New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-02

people are not the ones to beg anything
but what they ask they claim as a
right. But IN making use of such
expressions. ] know, sir, that the Senator
from Claiborne does not express the senti-
ments of his constituents, for | believe the
masses of them, both white and eolored, de-
sire peace. They desire to bury the Ratchet,
to see the country once more peaceful and
prosperous. That is the wish Of every hon
est man. We shall yet see who has the most
interest in this country. We shall prove 1t
by our actions here and elsewhere. / shall
vote for this amendment because l am COM
mitted to it, and because think it is right,
but II anything were to sway me from it 1t
would be such remarks AS those INDUCED in
by the Senator from Claiborne.
MIR. Pinchback: Mr.. President, | rise to
personal explanation, which is forced upon
me by the remarks of Senator Poindexter,
that the advocates of this measure were
trying to please the Democrats.
Mr.. Polndexter: did not refer to you
particularly.
Mr.. Pinchback: Well, l am glad the gen
tleman did not refer to me, but my personal
explanation does not end there. After
left the Senate chamber last night certain
persons characterized my action AS intend
ed to make myself thought more OF by the
Democratic party. | brand any such state
ments as false and calumnious; | do not
come here to make myself popular with one
party or another, but to do what 'can to-
ward the enactment of Just and wise laws.
And | will refer the gentleman who has
been so busy in circulating the report that
have tried to curry favor with Democrats
to the journal OF the Convention, to see how
my votes are recorded there. | think he
will find them entirely consistent with my
action III this proposed amendment OF the
Constitution.
One thing more wish to say. 1t is this:
| have seen with regret disposition on the
part OF men in this Senate TO widen, if pos
sible,- the breach between the two races,
and will call the attention of the cOlored
people to the all important necessity of dis.
countenancing any such attempts. And
Will call to their minds an incident which
occurred last night, when three thousand OF
our men were in procession, marching up
street. You will sec from that. sir, how
this thing is acting. We supposed we we're
living under an administration which
having put in power those we supposed
would protect us from outrage and assault,
aud yet, sir, last night three thousand OF our
people were on the verge of destruction.
know that we need and must have the
Endorsement and aid of the white people to
carry through measures to protect the col
ored race andredound to their best interests.
Now, sir, | saw the feeling evinced last
night, and l call the attention of my people
to the fact; let them ask who would have
been murdered if another riot had occurred
last night / was astouished, sir, when |
learned the small amount of mischief that
had been done. These things come from
the attempts of political agitators to array
the colored against the white race. 1t is for
these reasons that have opposed from the
first this ninety-ninth article DISTINGUISHING
certain persons. And tell my people here
to-day, that no community can be At peace
in which large class of men are deprived
of their rights. Do you suppose that if they
attempted to drive us back into slavery that
this would be peaceful community
| think l reflect the sentiment of every
colored man when l say that it would not,
and as long, sir, as any such law stands
upon the statute books, Just that long peace
and good order will be impossible.
The amendment was made the special Or
der of the day for Wednesday September
3Oth.