2121 NORTH 29TH STREET }
PHILADELPHIA, October 30, 1895. }
Gen. Robert Smalls, Columbia, S. C.:
My Dear General--I am very desirous of procuring a copy of each one of
the speeches delivered in your Convention at Columbia on the suffrage
question. If you have within easy reach any or all of them in print,
I shall esteem it as a favor if you will kindly forward to me here
such of them as you can readily spare. And let me say to you, my dear
General, what has, I presume, been said to you already, that the
dignity, courage and signal ability with which you and your Republican
colleagues at Columbia, have asserted and maintained manhood rights and
the just claims of all citizens to fair play under the supreme law of
the land as well as under the civilization of our times, have touched
the heart of the great North and called forth its soberest approval and
its high admiration.
Indeed, it is felt here that, in your statements, your arguments and
warnings, you have covered the whole case and done lasting honor to the
Negro race and to American patriotism. All hail to you and your noble
band of Spartans at Columbia!
Yours very sincerely,
E. C. BOSSETT.
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NEWBERRY, Oct. 28, 1895.
Hon. Robert Smalls:
Dear Sir: I take the liberty of expressing to you and through you
to your colleagues, Messrs. Miller, Wigg and Whipper my very great
gratification and approval of your and their very able and eloquent
addresses in behalf of sound Republican principles, of justice towards
all classes, and of fair and honest elections. You all did credit
to your race, to the Republican party, and as I hope and believe
to the cause of justice, for I have no doubt your efforts will
have great influence outside the State. The prompt voting down of
everything proposed, however fair and moderate, looked very much like
pre-concerted action, and was not creditable to the Convention, either
Conservatives or “Reformers.” But I should say, keep up the fight at
every point along the line. Propose amendments to every objectionable
section, even if they are voted down.
Very Respectfully,
B. O. DUNCAN.
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ADELPHI HOTEL, }
LIVERPOOL, Oct. 6, 1895. }
Mr. Robert Smalls, Beaufort, S. C.:
Dear Sir--We have read over here the telegraphic report about the
metaphorical bomb you threw into the Constitutional Convention, with
the greatest glee. But not only was it the best sort of fuse--it was
loaded, too, with the most explosive truth, (it seems to have scattered
the ladies.) Such jokes as yours make an entrance for the truth when
cold logic slides off like water from a duck’s back. Gen. Ben Butler’s
phrase about the contraband of war converted more Democrats than
Seward’s great speeches. And so I doubt not your “little joke” will do
more to make the scales drop from people’s eyes than even Douglass’
admirable tract “Why is the Negro Lynched;” (Of this I will try to
send you a copy.) Butler’s “Contraband” prepared the way for Lincoln’s
Emancipation Proclamation. Your resolution, so aptly timed, I regard
as one of those _immense_ things that influence destiny. I do not know
how much it will be written about in the papers, but I believe it is
only second in the importance of its influence to Uncle Tom’s Cabin,
because of its _opportuneness_. _No occasion could have occurred--none
can again occur_--when that truth wrapped up in the words of your
amendment could have reached home to the American people--could have
penetrated the harness and armor of the late Rebel master. More than
that, you have prepared the way for one of the greatest books on the
relations of the Negro and the mulatto to the white race. I speak,
of course, of Mr. Keeper’s book, “Minden Armies.” At once on reading
your action and its result in the Convention, I wrote an article,
intended to be light and attractive, and took it to one of the great
London dailies, but it was returned as the subject was hardly of enough
consequence to their constituency, their columns being so crowded. I
should be very glad to have the best report of that meeting that is
published, as I want to see the details in full. Address me.
Yours truly,
HORACE J. SMITH,
44 Grosvenor Road, London S. W.
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