New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-21
UNITED STATES sENAroRsH1P.

We have received for publication copies
of the correspondence between the Hon.
Robert Poindexter and an aspirant for the
United States Senate. Mr.. Poindeyter's
letter is worthy Of Republican member of
the General Assembly-mOre we need not
say.
NAPOLEoSvILLE, La, June II, 1868.
To the Hon. --, New Oreans
SRI beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter, dated thirteenth instant, in
for the United States Senate, aud request
my vote in favor of your election. basing
your claim for my support on my supposed
desire for my own advancement and my
wishes for the welfare of my race, and for
the success of the principles Of the Repub-
lican party.
Sir, your last argument you should have
placed first, your first last. l have no per-
sonal ambition, no individual interest, no
wish or hope separate from the interests,
the wishes, and the hopes of my party, the
great Republican party. To that party |
owe everything; to that party am indebted
for what is dearGr to me than life, my lib
erty, and my manhood; that party, and it
alone, restored to me those privileges which,
given to me by my God, had been torn from
me and trampled under foot by the slave
owner and the Democracy.
Yes, l am Republican, and my advocacy
of Republican principles and my gratitude
to the Republican party shall only cease
with the last throb of my heart. Knowing
then as l know and feeling as / feel, it is
of course my duty to examine your record
in order to see whether | can conscientious
ly give my support to your election as
United States Senator. | knew you in the
Convention, and although l then differed
from you widely in some of the views which
Up hold nr pluappaR I Jupntd fhnrp.
fore hastily conclude that those views were
prompted by any other motives than patri.
otto ones; but when the day of battle came,
when the great Republican banner was
brought into the field, and when | saw you
abandon that standard of freedom and
range yourself in the ranks of Mr.. Talia.
ferro and the Democracy, when | saw your
name appear on that ticket which lCds head
ed Against the Constitution" and which
ought to have been headed against
Liberty, against Justice, against Truth
and against God" then, indeed, felt that
if your motives were patriotic, your judg-
ment must be sadly at fault; the one could
alone be justified at the expense of the
other. You say you adopted the course
you did because you believed Mr.. Warmoth
10 be "Copperhead'' and supposed he
would prove a traitor to his trust. Such an
excuse is inadmissible. Shall 1, because l
doubt the purity and the patriotism of some
Republicans, therefore anticipate their
treachery by deserting my party and be-
coming a traitor myself? God forbid. But
am happy to believe that your fears as to
the course Mr.. Warmoth would pursue were
entirely groundless,
| have the honor of being acquainted
with him, and believe him to be an honora.
BILE, high-minded gentleman, perfectly inca
| pable Of that treachery which you antici-
pate. Doubtless the late Taliaferro party
| declare him to be otherwise, and they are
call honorable mem after their fashion,
but doubtless so is Robert E. Lee and quite
a number of other less distinguished Demo-
Gratis, who conscientiously believed they
had perfect right to whip, murder, sell, or
| outrage any man or woman with black
| face. I don't question the honor of these
men, but if we consider them actuated by a
belief that they were right, what must we
think of the heads and hearts which could
entertain and cherish views so monstrOusly
false, inhuman, and unjust?
| can not hold it either consistent or
compatible" with mysense of duty, either
personal, public, or Representatives, to vote
! in your favor. If my views are erroneous,
let my constituents judge between us.
| think it is right that should publish our
| correspondence for their information.
have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT P0INDEXTER,