank
II cannot
Bird & Frank
Frank Sanborn,
Sanborn, such
such "Pure"
"Pure" politicians
politicians as
as Senator
Senator [Reuben]
[Reuben] Fenton,
Fenton,
Bird
half aa dozen
dozen prominent
Southern "carpet-baggers"
"carpet-baggers" marching
marching
James M.
M. Ashley
Ashley & half
prominent Southern
James
side with
with the
the Nation & Mr.
Mr. McKim.
McKim. Theodore
is
on to
to Cincinnati
side by
Theodore Tilton
Tilton is
on
Cincinnati side
by side
also
the free
free traders
go arm-in-arm
arm-in-arm with
with Mr.
Mr. Greeley.
Greeley. It
It must
must be
be
traders go
also in
in the
the line,
line, & the
confessed that
that some
some of
the worst
worst rats
rats on
on the
the Republican
Republican ship
ship have
have been
first
confessed
of the
been the
the first
it augurs
augurs no
no good
good for
for aa "reform"
"reform" movement
movement
to swim
swim to
raft, & it
to
to the
the Cincinnati
Cincinnati raft,
that the
the whole
whole Democratic
Democratic
that such
such men
men form
form no
no small
small portion
portion of
of its
its hosts,
hosts, & that
that
party
bides its
its time.
time.2288
party lies
lies in
in wait
wait & bides
Adams was
was the
the favorite
favorite when
when the
the balloting
balloting for
for aa presidential
presidential nominee
nominee
Adams
began,
began, but
but the
the wirepulling
wirepulling of
of ambitious
ambitious politicians
politicians and
and the
the dedicated
dedicated labor
labor of
of
26 New Orleans Republican, Apr. II, 12, 13, 1872; New National Era, May 2, 9, 1872.
26
Clarke to Anna Dickinson, Apr. 19, 1872, Anna Dickinson Papers, Manuscript Division,
Pen-Portraits: A Collection
Collection of ... the Writings
Writings of William S.
Library of Congress; "Warrington" Pen-Portraits:
Robinson, ed. Mrs. William S. Robinson (Boston, 1877), 135, 480; see also the Boston Commonwealth, Apr. 20, 1872.
J. Garrison to Fanny
Fanny Garrison Villard, Apr. 23, 1872, Helen Frances Garrison
28 Francis J.
Villard Papers, Houghton Library, Harvard University.
27
27
Grant or Greeley?
Greeley?
51
51
Greeley's managers,
managers, Whitelaw
Whitelaw Reid
Reid and
and Theodore
Theodore Tilton
Tilton (who
(who was
was also
also aa
Greeley's
member of
platform committee),
Greeley the
the nomination
nomination on
on
member
of the
the platform
committee), brought
brought Greeley
the
sixth
ballot.
The platform
platform contained,
in addition
to aa civil
plank
the sixth ballot. The
contained, in
addition to
civil service
service plank
and aa noncommittal
noncommittal tariff
tariff plank,
plank, resolutions
resolutions favoring
favoring the
the "equality
"equality of
of all
all
and
men before
before the
the law,"
no reopening
reopening of
men
law," no
of the
the questions
questions settled
settled by
by the
the ReconReconstruction
struction amendments,
amendments, and
and amnesty,
amnesty, reconciliation,
reconciliation, and
and local
local self-governself-government
the South.
South. In
his acceptance
acceptance letter,
letter, Greeley
Greeley stated
stated that
that there
there should
should
ment for
for the
In his
be "no
"no federal
federal subversion
subversion of
of the
the internal
internal polity
polity of
of the
the several
several States
States and
and
be
municipalities." Greeley
Greeley planned
planned to
to make
municipalities."
make Grant's
Grant's southern
southern policy
policy his
his main
main
campaign
campaign issue
issue "in
"in the
the confident
confident trust
trust that
that the
the masses
masses of
of our
our countrymen,
countrymen,
North and
and South,
South, are
are eager
eager to
to clasp
which
North
clasp hands
hands across
across the
the bloody
bloody chasm
chasm which
them."29
has too
too long
has
long divided
divided them."29
Tilton was
was delighted
delighted by
Greeley's victory,
victory, but
but the
the Adams
Adams men
men from
from New
New
Tilton
by Greeley's
England were
were appalled,
appalled, and
and many
many of
of them
them eventually
eventually supported
supported Grant
Grant in
in
England
preference to
to Greeley.
Greeley. Several
Several abolitionists
abolitionists were
were sharply
sharply critical
preference
critical of
of the
the LibLiberals'
platform and
and nominee.
nominee. Samuel
Samuel May
May thought
thought Greeley's
Greeley's nomination
nomination "a
"a
erals' platform
most absurd
absurd one."
one." May
May was
was sorry
sorry the
the Tribune editor
editor had
had "become
"become the
the turnturnmost
coat & traitor
traitor that
that he
he has....
has .... It
It clearly
clearly is
is ...
... aa Southern
Southern nomination;
nomination; and,
and, if
if
coat
be the
the return
return of
of the
the South
South to
to power
power & conconelection follows
follows nomination,
nomination, will
will be
election
trol." When
When the
the Democratic
Democratic Convention,
Convention, as
as expected,
Greeley and
and
trol."
expected, endorsed
endorsed Greeley
his platform,
platform, Garrison
that the
the Liberal
movehis
Garrison was
was confirmed
confirmed in
in his
his belief
belief that
Liberal movement "is
"is simply
simply aa stool-pigeon
stool-pigeon for
for the
the Democracy
to capture
capture the
the Presidency."
Presidency."
ment
Democracy to
Mrs. Child
Child admitted
admitted that
that the
the Liberal
and Democratic
Democratic platforms,
platforms, with
with their
their
Mrs.
Liberal and
affirmations of
of the
the Reconstruction
amendments and
and of
before the
the
affirmations
Reconstruction amendments
of equality
equality before
law,
appearance,
law, made
made aa good
good appearance,
but the
the Rebels
Rebels and
Democrats have
have taken
taken care
care to put
put in
in some
some loopholes
through
but
and Democrats
loopholes through
which they
they can
can creep
creep out
out of
of all
they have
have promised.
They claim
claim "self-government
"self-government
which
all they
promised. They
for the
the States;"
States;" which
which means
means the
the "State
"State Sovereignty"
Sovereignty" for
for which
which the
the Rebels
Rebels
for
.... They
They demand
demand that
that "the
"the nation
nation should
should return
return to
to methods
methods of
of peace,
fought ....
peace,
fought
and
that when
when the
the
and the
the supremacy
supremacy of
of civil
civil over
over military
military authority,"
authority," which
which means
means that
Ku
Ku Klux
Klux renew
renew their
their plans
plans to
to exterminate
exterminate Republicans,
Republicans, white
white and
and black,
black, they
they shall
shall
be
authorities-that is,
is, by
by judges
judges and
and jurors
jurors who
who
be dealt
dealt with
with by
by Southern
Southern civil
civil authorities-that
3o
are themselves
themselves members
of the
the Ku
Klux associations.
are
members of
Ku Klux
associations.s"
Gerrit Smith,
Smith, aa delegate
to the
the regular
regular Republican
Convention, proproGerrit
delegate to
Republican Convention,
claimed in
in aa public
public letter
that "the
is not
not yet
yet fought
fought out
out
claimed
letter that
"the Anti-Slavery
Anti-Slavery battle
battle is
-and, until
until it
it is,
is, we
we shall
Grant's continued
continued leadership."
leadership." When
When the
the
-and,
shall need
need Grant's
Republicans met
met at
at Philadelphia
Philadelphia in
in the
the first
first week
week of
of June
June to renominate
renominate
Republicans
Ross, Liberal Republican
Republican Movement, 86-105; Golden
Golden Age, May II, 1872; Cincinnati
29 Ross,
Commercial, May
May 4, 1872; Boston Commonwealth, May 4, 25, 1872.
Commercial,
ei May to William Lloyd Garrison, May 8, July 18, 1872, William Lloyd Garrison
30Samu
30 Samuel
Boston Public Library; Garrison to
to Fanny
Fanny Garrison
July II,
II, 1872, Villard Papers;
Papers, Boston
Garrison Villard,
Villard, July
B. Shaw, July?, 1872, Lydia Maria Child Papers, Cornell University
Lydia M. Child to Sarah B.
Library.
52
James M. McPherson
Grant, Smith
Grant,
Smith was
was introduced
introduced to
to the
the convention
convention as
as "the
"the oldest
oldest pioneer
pioneer in
in
The delegates
delegates responded
responded "with
"with great
great enthusienthusithe cause
cause of
of emancipation."
emancipation." The
the
asm," rising
rising in
in their
their places,
places, cheering,
cheering, and
and calling
calling for
for Smith
to come
come to
to the
the
asm,"
Smith to
platform. The
The chairman
chairman came
came down
down from
from the
the platform
esplatform.
platform and
and personally
personally escorted Smith
Smith to
to the
the podium
podium while
while the
the delegates
delegates applauded
applauded and
and the
the band
band
corted
played "Hail
"Hail to
to the
the Chief."
Chief." Smith
Smith spoke
spoke briefly
briefly and
and retired
retired amid
amid "great
"great
played
cheering"; one
one newspaper
newspaper reporter
reporter wrote
wrote that
that "few
"few public
public men
men have
have ever
ever
cheering";
received a more flattering demonstration.""
demonstration."31 Clearly the Republicans were
received
to enlist
enlist the
the support
support of
of the
the abolitionists,
abolitionists, and
and with
with their
their aid
aid to
to win
win the
the
eager to
eager
Negro vote.
vote. Commenting
that "the
"the Anti-Slavery
Negro
Commenting on
on Smith's
Smith's statement
statement that
Anti-Slavery battle
battle
is not
not yet
yet fought
fought out,"
out," the
the New
New York
York Times
Times declared
declared that
that "as
"as the
the utterance
is
utterance
of
the old
type, one
one whose
whose integrity
integrity has
has
of an
an unflinching
unflinching Abolitionist
Abolitionist of
of the
old type,
caused
caused him
him to
to be
be held
held in
in veneration
veneration by
by tens
tens of
of thousands
thousands of
of people,
people, [this
[this
letter]
furnishes in
in aa nutshell
nutshell the
the political
political argument
argument which
which today
today animates
animates
letter] furnishes
the Republican
Republican party."32
party."32
the
Some abolitionists,
abolitionists, however,
however, refused
refused to
to follow
follow the
the lead
lead of
of Smith
Smith and
and
Some
Garrison
party until
until the
the end.
end. The
The
Garrison and
and remained
remained in
in the
the Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican party
foremost abolitionist
abolitionist Liberals
Liberals were
were Tilton,
Tilton, Anna
Anna Dickinson,
Dickinson, Oliver
Oliver JohnJohnforemost
son, Franklin
Franklin B.
B. Sanborn,
Sanborn, and
and Elizur
Elizur Wright.
Wright. In
In addition
addition to
to their
their dislike
dislike of
of
son,
Grant and
and his
his southern
southern policy,
policy, many
many other
other considerations
considerations induced
induced these
these five
five
Grant
to join
join the
the Liberal
Liberal movement,
movement. Tilton
Tilton and
and Johnson
Johnson were
were friends
friends of
of Greeley,
Greeley,
to
and Johnson
Johnson was
was editor
editor of
of the
the weekly
weekly and
and semiweekly
semiweekly New
New York
York Tribune.
and
Dickinson was
was aa close
close friend
friend of
of Whitelaw
Whitelaw Reid,
Reid, who
who became
became editor
editor in
in chief
chief
Dickinson
when Greeley
Greeley was
was nominated.
nominated. Sanborn
and Wright
of the
the Tribune when
Sanborn and
Wright were
were opopof
posed
posed to
to the
the growing
growing power
power of
of Benjamin
Benjamin Butler,
Butler, one
one of
of Grant's
Grant's political
political
by
lieutenants,
abolitionists insisted
insisted that
lieutenants, in
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts politics.
politics. These
These abolitionists
that by
supporting Greeley
Greeley they
they were
were not
not abandoning
abandoning the
the cause
cause of
of the
the Negro.
Negro. On
supporting
On
the contrary,
contrary, they
they asserted
asserted that
that the
the cessation
cessation of
of sectional
sectional strife,
strife, carpetbag
carpetbag
the
government, and
and federal
federal intervention
intervention in
in southern
southern politics
politics would
would benefit
benefit
government,
the Negro
Negro more
more than
than anyone
anyone else.
else. But
But in
in their
their arguments
arguments on
on this
this question
question
the
as if
if they
they were
were not
not entirely
entirely certain
certain
one can
can discern
discern aa certain
certain defensiveness,
defensiveness, as
one
that their
their course
course was best
best for
for the
the Negro,
Negro, and
and were
were trying
trying to
to convince
convince themthemthat
selves as
as well
well as
as others.
selves
others.
Golden Age into
into aa militant
militant campaign
Tilton
turned his
his Golden
campaign journal
journal for
for
Tilton turned
Greeley.
Greeley. Week
Week after
after week
week Tilton
Tilton hammered
hammered away
away at
at the
the themes
themes of
of carpetcarpet31 Smith's statement was made in a letter to Andrew
Andrew Dickson White,
White, May 18, 1872 (copy
31
in Smith Papers), and was widely quoted by the press. The reception of Smith at the Republican
Convention was described in the New York Times, June 6, 1872, New York Tribune, June 6,
1872, and Detroit
Detroit Tribune, June 10, 1872.
82 New York Times, May 24, 1872.
Greeley?
Grant or Greeley?
53
53
bag corruption,
corruption, the
the need
need for
for sectional
sectional reconciliation,
reconciliation, and
and the
the genuineness
genuineness of
of
bag
is the
the Democratic
Democratic "New
"New Departure."
Departure." "Disgraceful
"Disgraceful to
to civilization
civilization is
the
the existexisting type
type of
ing
of those
those southern
southern state
state governments
governments which,
which, in
in the
the name
name of
of liberty,
liberty,
The "rottenness"
"rottenness" of
the
tread justice
justice and
and equity
equity under
wrote Tilton.
of the
tread
under foot,"
foot," wrote
Tilton. The
"alien
"alien and
and carpet-bagging
carpet-bagging governments
governments in
in the
the southern
southern states"
states" had
had "never
"never
save by
by the
the Tammany
Tammany Ring....
Ring.... Every
Every vote
vote for
for
been
been matched
matched in
in our
our history
history save
Grant
is
a
vote
to
sustain
these
villains
and
their
villainy.
Every
vote
for
Grant is a vote to sustain these villains and their villainy. Every vote for
Greeley is
is aa blow
their destruction."
wanted to
to put
put an
an end
to warwarGreeley
blow for
for their
destruction." Tilton
Tilton wanted
end to
"The time
time has
has come
to decide
decide whether
whether the
the North
North and
and
bred
sectional hatreds:
hatreds: "The
come to
bred sectional
be enemies,
enemies, or
or love
love each
each other
other and
and be
be
the South
South shall
shall hate
hate each
each other
other and
and be
the
friends." Tilton
Tilton disagreed
disagreed with
with the
the position
position of
of Garrison,
Garrison, Smith,
Smith, and
and other
other
friends."
He
abolitionists that
that the
the South
South and
and the
the Democrats
Democrats could
could not
not be
be trusted.
trusted. He
abolitionists
pointed to
to the
the Liberal-Democratic
bepointed
Liberal-Democratic platform,
platform, which
which pledged
pledged equality
equality before the
the law
law for
for all
all men:
men: "So
"So noble,
noble, so
so advanced,
advanced, so
so radiant
radiant aa manifesto
manifesto was
was
fore
If the
the anti-slavery
anti-slavery batnever before
before made
made the
the text
text of
of aa presidential
presidential campaign.
campaign. If
batnever
tle is
is not
not yet
yet fought
fought out,
out, this
this fights
fights it
it out."
out." Tilton
Tilton believed
believed that
that "the
"the south
south
tle
by all
all the
the anti-slavery
anti-slavery issues
issues of
of the
the war
war ...
... the
the
means to
to abide
abide in
in good
good faith
faith by
means
whole south
south joyfully
joyfully accepts
accepts the
the Fourteenth
Fourteenth and
and Fifteenth
Fifteenth Amendments"
Amendments"
whole
and seeks
seeks "to
"to be
be at
at peace
peace not
not only
only with
with the
the negro
negro but
but the
the north."33
north."33
and
In July
July Tilton
Tilton went
went on
on the
the stump
stump for
for Greeley
Greeley and
and remained
remained away
away from
from
In
office for
for most
most of
of the
the campaign.
campaign. In
In his
his absence,
absence, Tilton's
Tilton's assistant,
assistant,
his editorial
editorial office
his
William
wrote most
Golden Age's
Age's editorials.
editorials. Under
Under
William T.
T. Clarke,
Clarke, wrote
most of
of the
the Golden
Clarke's direction,
direction, the
the paper's
paper's opposition
opposition to
to Grant
Grant was
was transmuted
transmuted into
into
Clarke's
as the
the cause
cause of
of southern
southern corruption
corruption and
and violence.
violence.
hostility toward
toward the
the Negro
Negro as
hostility
Tilton disapproved
disapproved of
of this
this trend,
trend, but
but found
found himself
himself unable-or
unable-or unwillingunwillingTilton
to curb
curb Clarke's
Clarke's extreme
extreme statements;
statements; as
as editor
editor of
of the
the paper,
paper, moreover,
moreover, Tilton
to
Tilton
34
was ultimately
responsible for
for its
editorial statements.
Clarke maintained
maintained
was
ultimately responsible
its editorial
statements." Clarke
the South
was exaggerated
exaggerated by
by
that the
the incidence
incidence of
of anti-Negro
anti-Negro violence
violence in the
that
South was
the
press for
for partisan
partisan purposes.
purposes. In
fact, said
said Clarke,
"we must
must
the Republican
Republican press
In fact,
Clarke, "we
mind that
that the
the white
bear in mind
bear
white people
people of
of the
the south
south often
often suffer
suffer terrible
terrible provocaprovocations
of which
which we
we know
know next
next to
to nothing.
nothing. The
The latter
latter are
are
tions from
from the
the negroes,
negroes, of
generally ignorant,
ignorant, often
often indolent,
indolent, and
and sometimes
sometimes lawless,
lawless, insulting,
insulting, and
and
generally
violent. They
They are
are intoxicated
intoxicated with
with their
their new-found
new-found freedom,
freedom, and
and mistake
mistake
violent.
liberty for
for license."
license." Grant's
Grant's southern
southern policy
policy intensified
intensified racial
racial clashes;
clashes; the
the
liberty
88 Golden Age, May
I, 8,
IS, 29,
29, Aug.
83
May 18,
18, June
June I,
8, 15,
Aug. 17,
17, 1872.
1872.
12, 1872;
1872; Oliver
Oliver Johnson
Johnson to
to Garrison,
Garrison, Apr.
Apr. 27,
27, 1872,
1872, Garrison
Garrison to
to Johnson,
Johnson,
841bid., Oct. 12,
May 5,
5, 1872,
1872, Garrison
Garrison Papers.
Papers. Clarke
Clarke had
had not
not been
been an
an abolitionist,
abolitionist, but
but he
he had
had sympathized
sympathized with
with
May
the
the antislavery
antislavery cause,
cause, and
and he
he numbered
numbered several
several abolitionists
abolitionists among
among his
his friends.
friends. (Clarke
(Clarke to
to
Garrison,
Papers; Johnson
Johnson to
to Reid,
Reid, Oct. 28,
Nov. I,
Garrison, Mar.
Mar. 20,
20, 1868,
1868, Garrison
Garrison Papers;
28, Nov.
I, 1871,
1871, Whitelaw
Whitelaw Reid
Reid
of Congress.)
Congress.)
Papers, Manuscript
Manuscript Division,
Library of
Papers,
Division, Library
54
54
James M. McPherson
Liberal program
program of
of "universal
"universal amnesty,
amnesty, forgiveness,
forgiveness, and
and reconciliation"
reconciliation"
Liberal
would bring
bring peace
peace to
to the
the South."
South.35
would
Anna Dickinson's
Dickinson's support
support for
for Greeley
Greeley had
had overtones
overtones of
of disillusionment
disillusionment
Anna
War Dickinson,
Dickinson, aa member
member
with the
the cause
cause of
of Negro
Negro rights.
rights. During
During the
the Civil
Civil War
with
of
Quaker abolitionist
abolitionist family
family in
in Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, had
had blossomed
blossomed into
into aa sensasensaof aa Quaker
by her
her countrymen
countrymen as
as an
an
tional public
public speaker
speaker and
and was
was widely
widely regarded
regarded by
tional
American Joan
Joan of
of Arc.
Arc. 36 She
She had
had been
been aa prominent
prominent advocate
advocate of
of Radical
Radical
American
she turned
turned against
against Grant
Grant and
and evidendy
Reconstruction,
Reconstruction, but
but in
in 1871
r87r she
evidently became
became
disenchanted
with many
aspects of
disenchanted with
many aspects
of the
the Reconstruction
Reconstruction experiment.
experiment. In
In the
the
spring of
spring
of 1872
r872 she
she came
came out
out against
against Grant's
Grant's renomination,
renomination, and
and Liberal
Liberal
leaders
leaders hoped
hoped to
to enlist
enlist her
her magic
magic voice
voice in
in the
the campaign
campaign to
to elect
elect Greeley.
Greeley.
Dickinson's
Dickinson's family
family tried
tried to
to dissuade
dissuade her
her from
from going
going on
on the
the hustings,
hustings, but
but
well-publicized speech
speech for
for Greeley
Greeley in
in New
New
she finally
finally agreed
agreed to
she
to make
make one
one well-publicized
37
York aa week
week before
before the
the election.
In
York
election."
In her
her speech
speech Dickinson
Dickinson made
made clear
clear her
her
"The administrations
administrations in
in those
those States
dislike
States began
began
dislike of
of Grantism
Grantism in
in the
the South:
South: "The
in usurpation,
in
usurpation, and
and ended
ended in
in rapine.
rapine. (Cheers.)"
(Cheers.)" As
As for
for the
the Negroes,
Negroes, they
they had
had
"That being
being the
the case
case
been
been put
put on
on aa plane
plane of
of legal
legal equality
equality with
with white
white men.
men. "That
there is
is no
no need
need and
and there
there should
should be
there
be no
no excuse
excuse for
for special
special legislation
legislation for
for any
any
special
people." If
If the
the freedmen,
freedmen, who
who possessed
possessed the
the ballot,
"cannot
special class
class of
of people."
ballot, "cannot
defend
themselves and
and exercise
their right
right at
at the
the polls,
polls, if
... republican
republican law
defend themselves
exercise their
if ...
law
and the
the forms
forms of
... are
are to
to be
be destroyed
destroyed to
to help
help them
them in
in
and
of our
our old
old legislation
legislation ...
as well
well confess
that the
the experiment
experiment of
of republican
republican Union
Union
fighting, we
we might
fighting,
might as
confess that
is ended."
and military
military occupation
occupation of
of the
the South
would not
not solve
is
ended," Martial
Martial law
law and
South would
solve
the problem;
problem; the
the nation
nation must
must place
place its
its trust
trust in
in an
an improved
improved southern
southern public
public
the
amnesty and
and reconciliation.
reconciliation. "The
"The law
law is
is aa dead
dead letter
letter ununopinion fostered
fostered by
opinion
by amnesty
til public
public opinion
opinion blows
blows into
into it
it and
and inspires
inspires it
it with
with the
the spirit
spirit of
of life,"
life," concontil
to these
these men,
men, trust
trust to
to public
public opinion,
opinion, and
and you
you will
will
cluded
"Trust to
cluded Dickinson.
Dickinson. "Trust
see that
that it
it will
will work
work out
out the
the benefit
benefit of
of the
the Republic
Republic by
by working
working out
see
out their
their
own sel£-interest."38
self-interest.f"
Franklin B.
B. Sanborn
Sanborn had
had been
supporter of
of John
John Brown,
Brown, but
but his
his oneonebeen aa supporter
Franklin
time radicalism
radicalism was
was later
later tempered
tempered by
by aa successful
successful career
career in
in journalism
journalism and
and
time
public
service.
In
1872
Sanborn
was
political
correspondent
of
the
Atlantic
public service. In r872 Sanborn was political correspondent of the
Golden Age, Sept. 28, 1872; see
see also ibid., July 20, 27, Aug. 31, Oct. 12, 1872.
Golden
see also Giraud Chester, Embattled Maiden:
McPherson, Struggle for
for Equality, 128-32; see
Maiden:
Anna Dickinson (New
(New York, 1951).
1951).
The Life of Anna
37
Ibid., 120-43; Susan Dickinson to Anna Dickinson, Mar. 13, 1872, Anna Dickinson to
37 lbid.,
Susan Dickinson, Apr. 3, 1872, Henry Wilson to Anna Dickinson, June II, 1872, Tilton to
Anna Dickinson,
Dickinson. July
July 12,
12, 1872,
1872. Anna
Anna Dickinson
Dickinson to
to her
her mother,
mother, July
July 7,
7, IS,
IS, 1872,
1872, John
John DickinDickinAnna
to Anna
Anna Dickinson,
Dickinson, Mar.
Mar. 7,
7. Oct.
Oct. 7,
7, 1872,
1872, Samuel
Samuel Bowles
Bowles to
to Anna
Anna Dickinson,
Dickinson, July
July IS,
IS,
son to
son
Sept. 10,
10, 27,
27, 1872,
1872. Reid
Anna Dickinson,
July 30,
30, Aug.
Aug. 6,
6, 22,
Oct. 4,
4, 1872,
1872, Anna
Anna Dickinson
Sept.
Reid to
to Anna
Dickinson, July
22, Oct.
Dickinson
8, Oct.
Oct. 3,
3, 7,
7, 24,
24, 1872,
1872, Anna
Anna Dickinson
Papers, Manuscript
Manuscript Division,
Division, Library
Library of
of
to Reid,
Aug. 8,
to
Reid, Aug.
Dickinson Papers,
Congress.
Congress.
88
88 New York Tribune, Oct. 26, 1872.
35
35
36
Grant or
or Greeley?
Greeley?
Grant
55
55
(until the
the Atlantic's pro-Grant
pro-Grant course
course caused
caused him
him to
to resign'")
resign39 ) and
and aa
Monthly (until
one of
of the
the leading
leading Liberal
Liberal jourjourcolumnist for
for the
the Springfield
Springfield Republican, one
columnist
nals. Sanborn
Sanborn confessed
confessed that
that he
he was
was "not
"not quite
quite convinced
convinced that
that the
the condition
condition
nals.
be safe
safe under
under Greeley,
Greeley, elected
elected by
by Democratic
Democratic
of the
the colored
colored people
people would
would be
of
But because
because of
of Grant's
Grant's "ignorance
"ignorance of
of the
the first
first principles
principles of
of statesmanstatesmanvotes." But
votes."
ship" Sanborn
Sanborn decided,
decided, somewhat
somewhat reluctantly,
reluctantly, to
to support
support Greeley/"
Greeley.40
ship"
it somesomeAnother Massachusetts
Massachusetts abolitionist,
abolitionist, Elizur
Elizur Wright,
Wright, also
also thought
thought it
Another
Grant and
and Greeley,
Greeley, but
but finally
finally resolved
resolved
thing of
of aa Hobson's
Hobson's choice
choice between
between Grant
thing
to support
support the
the latter.
latter.
to
spent aa fortnight
fortnight in
in the
the South
South last
last fall
fall [Wright
[Wright explained]
explained] and
and became
became fully
fully
II spent
its friends
friends from
from robrobconvinced that
that an
an administration
administration which
which could
could not
not prevent
prevent its
convinced
bing those
those poor
poor states
states as
as states
states were
were never
never robbed
robbed before,
before, cannot
cannot long
long maintain
maintain
bing
by any
any fair
fair means.
means. It
It may
may suppress
suppress the
the Ku Klux, but
but what
what is
is the
the use
use
itself there
there by
itself
of keeping
keeping people's
people's throats
throats from
from being
being cut
cut if
if they
they are
are to
to be
be perpetually
perpetually robbed?41
robbed?41
of
Oliver Johnson
Johnson had
had been
been one
one of
of Garrison's
Garrison's earliest
earliest and
and most
most loyal
loyal folfolOliver
1872 Johnson
Johnson broke
broke with
with his
his mentor
mentor and
and joined
joined the
the Liberal
Liberal
lowers, but
but in
in 1872
lowers,
His dependence
dependence for
for aa livelihood
livelihood upon
upon his
his job
job as
as editor
editor of
of
Republican party.
party. His
Republican
New York
York Tribune may
may have
have influenced
influenced JohnJohnthe weekly
weekly and
and semiweekly
semiweekly New
the
but he
he insisted
insisted publicly
publicly and
and privately
privately that
that his
his Liberalism
Liberalism
son's decision,
decision, but
son's
be protected
protected if
if
rested on
on aa conviction
conviction that
that the
the freedmen's
freedmen's rights
rights could
could best
best be
rested
they were
were endorsed
endorsed by
by the
the Democratic
Democratic party.
party. The
The only
only way
way to
to secure
secure such
such
they
an endorsement
endorsement was
was to
to elect
elect Greeley.
Greeley. Johnson
Johnson professed
professed that
that his
his old
old dislike
dislike
an
of the
the Democratic
Democratic party
party was
was gone,
gone,
of
now
now that,
that, with
with firm,
firm, and
and even
even majestic
majestic tread,
tread, it
it has
has planted
planted itself
itself upon
upon aa solid,
solid,
Henceforth, in
in this
this country,
country, the
the rights
rights of
of men,
men, irrespecirrespecRepublican
Republican platform....
platform .... Henceforth,
race or
or color,
color, are
are to
to be
be admitted
admitted and
and defended
defended by
by all
all parties,
parties, and
and opporopportive
tive of
of race
is to
to be
be afforded
afforded for
for the
the discussion
discussion and
and settlement
settlement of
of other
other questions
questions that
that
tunity is
tunity
have
have waited
waited long
long for
for aa solution.P
solution. 42
Liberal leaders
leaders were
were glad
glad of
of this
this support
support from
from several
several of
of the
the old
old aboliaboliLiberal
tionists, for
for it
it helped
helped them
them to
to disavow
disavow the
the anti-Negro
anti-Negro label
label that
that other
other aboliabolitionists,
tionists and
and the
the regular
regular Republicans
Republicans tried
tried to
to pin
pin on
on them.
them. But
But the
the biggest
biggest
tionists
prize of
of all,
all, an
an endorsement
endorsement of
of Greeley
Greeley by
prize
by Sumner,
Sumner, eluded
eluded the
the grasp
grasp of
of the
the
Liberals
for
several
months.
Sumner's
bitter
quarrel
with
the
administraLiberals for several months. Sumner's bitter quarrel with the administration
tion over
over the
the question
question of
of annexing
annexing Santo
Santo Domingo
Domingo had
had made
made it
it impossible
impossible
31) William
William Dean
Dean Howells
Howells to
to Sanborn,
Sanborn. Aug.
Aug. 25,
25. 1872,
1872. Franklin
Franklin B.
B. Sanborn
Sanborn Papers,
Papers. Concord
Concord
39
(Mass.) Public
Public Library.
Library.
(Mass.)
4,0
4,0 Springfield
Springfield Republican, July
July 31,
31, 1872;
1872; Atlantic Monthly, XXX
XXX (Aug.
(Aug. 1872),
1872), 254;
254; see
see also
also
Springfield
Republican, July
July 4,
4. 15,
15, 22,
22, Aug.
Aug. 9,
9, Sept.
Sept. 9,
9, 18,
18, 1872.
1872.
Springfield Republican,
41 Wright
Wright to
to Sumner,
Sumner. July
July 13,
13, 1872,
1872, Sumner
Sumner Papers;
Papers; see
see also
also Wright
Wright to
to Smith,
Smitb. [uly
July?P, 1872,
1872,
4,1
Smith
by Wright
Wright in
in the
the Boston
Boston Commonwealth,
Commonwealth, June
June 15,
IS, 1872.
1872.
Smith Papers,
Papers, and
and an
an article
article by
42Johnson
to Smith,
Smith, July
July 17,
17, 1872,
1872, Smith
Smith Papers;
Papers; article
article by
by Johnson
Johnson in
in the
the Golden
Golden Age,
Age,
42Johnson to
Aug.
Aug. 24,
24. 1872.
1872. Johnson's
Johnson's article
article was
was reprinted
reprinted as
as aa Liberal
Liberal campaign
campaign pamphlet.
pamphlet.
56
James M. McPherson
for
for him
him to
to support
support Grant's
Grant's re-election.
re-election. Most
Most of
of Sumner's
Sumner's abolitionist
abolitionist friends
friends
urged
urged him
him to
to remain
remain neutral
neutral in
in the
the campaign."
campaign.43 Sumner
Sumner was
was closer
closer to
to the
the
abolitionists
abolitionists both
both in
in terms
terms of
of personal
personal friendship
friendship and
and ideology
ideology than
than any
any
other
other man
man in
in political
political life,
life, and
and he
he took
took their
their advice
advice seriously.
seriously. In
In reply
reply to
to aa
letter urging
urging him
him to
to come
come out
out in
in favor
favor of
of Greeley,
Greeley, Sumner
Sumner noted
noted that
that many
many
letter
abolitionists were
were opposed
opposed to
abolitionists
to the
the Liberals.
Liberals. "So
"So are
are the
the colored
colored people.
people. My
My
anxiety
anxiety is
is there,
there, &
& my
my purpose
purpose is
is to
to take
take the
the course
course which
which will
will be
be best
best for
for
them."44
them."44
New England
England Liberals,
Liberals, and
and
But Sumner
Sumner was
was under
under great
great pressure
pressure from
from New
But
this,
this, combined
combined with
with his
his personal
personal antipathy
antipathy to
to Grant,
Grant, finally
finally caused
caused him
him
to declare
declare publicly
publicly for
for Greeley.45
Greeley.45 On
On July
July II
II a
a group
group of
of Washington
Washington Negroes
Negroes
to
addressed
addressed aa letter
letter to
to Sumner
Sumner requesting
requesting his
his opinion
opinion on
on the
the candidates.
candidates.
The
The tortured
tortured reasoning
reasoning of
of Sumner's
Sumner's public
public reply
reply of
of July
July 29
29 revealed
revealed the
the tortormented
mented state
state of
of his
his soul.
soul. Sumner
Sumner argued
argued that
that Grant's
Grant's southern
southern policy
policy was
was
not strong
strong enough
enough because
because he
he had
had failed
failed to
to suppress
suppress violence
violence and
and bring
bring
not
peace
peace to
to the
the South,
South, but
but at
at the
the same
same time
time the
the President's
President's policy
policy was
was too
too
strong because
because he
he had
had antagonized
antagonized southern
southern whites.
whites. Sumner
Sumner asserted
asserted his
his
strong
faith in
in the
the sincerity
sincerity of
of the
the Democratic
Democratic "New
faith
"New Departure"
Departure" and
and in
in the
the good
good
will of
of southern
southern whites
whites whom
whom he
he had
had once
once denounced
denounced as
as incorrigible
incorrigible rebels,
rebels,
will
and stated
stated that
that Greeley,
Greeley, as
as an
an earlier
earlier convert
convert to
to the
the antislavery
antislavery cause
cause than
than
and
46
Grant,
Grant, was
was aa better
better friend
friend of
of the
the colored
colored man.t"
man.
Sumner's
Sumner's letter
letter was
was hailed
hailed by
by the
the Liberal
Liberal press
press as
as aa bombshell
bombshell that
that
would finally
finally explode
explode Republican
Republican pretensions
pretensions of
of superior
superior concern
concern for
for the
the
would
Negro. But
But the
the pro-Grant
pro-Grant abolitionists
abolitionists wheeled
wheeled out
out their
their heaviest
heaviest artillery
artillery
Negro.
and fired
fired deadly
deadly salvos,
salvos, partly
partly in
in sorrow
sorrow and
and partly
partly in
in anger,
anger, at
at Sumner's
Sumner's
and
statement.
statement. In
In aa widely
widely publicized
publicized letter,
letter, Garrison
Garrison reiterated
reiterated his
his earlier
earlier
arguments
arguments in
in favor
favor of
of Grant
Grant and
and ridiculed
ridiculed Sumner's
Sumner's claim
claim that
that Greeley
Greeley
had
man: "He
"He was
was not
not even
even aa Free-Soiler,
Free-Soiler, but
but
had been
been aa dedicated
dedicated antislavery
antislavery man:
always aa Henry
Henry Clay
Clay Whig."
Whig." Garrison
Garrison believed
believed that
that "the
"the Greeley
Greeley movement
movement
always
is characterized
characterized by
by the
the grossest
grossest dissimulation."
dissimulation." While
While pretending
pretending to
to act
act in
in
is
the best
best interests
interests of
of the
the freedmen,
freedmen, the
the Liberals
Liberals were
were in
in fact
fact pitching
pitching their
their
the
to the
the worst
worst enemies
enemies of
of the
the Negro.
Negro. Moreover,
Moreover, concluded
concluded Garrison,
Garrison,
appeal to
appeal
43 J. B.
B. Smith to Sumner, May 20, 1872, Gerrit Smith to Sumner, May 25, July 5, 21, 25,
43
Sumner, May 27, June I,
I, 18n,
w. Slack to Sumner, May
May 15, 1872,
1872, Garrison to Sumner,
I8n, Charles w.
I8n, Douglass to Sumner, July 5,19,1872, Mrs. Child
William S. Robinson to Sumner, June 24, 18n,
to Sumner, July 9, 24, 1872, Phillips to Sumner, July 19, 1872, Sumner
Sumner Papers.
44
44 Sumner
Sumner to Francis W. Bird, July 9, 1872, Francis W. Bird Papers, Houghton Library,
Harvard University.
University,
Harvard
45
45 Bird to Sumner,
Sumner, Apr. II,
II, 15, 23, 24, 30, May 7, July 9, 1872, Sumner Papers; Edward
Edward L.
L.
Pierce, Memoir and Letters
Letters of
of Charles Sumner (4 vols., Boston, 1877"""94),
1877"'94), IV, 515-36.
46
46 The
The Works
Works of
of Charles Sumner (20 vols., Boston, 1900), XX, 173"""95.
173"'95.
Grant or Greeley?
57
57
"the Democratic party have not become converts to the principles of the
masquerade!"47
Republican party-they are simply in masqueradel?"
Garrison's letter was published in the Boston Journal and reprinted by
nearly every major Republican paper in the country. The Journal commented editorially that "probably no other man ... is so well qualified to
. . . . An older anti-slavery man, more closely
closely idenreply to Mr. Sumner
Sumner.
tified with the cause of emancipation ... [Garrison] can speak, even to our
Senator, as one having authority-an authority which will certainly be conceded by the colored people of the country." The Nation expected Garrison's
statement to "produce a deep impression on the colored voters." The New
York Times called Garrison's letter "unanswerable" and stated that "it is
a significant fact that all the original Anti-Slavery men of the country ...
are now zealous supporters of Gen. Grant. . . . Men like Lloyd Garrison,
Wendell Phillips and Gerrit Smith were old soldiers in freedom's ranks long
before Mr. Sumner entered the campaign."48
campaign.v'"
Many other abolitionists publicly and privately condemned Sumner's
course. 49 Phillips told the senator that he had read his statement with "painful
course.t"
astonishment." "What could lead you," Phillips asked his old friend, "to
form such an estimate of the Northern Copperhead & the Southern Secessionist, & to be willing they should come into power?" Phillips believed
that Grant's re-election "will continue an Administration under which ...
exercise of his rights. Greeley is less
the negro has steadily gained in the safe exercise
than nothing in the hands of the traitors he has joined." Phillips asked
Sumner to remember that "whatever [public] criticism I make on your position will be made with the sharpest regret & wrung from me by the gravest
exposes to such
conviction of duty to the negro race which your mistake exposes
horrible peril."50
Phillips was soon called upon to make a public comment on Sumner's
position. On August 7 a committee of Boston Negroes, perplexed by the
conflicting counsel given by such stalwart champions of their race as Sumner
and Garrison, requested Phillips' advice on the political situation. Phillips
Boston Journal,
Boston
Journal, Aug. 5, 1872.
Ibid.; Nation, XV (Aug. 8, 1872),
1872), 82; New York Times, Aug. 7, 1872. The
The Republican
lbid.;
by selecting
selecting him
him as
as aa presidential
presidential elector.
elector. Garrison
Garrison
party in
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts honored
honored Garrison
Garrison by
party
declined the
the offer,
offer, but
but was
was gratified
gratified by this sign of the "altered state of public sentiment in
declined
this Commonwealth towards me, as
as compared
compared with
with the
the unpopular
unpopular days
days of
of abolitionism."
abolitionism." (Garri(Garrison to
to George
George R.
R. Russell,
Russell, Aug.
Aug. 20,
20, 1872,
1872, McKim-Malaney-Garrison
McKim-Malaney-Garrison Papers.)
Papers.)
son
49 Boston Commonwealth,
Commonwealth, Aug. 3, 10, 1872. There are several letters from abolitionists
49Boston
commending Garrison's criticism of Sumner in the Garrison Papers. In a letter to Bird (Sept. 13,
Sumner expressed
expressed surprise and pain that so many of his abolitionist friends had con1872) Sumner
demned his statement. (Bird Papers.)
50 Phillips to Sumner, Aug. 4, 1872, Sumner Papers.
50Phillips
47
48
58
James M. McPherson
published aa reply
reply that
that avoided
avoided (as
(as Garrison's
Garrison's statement
statement had
had not)
not) personal
personal
published
censure of
of Sumner,
Sumner, but
but that
that made
made perfectly
perfectly clear
clear Phillips'
Phillips' belief
belief that
that Greeley's
Greeley's
censure
election would
would mean
mean "the
"the negro
negro surrendered
surrendered to
to the
the hate
hate of
of the
the Southern
Southern
election
States, with
with no
no interference
interference from
from the
the nation
nation in
in his
his behalf;
behalf; it
it means
means the
the conconStates,
stitutional
stitutional amendments
amendments neutralized
neutralized by
by aa copperhead
copperhead Congress."
Congress." Phillips
Phillips
told
told the
the Negroes
Negroes of
of the
the South:
South: "Vote,
"Vote, everyone
everyone of
of you,
you, for
for Grant,
Grant, if
if you
you
value property,
property, life,
life, wife,
wife, or
or child.
child. If
If Greeley
Greeley is
is elected,
elected, arm,
arm, concentrate,
concentrate,
value
conceal your
your property,
property, but
but organize
organize for
for defence.
defence. You
You will
will need
need it
it soon."!
soon."51
conceal
Most
Most Negroes
Negroes agreed
agreed with
with Phillips
Phillips and
and Garrison
Garrison rather
rather than
than with
with SumSumner. A
A colored
colored "Harmony"
"Harmony" Club
Club in
in New
New York
York expressed
expressed approval
approval of
of GarGarner.
rison's
rison's "ably-written
"ably-written reply
reply to
to Mr.
Mr. Sumner's
Sumner's atrocious
atrocious aspersions
aspersions against
against GenGeneral
eral Grant,
Grant, who
who has
has already
already done
done so
so much
much for
for the
the welfare
welfare of
of ...
... the
the colored
colored
people." In
In aa broadside
broadside entitled
entitled u.s. Grant and the Colored People,
people."
Douglass
Douglass praised
praised Grant
Grant for
for "his
"his enforcement
enforcement of
of the
the law
law for
for the
the preservapreservation of
of life
life and
and property
property in
in the
the South,
South, whereby
whereby the
the savage
savage outrages
outrages of
of organorgantion
izations, known
known as
izations,
as Ku
Ku Klux
Klux Klans
Klans ...
... have
have been
been so
so generally
generally suppressed."
suppressed."
Delegates to
to aa convention
convention of
of New
New England
England Negroes
Negroes held
held in
in Boston
Boston enthusienthusiDelegates
astically endorsed
endorsed Grant.
Grant. Of
Of the
the fifteen
fifteen colored
colored candidates
candidates for
for state-wide
state-wide
astically
office in
in the
the South,
South, fourteen
fourteen were
were Republicans,
Republicans, and
and the
the mass
mass of
of Negro
Negro voters
voters
office
52
probably
cast
their
ballots
in
much
the
same
proportions.P
probably cast their ballots in much the same proportions.
Amnesty for
for erstwhile
erstwhile Confederates
Confederates emerged
emerged as
as one
one of
of the
the major
major camcamAmnesty
paign issues.
issues. In
In an
an effort
effort to
to deprive
deprive the
the Liberals
Liberals of
of this
this issue,
issue, the
the RepubliRepublipaign
can
can Congress
Congress in
in May
May 1872
1872 had
had passed
passed an
an amnesty
amnesty act
act restoring
restoring full
full political
political
privileges
privileges to
to all
all but
but aa few
few hundred
hundred former
former rebels.
rebels. But
But in
in the
the Liberal
Liberal lexicon
lexicon
"amnesty" meant
meant more
more than
than mere
mere removal
removal of
of political
political disabilities;
disabilities; it
it meant
meant
"amnesty"
total
total forgiveness
forgiveness of
of the
the Union's
Union's former
former enemies,
enemies, plus
plus aa willingness
willingness to
to enentrust to
to their
their stewardship
stewardship all
all the
the results
results of
of northern
northern victory,
victory, including
including the
the
trust
enfranchisement
enfranchisement and
and equal
equal rights
rights of
of the
the freedmen.
freedmen.
In this
this sense,
sense, most
most abolitionists
abolitionists opposed
opposed "amnesty,"
"amnesty," for
for they
they believed
believed
In
that aa withdrawal
withdrawal of
of the
the federal
federal presence
presence in
in the
the South
South would
would result
result in
in the
the
that
to second-class
second-class citizenship.
citizenship. Garrison
Garrison dederapid reduction
reduction of
of the
the freedmen
freedmen to
rapid
by assuming
assuming
clared that
that Greeley
Greeley "deludes
"deludes himself,
himself, or
or tries
tries to
to delude
delude others,
others, by
clared
that aa complete
complete revolution
revolution has
has taken
taken place
place in
in the
the feelings
feelings and
and sentiments
sentiments
that
61 Phillips'
Phillips' letter
letter was
was printed
printed in
in the
the Boston
Boston Advertiser, Aug.
Aug. 16,
16, 1872,
1872, and
and in
in scores
scores of
of
61
other newspapers.
newspapers.
other
52
52 Public
Public letter
letter of
of "Harmony"
"Harmony" Club
Club to
to Garrison,
Garrison, Aug.
Aug. 6,
6, 1872,
1872, clipping
clipping in
in Garrison
Garrison Papers;
Papers;
Boston
Boston Journal,
Journal, Sept.
Sept. 6,
6, 1872;
1872; Ross,
Ross, Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican Movement,
Movement, 165;
165; see
see also
also Douglass,
Douglass, "An
"An
Appeal
Appeal to
to Colored
Colored Voters,"
Voters," in
in New
New York
York Times,
Times, Aug.
Aug. 12,
12, 1872.
1872. During
During the
the campaign
campaign aa
"National Liberal
Liberal Republican
Republican Committee
Committee of
of Colored
Colored Citizens"
Citizens" was
was formed
formed in
in New
New York,
York, but
but
"National
was aa small
small and
and weak
weak organization.
organization. (W.
(W. U.
U. Saunders
Saunders to
to Sumner,
Sumner, Oct.
Oct. 19,
19. 1872,
18]2. Sumner
Sumner
it was
it
Papers.)
Papers.)
Grant or Greeley?
S9
S9
of the old oligarchical whites at the South in respect to their former vassals." Phillips thought that "Liberal Republicanism is nothing but Ku-Kluxdisguised."53 Smith asserted that "the Democratic Party is the Demoism disguised.t'"
cratic Party still. It
It remains as unreconciled as ever to the negro. Should it
again come into power, the oppression of the negro will be revived, and the
work of the war be undone." And William S. Robinson, who had supported
the Liberal movement before Greeley's nomination, now repudiated his
earlier position and wrote that
what the South and the Democratic party mean by
by "reconciliation" is the overoverthrow of what they call
call negro supremacy and carpet-bag supremacy, and
power to the old "governing
"governing class." What they
they
consequently the restoration of power
mean is condemnation of the entire congressional, Republican and administration
administration
54
policy from the close of the war.54
During and after the war, several thousand northern whites, many of
them abolitionists, had gone to the South as teachers and missionaries to the
in 1872,
1872,
freedmen. Some of these abolitionists were still living in the South in
and they agreed with their northern counterparts that a Liberal victory
would spell disaster for the Negro. Sallie Holley (daughter of Myron Holley, a founder of the Liberty party) wrote from her freedmen's school in
Lottsburgh, Virginia, that "if by a frown from Providence, Greeley is
here .... The triumph of Greeleyism ...
elected, we shall have awful doings here....
means gagging us all and driving us out of Virginia." Holley reported that
"I hold regular monthly meetings in our schoolhouse,
schoolhouse, and don't mean a
single man shall vote for Horace Greeley."55
Charles Stearns, an old-line abolitionist from Massachusetts who bought
a plantation in Georgia after the war, had personally witnessed and suffered from the depredations of the Klan. Stearns was disgusted by the Liberal
charge of "centralization" and "tyranny" against Grant's efforts to uphold
the law in
in the South with
with federal troops. "No true man can cry out against
can be, any safety for 'the
'centralization,' when without it, there never can
black man of the South,' " asserted Stearns. "What the friends of the blacks
are laboring for, is the establishment of law for their protection .... When it
cannot be done by our civil law, we ask for the establishment of military
authority." Stearns laughed bitterly at the Liberals' proposal to entrust
53 Independent, Oct. 3, 1872; Boston Commonwealth, Sept. 21, 1872.
53Independent,
Horace Greeley,
Greeley, Sept. 12, 1872, published letter (Peterboro, N. Y., 1872);
Gerrit Smith to Horace
Springfield Republican, Sept. 9, 1872.
55 Holley to Mrs. Samuel Porter, July 20, 1872, in John White Chadwick, Sallie Holley, A
55
220-21; Holley to Smith, Oct. 24, 1872, Smith
Smith Papers.
Life for Liberty (New York, 1899), 220-21;
election, Holley reported:
reported: "Our
"Our 96
96 colored
colored voters
voters in
in Lottsburgh
Lottsburgh all
all voted
voted for
for Grant
Grant
After the election,
and Wilson. What a splendid victory all thro' Virginia!" (Holley to Smith, Nov. 8, 1872, ibid.)
54
60
60
McPherson
James M. McPherson
local authorities
authorities with
with the
the responsibility
responsibility for
for enforcing
enforcing the
the law.
law. "No
"No sheriff,
sheriff, or
or
local
constable of
of our
our county
county would
would aid
aid in
in arresting
arresting aa Ku
constable
Ku Klux.
Klux. But
But if
if aa few
few
soldiers are
are stationed
stationed in
in this
this county,
county, their
their known
known presence
presence would
would prevent
prevent
soldiers
... outrages."
outrages." Stearns
Stearns concluded
concluded that
that nothing
nothing short
short of
of unremitting
unremitting federal
federal
...
enforcement of
of the
the law,
law, by
troops if
if necessary,
necessary, could
could render
render existence
tolerenforcement
by troops
existence tolerable for
for the
the southern
southern Negro."
Negro.56
able
As the
the election
election approached,
approached, Phillips
issued an
an appeal
appeal to
to his
his former
former allies
allies
As
Phillips issued
"I think
think the
the times
times claim
claim of
of every
every loyal
loyal man,
man, and
and
in the
the antislavery
antislavery cause:
cause: "I
in
specially of
of every
every abolitionist,
abolitionist, their
their utmost
utmost effort
effort to
to avert
avert the
the dread
dread calamity
calamity
specially
be. "57 Most
Most abolitionists
abolitionists agreed
agreed with
with PhilPhilthat Mr.
Greeley's election
election would
would be."57
that
Mr. Greeley's
lips, including
including several
several who
who had
had flirted
movement before
before the
the
lips,
flirted with
with the
the Liberal
Liberal movement
nomination of
nomination
of Greeley.
Greeley. Garrison
Garrison claimed
claimed that
that "the
"the great
great body
body of
of early
early and
and
58
A careful
careful analysis
analysis of
of the
the
long-tried
Grant."
A
long-tried abolitionists"
abolitionists" were
were supporting
supporting Grant.
private correspondence
correspondence and
and public
public statements
statements of
of those
those abolitionists
abolitionists still
still
private
1872 confirms
confirms Garrison's
Garrison's assertion.
assertion. Of
Of the
the sixty-five
sixty-five prominent
prominent aboaboalive in
in 1872
alive
litionists
whose opinions
opinions have
have been
been discovered,
discovered, fifty
fifty (77
(77 per
per cent)
cent) favored
favored
litionists whose
Grant, and
and only
only fifteen
fifteen (23
(23 per
per cent)
Greeley.1i9 The
The Republicans
Republicans
Grant,
cent) supported
supported Greeley."
welcomed this
this valuable
valuable support
support for
for their
their candidate.
candidate. Republican
Republican newspapers
newspapers
welcomed
to abolitionist
abolitionist speeches
speeches and
and letters,
letters, frequently
frequently under
under
gave generous
generous publicity
publicity to
gave
some such
such headline
headline as
as "The
"The Utterance
Utterance of
of an
an Unflinching
Unflinching Abolitionist
Abolitionist of
of the
the
some
The Republican
Republican National
National Committee
Committee distributed
distributed thousands
thousands of
of
Old Type."
Type." The
Old
copies of
of aa pamphlet
pamphlet entitled
entitled Grant or Greeley-Which? Facts
Facts and Argucopies
ments for the Consideration of the Colored Citizens of the United States,
States,
containing excerpts
excerpts from
from articles
articles and
and speeches
speeches by
by Garrison,
Garrison, Phillips,
Phillips, DougDougcontaining
lass, and
and John
John Mercer
Mercer Langston.
Langston. Several
Several abolitionists,
abolitionists, most
most notably
notably Smith
Smith
lass,
and Douglass,
Douglass, took
took to
to the
the stump
stump and
and gave
gave scores
scores of
speeches for
for Grant
Grant durdurand
of speeches
ing the
the campaign.
campaign. Smith
and Douglass
were rewarded
ing
Smith and
Douglass were
rewarded for
for their
their efforts
efforts by
by
selection
as Republican
presidential electors
in New
New York.
York.
selection as
Republican presidential
electorsin
The election
election of
of 1872
1872 confronted
confronted abolitionists
abolitionists with
with aa dilemma
dilemma that
that the
the
The
56 Charles Stearns, The
The Black Man of the South, and the Rebels (New York, 187Z), 405-406,
56
r o-II,
410
- rr , 437-38.
National Standard,
Standard, Sept.
Sept. 1872.
1872.
57 National
58 Boston
Boston [ournal,
Journal, Sept.
Sept. 6,
6, 1872.
58
1872.
59 For some, however, the election
election boiled
boiled down to a choice
choice between evils.
evils. James Freeman
59
seems to like Grant, & nobody likes Greeley.
Greeley. It is rather
rather hard
Clarke lamented that "nobody seems
Nevertheless Clarke thought that "Grant
that we cannot have a man of character to vote for." Nevertheless
because of the fear prevailing still that the rebels & democrats are not hopewill be re-e1ected because
fully converted-& if so,
so, he ought to be re-elected.
re-elected. So much for politics." (Clarke to Sarah F.
James Freeman Clarke Papers, Houghton Library, Harvard University;
Clarke, Aug. 21, 1872, James
College
see also Lucretia Mott to Martha Wright, Sept. 26, 1872, Lucretia Mott Papers, Smith College
Library; James Redpath to Sumner, July 12, 1872, Sumner Papers; John G. Whittier to Mary
Abigail Dodge, Aug. 17, 1872, John G. Whittier Papers, Essex
Essex Institute; Wendell P. Garrison
to Fanny Garrison Villard, May
May 19, 1872, Francis J. Garrison to Fanny G. Villard, Oct. 30, 1872,
Villard Papers.)
Grant or Greeley?
61
61
subsequent experience
experience of
of the
the United
United States
States in
in dealing
dealing with
with the
the racial
racial problem
problem
subsequent
has not
not yet
yet resolved.
resolved. When
When the
the abolitionists
abolitionists began
began their
their crusade
crusade in
in the
the 1830's,
has
1830'S,
they hoped
hoped to
to convert
convert the
the slaveholders
slaveholders to
to emancipation
emancipation by
by Christian
Christian apapthey
peals and
This failed,
failed, and
and some
some abolitionists
peals
and moral
moral suasion.
suasion. This
abolitionists turned
turned to
to disdisunion,
emancipation by
by government
government fiat,
fiat, and
and still
still others
others tried
tried
union, others
others urged
urged emancipation
insurrection.
also failed,
failed, and
and slavery
slavery finally
finally came
came to
to an
an end
end
insurrection. These
These methods
methods also
amid
the
tragedy
and
violence
of
civil
war.
After
the
war,
virtually
all
aboamid the tragedy and violence of civil war. After the war, virtually all abolitionists supported
supported the
the government's
government's efforts
efforts to
to enforce
enforce civil
civil and
and political
political
litionists
equality for
for the
the freedmen
freedmen by
by constitutional
constitutional amendment
amendment and
and statute
statute law.
law. By
By
equality
1872 the
the continued
continued turmoil
South had
had convinced
convinced many
many
1872
turmoil and
and violence
violence in
in the
the South
Americans, including
including aa minority
minority of
of the
the abolitionists,
abolitionists, that
that Reconstruction
Reconstruction by
by
Americans,
the federal
federal government
government was
was aa failure.
failure. These
These abolitionists
abolitionists had
had come
come full
full
the
circle; they
they now
now urged
urged an
an abandonment
abandonment of
of coercion
coercion and
and aa return
return to
to moral
moral
circle;
suasion. They
They advocated
advocated conciliation;
conciliation; they
they maintained
maintained that
that no
no law
law on
on
suasion.
earth, even
even backed
backed by
provide security
security for
for the
freedearth,
by military
military might,
might, could
could provide
the freedmen unless
unless the
the hearts
hearts and
and consciences
consciences of
of southern
southern whites
whites first
first underwent
underwent aa
men
genuine conversion.
conversion. A
A majority
majority of
of the
the abolitionists,
abolitionists, remembering
remembering the
the
genuine
earlier failure
failure of
of moral
moral suasion,
suasion, rejected
rejected this
this argument
argument and
and held
held to
to their
their bebeearlier
lief
lief that
that only
only through
through aa relentless
relentless and
and uncompromising
uncompromising enforcement
enforcement of
of the
the
law
Grant was
was re-elected,
re-elected,
law could
could the
the conditions
conditions for
for true
true equality
equality be
be created.
created. Grant
but
conflict between
between moral
moral suasion
suasion and
and legal
legal coercion
coercion was
was not
not rerebut the
the conflict
solved in
in 18]2;
18]2; it
it is
is not
not yet
yet resolved
resolved today.
today.
solved