New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-12


say the largest portion, Of the Republican
| party, putting in nomination, not the candi
date of tho majority, but one who represents
| a very small minority Of the Republican
| party. We said when we started, that we
! were IN favor of recognizing the political
| rights Of all men. l did not believe that
| principle would be carried out. / believed,
| and 80 stated. that they would be willing
| to see the cOlored man hold unimpOrt-
ant places, but 1 did not believe,
| when it came to a square vote.
that they would support him for i'm
pOrtant Offices. If L had any doubt on the
subject. the contest to-day has removed
those '.oubts. 1t must be recorded for flu
ture use, that in the vote given to-day on
this important question, while the Senators
of my own race, almost to Il man; cast their
votes for me, with one exception. no other
Republican did. have to speak personally
because l am unfortunately, the instrument
by which this lesson has been taught the
people of Louisiana. | am the goat drawn
up to the altar to be sacrificed.
Senator: Misplaced confidence.
Mr.. Pinchback: Well may the gentleman
say misplaced confidence because those
who sent HIM here put their confidence in him
and he has abused and betrayed it. want the
facts put on record, because when this gem
tleman General Vest Coca to Washington
and says he represents the Republican party
of this State, shall be prepared 70 prove
by this record that he is not the representa-
tive OF the Republicans of Louisiana.
Mr.. McMillen: And do it. too.
Mr.. Plnchback: Look at the chicunory
after l had forty odd votes; they went
round to member after member, ''Changc
your vote. change your vote, i'll order that
it might not 60 to the world that they re-
ceived no cOlored vote. They were pledged
and the Republican party was pledged 70
equal rights, and now they come in here to-
day to vote against all those pledges. | say
again, am not sore at all. There is not Il
Senator that has spoken 10 me personally
but 70 whom | have expressed the same
opinions that now express. l told them
had not the ghost of IA chance. and knew
it. But did expect to be able to use such
influence as l had 40 as to secure a compe.
tent honest. worthy man for that high pO-
sition. was III hopes tina. l could
at least effect 80 much. l even made repre-
sent!tiOns to the Democratic party. told
them If YOU stand solid and united against
this gentleman, will assure YOU he will
never be elected, because withUus com
binatiOn on the part Of the Democrats there
could be no election, for the colored vote,
was pledged to 4 man to stand firm. Not
that we expected to elect one of our own
race. because we did not think this was pos
sibie. but we did hope to elect man
worthy to fill that seat. am not prepared
to say that General West is not worthy,
but am prepared to say ne is not the best
man TO represent oar interests in the Senate
Of the United States. He may be, and I
hope he will be. all his friends claim him to
DE. but that Is not the isht ON which we
entered.
Mr.. Fish: There seems 70 be a charge,
an implied charge. on the part of the gen
tlenan who has Just sat down. that those
OF the Republican party who voted against
charge wish to repudiate on my own be-
half and believe on behalf of every Re
publican Senator who did not vote for the
gentleman. It has been my observation,
Mr.. President, that whenever distinction
has been made between white and black.
the distinction has been drawn by those OF
the ycntlemans own color. The white
men have shown their disregard of color by
voting both ways. 1t is in evidence this day
that some of the white Republicans voted
for Mr.. Pinchback. although he knew he
had no chance of election. am not pre-
pared to say, Mr.. President, that if your
Excel.ency had come forward, or if the
gentleman himself had had any chance.
which he knew he had not. that might not
have voted for one or the other of you:
but there being only two candidates in the
field that had any chance Of election. [
thought il incumbent to vote as | did. be-
cause thought General West was the best
man before the Senate who had any chance
OF election.
Mr.. Raglan stated that i: was his intention
20 have voted for Mr.. Pinchback. He only
voted for General West because of pressing
from his constituents to do 50.