New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-28

administration, and believe that under hi
leadership, with judicious management, tn
Republican 9s1 party can be led to gloriou
To this Mr.. Pinchback spoke a. follows:
: Mr.. President-I have seen manifested
} disposition ever since we met, by nearl,
every member. to introduce some resolution
having special reference to the national I'd
ministration, and especially to Genera
Grant. ! watched the course of these gen
t!emen very carefully, and it seems tina
they wish to arrogate to themselves alon'
So fearful are these gentlemen that some
body else will be regarded as Grant men
that II man 0ares to raise his voice here
even against Piling up resolution on top o.
resolution before the convention, looking tt
the indOrsenent Of the administration, thai
they charge him with being lukewarm or q
non-supporter of that administration. Now
sir, when frat came to this city, the night
before the convention assembled, it VA
basely circulated about here that I VA
against Grant, Tho object Of this Sunor
have been unable to understand, especially
when it came from men whom regard q
my pere0nAI ~ we'll ~ political friends, and
especially when know that il came from
men who can have no doubt about my DO.
litical status, and especially, again, when il
came from mon who would have been
/
if it had not been for my intervention. /
could very we'll understand why tho last
reeolution preceding this vas introduced.
| Twas opposed to, and it was we'll under.
| stood and general desire expressed that
NO local political matters should be brought
! into this convention. -t
| We do not assemble here for settling
State diderences. We meet here to consult
tho interests of the c0lOred people Of the
Southern States, in whatever direction those
intereets might point.
But l had scarcely got here before found
gentlemen trying to undermine what little
popularity or influence. I did possess, by
circulating reports that was against the
administration.
What was the next thing! Here comes q
gentleman with resolution indOrsing the
Republican party; another comes indoFsing
General Grant then another on the same
subject, and another, and another
With these facts before US, it would seem
that the convention should act carefully
What complain of is this piling it on.
I want to ask whether there has been
brought before this convention q single,
sOlitary reeolution that looks TO q stronger
have intrOduceds -I.
It is true have not gone over one of
those terrific fourth Of July orations; have
not exhausted the vocabulary of grand ex-
preasions; but have in this resolution em-
bodied the kernel of all that may be said
in honor Of the President oe the United
States. go /''f
Let me ask, if was not Grant man.
what evidence is necessary to prove that
one is . Grant man. If propose now to
toss my hat higher than any ono else at
every mention Of his name, would that be
evidence that am q Grant man. opine
not; but while say that this is NO evidence
that am Grant man, propose to show
what consider to be evidence Of my friend
ship for his excellency and the administra.
ton. -.L
From the first time my name was men.
toned in connection with Republican prin-
ciples l have been an unswerving advocate
of his. At NO time or place have failed
to do the very fullest homage to him. At
no time or place have failed to pay him
the highest eul0gies could command
have extOlled that act of his in which he
recognized the impartial distribution of
federal patronage. a. his crowning act. 1t
was the cap shEaf, theacme -
had the distinguished honor to repre-
sent my State in part in the national con.
vention which nominated him for the posi-
tion he now occupies. Not, only did 1 do
that, but threw in whatever l had in his
elevation to tho Presidential chair. Not
only that, but more recently myself and
other gentlemen met and formed corpor-
alton, and started paper. now own !
four-eixths Of that paper, the other gentle
men having sold their interests, and am
now running it at heavy cost, and nailed at |
the masthead as our choice for President in |
1872 is the name of Ulysses s. Grant. 1
l have expended my money, and am |
willing to do 80, and am running an organ |
at my own expense, but in the face of all |
this, men have the hardihoOd and un-
paralleled audacity to assert here that am
against Grant. 1t seems to me they must |
have been in the company Of his distin.
Ruished br0therinrlaw in Louisiana, of |!
whom am told the first thing he says when
be meets q gentleman il ''are you against
Grant,
No, cir; / am not against Grant. If the
country through this convention wishes to
kn0w where stand, l will tell them / am
lot against Grant. If the Republican party
hinks that under his leadership it can
'chieve victory in 1872, by all means take
lim up. ~
But while am thus uncompromising In
avor Of Grant, am 80 independent as q
itizen as to say that whenever General
}rant does that which think is wrong, or
N injury to republicanism, will oifer my
protest and opposition to it, whatever or
wherever it may be. When I see several
tates Of ours passing out of the hands of
he Republican party, through the ipju-
icious distribution of public patronage, it /
ecomes my duty, as we'll as that Of all
ther Republicans, to do our best against it, |
he great State Of Missouri has passed out
f our hands from this cause. The State of |
has been lost from the same
ause. Texas has gone almost overwhelm-
Ugly for the opposition from this selfsame
ause. Alabama has, hear, hopelessly
one from the same cause. North Carolins,
hear, can be added to the number. How
ANY more will be addedl -
l say whether it bo General Grant or
nbody else, if their acts tend to disrupt the
epublican party, or to put this govern
ent in the hands of our sworn enemies. it
ecomes our solemn duty, and the duty of |
yer Republican, to enter our protest against
~ such action.
From the time I entered the political
le duties Of Republican according to the
ctates Of my conscience. No reward has
yer swerved me even SO much a. hair. Il
rinciple has been my star; has been nv y
,pe from the commencement down to the G
esent time; and whenever l prove false q
that principle, or the principles of the n
epublican party, may sink 90 deep in the
ave of political oblivion that NO time y
all ever help me to a resurrection.
MIR. Pinchback. the chairman of the COM ii
ittee of civil rights, reported. Long and i;
citing debate followed, extending into G,
e evening session. The principal points | d
ade were that, generally the law was t,
lite ample but the col0red people were to | e1
so, it was offered as an excuse by Price, r
North Carolipa, that the race was so Il
or in his State that they were unable to Il
9k redress. through the proper courta. | m