an who was opposed to secession after the ordinance was
passed. This probably accounts for the statement in the last part of
the affidavit relative to the frustration of the plans.

I regard the statement in reference to Messrs. Sumner and Stevens as a
reflection on the memory of two of the greatest friends of the Negro.

History, unless it is based on facts, incontrovertible facts, is
worthless.

If there are any readers of _The Journal of Negro History_ who can
produce "irrefragable evidence" relative to this matter I would be
glad if they would do so. Truth is supreme and everlasting.

Prof. R. T. Greener, now of Chicago, Harvard's first Negro graduate,
and the first and only Negro who occupied a chair in one of the old
Southern universities, delivered on Public Day, June 29, 1874, in the
historic South Carolina University, a most eloquent and scholarly
address on "Charles Sumner, the Idealist, Statesman and Scholar." It
made such an impression on the members of the faculty that they
requested Prof. Greener to allow them to have it published and
distributed. Professor Greener was the only Negro on the faculty. He
occupied the chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy. Professor Greener
was closer to Mr. Sumner than any other colored man, although very
much younger, and enjoyed a friendship with the Senator vouchsafed to
very few white men. It is possible that he may be able to throw some
light on the subject in so far as Mr. Sumner is concerned.

Letters from scholars in this field will help us to learn the truth. A
copy of a letter from J. F. Rhodes follows:

RAVENSCLEFT, SEAL HARBOR, MAINE,
Sept. 27, 1920.

HENRY A. WALLACE,

_Dear Sir_:

I have your valued favor of 23 with enclosure. It is now about
fourteen years since I made my study of Reconstruction, and on
some details my memory is not fresh, but I have no hesitation in
saying that I never found anything that would lead me to believe
that either Sumner or Stevens was in favor of the scheme
outlined. The story told by the affidavit "does not fit into the
situation" as Samuel R. Gardiner used to say. Nothing but
irrefragible evidence could lead one to such a view. Your
examination of the subject seems to have been thorough and I
thank you for giving me the results of it.

Very