Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) to Frederick Douglass
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00470.01 Author/Creator: Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa December 1870 Pagination: 2 p. ; 20.8 x 13.7 cm. Order a Copy
Sumner, a Senator from Massachusetts tried the previous day to locate Douglass at his office, but was too late. Writes "I beg to talk with you about the Republican party & its perils to which I fear you are not sufficiently sensible... Pray don't drive the wedge to split us. Let us try to leave the colored people in their rights..." Dated "Sunday." Not in Douglass's or Sumner's Papers and apparently unpublished.
Opponents abandoned Grant and the Republicans in the 1872 elections over the issue of annexation of Santo Domingo, and corruption scandals such as Crédit Mobilier. Grant won reelection in 1872 over Horace Greeley, but the Republican Party would soon be eclipsed.
Washington
Sunday
Dear Mr. Douglass,
I started yesterday to find you at your office, but was detained on the way until it was too late. I shall try again tomorrow.
I long to talk with you about the Republican party & its perils to which I fear [2] you are not sufficiently sensible, if I may judge from y[ou]r paper which I read regretfully. Pray don't drive the wedge to split us.
Let us try to leave the colored people in their rights and not divert the energies of this people from the real quest.
Ever Yours,
Charles Sumner
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