The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-01-06

=" ny Oongr0eS, 30 tnat such shOeh;r.
y scene will be unlikely hereafter to recur
. The First Niger 10 Congress.
We copy from the New York H1,o.,
: the following, in order that our 49,
e may know what is said Of the 6rst p;,,.,
: Congressman:
II Anxious TO asceftain the views - !.
the first coI0red Congressman fr0u ~
|. South your correspondent started ont d.
: day on voyage Of discovery in onea !,
!; Mr.. John Willis Menard. the colore1 ~
preventative from Louisiana.
No notice Of his residence have hca,
corded in tho papers, and none OF ~ =.
cal BARRIERS having any knowledse q e.
whereabouts, it becnmc somewhat di6s.s
to find ont where this most illustrioss -.
Ky was abiding. Through the friesdly ~
Of an itinerant vender ofoysters No ~
ultimately successful in our explosatjoss
and under the roof Of venerable shapt,
fast settling down in the adjaocst mod. =
found the object Of our search rising 10.
the discussion Of dish of savosy po,k
The height Of the apartment appeared
little over six feet, with q triGing amount
Of antique furniture and two rude EtAo.
graphs Of Ben Butler and Ben Wale. n,
AeDard seems TO be aboat thirty yoess NJ
age, with soft saddle. cOlOred face, E,h;o,
plan lips and nose, the latter resemb,ios.
an apothecarys pcstle fattened Il IA
heavy end, good natured in his general 81.
preston and rather prepossessing IL.
otherwise. II might be subject OF -.
prise that ono upon whOm" SO distinRunl.
ed an honor had been conferred tound N
more respectable abode than . tss,hle
down rooksEy occupied by superanuaard
and impecuni0us barber, but it seemed 70
be held in excellent estimation BY this new
candidate to the national councils. He
was satisfied, however. THAT its capacity
would be too confined 10 accommodate H.
number of his friends who would Be ssm
TO call upon him when Congress decided 10
take him within its fold. There are n,env
wealthy darkies in Washington wAo.s
houses. one might suppose would b
thrown open to man who has Won . hieA.
er favor than any ef bls race on the coeti.
nent; but 1t appears no disposition OF dis
kind has been shown-not even q serea-
AIDE, with bones, banjo and vocal accon-
paniments, has been got up; and IL ths col.
ored Congressman has reason 10 complain
OF the shabby manner in which he has teea
treated by tho white Republicans, What
must be the state OF his f..slinss in reilscs-
ing on tho studied indifference shown hin
BY the people OF his own cOlOr Z
Mr.. Menard was dressed in suit Of
cheap tweed. q Jim Grow hat and slippess,
In, n<0 L. -
tation dance to perfection, from the ioope
aud jaunty cut Of his figure.
In conversation he has . little OF 10
negro style Of pronunciation, bss not
enough TO be comical.
Reporter. Well. Mr.. Mena,d, do yos
expect to be admitted soonf ..e
Mr.. Menard. Yes, ! hope 70 take my
seat before the recess.
With his answer no threw Q good deal
Of dignity into his face, and initiated. Tie
OF Charles Sumner when he leans
back in his seat .after spsech 10 The
Senate.
Mr.. Mcnard. am waiting sov my eoe.
liicate from Governor War,nOth and when
that arrives 60 down 10 the COmmitteeoa
Elections, call 0r Mr.. Dawes say to Mr..
Dawes. "Here is my certificate in 10
name OF the people and of the State Of
Louisiana. duly h0B0riBg me a. their &C.
credited Representative in the Congress Of
lbe United States. please admit me 70 ny
,eat. Then Mr.. Iawnes will mako answer
in the legislative wisdom ofhis
and by reason Of their combined
/ am entitled or not. They
may say not; but deny that their concii.
lion in this respect is based upon tho Facts
]uly recorded and certified by the history
It the case and OF the constitution. have
,een elected to Gil the place Of Deoo-
ratio member named Mann, who died
While his seat was being contested By
tones Rep.) and NO decision twas arrived
i. III they decide nov that Mann was DE-
= elected, step in a. his legitimate thoaeh
'umblo successor. and if not, then vice
,ersa.
Reporter. How did the Republicans
n the floor OF the House receive you tbs
ny you made your appearances?
Mr.. Menard. Well, nothing extra.
lad to lind my way in, and when inside
Ound nobody inclined 70 como near me.
cit bad at this. / didn't want to sit thess
md be stared at like curious kind ofan
nimal, and IL nobody cared to talk 10 NJ
wasnta going to lorce my company on
hem. I walked in on that 6oor feeling
hat l had right TO do SO. and good
cal better right than these caspet-bngyss,
sewsiam aud Sypher, from Losisia0s.
ltcted by colorcd votes in the places OF
etter men.
Reporter. Did these men 500 yoa on
he foosl
Mr. Menard. Yes. they saw nc. bat
III