New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-30

eleventh hour reformers were tho first to
move that the consideration of these meas
ures be postponed. When the rights of con
testants were under discussion, who was it
that introduced resolution giving them
chance? Why, sir, not a Senator could be
induced to take up the cause of those men
except the Democrats. Everybody said the
die was cast; that it was useless to try to do
ANYTHING; and l was advised to take no
steps in the matter, as l might DO myself
;niury and would certainly derive no benefit
from it. notwithstanding that. / intro
duced. az the record will show, resolution
securing the rights of the representatives,
Of the neople on the floor of the Senate;
and il was on account of that action more
than ANYTHING else that l was opposed all
through the session and met with such
violent resistance when l aspired to the
position l occupy at present: Inc fesolu
lion refer to. providing for the increase of
the members Of the Election Committee,
was passed, and Senator Ray and myself
were appointed. On the very next morn
ing these refOrmers came INTO the senate
Chan Der. moved reconsideration OF the
vote by which the resolution was adopted,
and defeated it.
Mr.. Smith-Will the Sena ;or allow me to
state that l can not conceive how any
injury was done to the contestants by the
reconsideration of that vote.
Mr.. pinchback-It was done for the pur
pose of overriding the Will OF the people,
lust as this recently discovered compact
was made. 1t says the signers shall ACT as
unit on all measures OF reform. In the
name of God. are you going to give lis
SINE more of YOUR peculiar reform meas
ures When | first heard of this covenant
I said l did not believe the present occu-
nant of the chair (Mr. Blackman, nor the
honorable Senator who has not yet made
his aupearance (Mr. tutch) would he par
ties to any such scheme. but am told they
are. ., I'm
Mr. Black1nan, acting president-l call
the Senator to order. lneIe ale personal
reflections upon members OF the Scnate
Mr.. Pinchback-I agree with the Chair.
Int nersonal reflections have been cast upon
me. and thought had IL right to retort IN
the same way. | do not intend at TINS Ilne
to say anything about the political affairs
of the hour l care nothing about
them. Men may assign any motives
they choose for the course nave putsued'
they NAV say l am the tool OF Governor
Warmoth or any other man; shall not at
temnt TO answer them. / desire, however,
to make this personal explanation so plain
and emphatic that everybody can under.
stand il. | wish it distinctly understood
that l will 90 as far as any Senator IN the
support of measures of reform, whatever
NAV be their character If they mean what
think they do. The New Orleans Times
of thing morning says: we shoulu
not forget that this same Pinchback, whose
election was the solitary act OF the extra
session. confirmed by the decision of Satur-
day. voted openly in the Senate against the
principal and most important OF the re-
form bills, - l voted against the
repeal of the election law, because l did
no: believe in its repeal in that manner.
voted against the repeal OF the registration
law. because believe the people OF the State
desire registration law. am not in favor
of the election and registration laws as they
stand upon the statute books to-day. l de-
sire the passage of such laws as will secure
to the people of the State the free
and undisturbed exercise OF their
civil and political rights; but If l am
asked to tear down the safeguards
which have been thrown around the
class of people / represent. you may cry
reform as long as You please. but l will
never vote for it. l have "a duty t. perform
which was imposed upon me by every man
who voted Tor me-a duty | owe to the
black people of Lousiana-a duty owe to
the children | will leave behind lie when
am laid beneath the sud-and when l fail
to perform that duty l hope | may cease to
live care nothing for the threats which
have been made aud are now being made
AGAINST me- | know better men than
have fallen in battling for the cause of
human rights. Ii | am stricken down by
the hand of the assassin there will be such
IA protest against it throughout the whole
country that the assassins. as well as the
instigators. Will rue the day they did it.
am satisfied that the people whom L
represent have confidence in NE. no matter
what NAV be falsely asserted 10 the con
trary Read the testimony of my friend
and partner in business. Senator Antoine.
and also that of Senator Ingraham, on that
subject. None of these gentlemen belong
ing 10 the opposition have. to my knowledge.
at any time or place. said one word against
me as a Republican and as "A representative
OF the colored people. With such testimony
as this in my favor. may not well rise aud
ask why am followed up and prosecuted
in this manner! Why are assassins set
upon me, Why am threatened day after
day and night after night with assassiua-
ton! Is it 70 frighten me! Is it to in
timidate NE in the discharge of my duty /.
Ii SO. lie: me tell you. gentlemen
you have made great mistake
cannot be frightened into any
course. I may be coaxed: / may. in that
weakness to which all human nature is sus-
ceptible. allow myself to be tlattered into
the adoption of a line of conduct, but can
be driven into it-nerer. NEVER. l know
nv duty here. | know | do not represent
the black people alone in my capacity as a
Senator, nor i'll the more exalted position of
of Lieutenant Governor. | represent the
sovereign people of Louisiana, and hope
by IA consistent course in my official life to
merit and command their respect and sym
pathy. | ask that time shall be given me
to prove my worthiuess. If. after fair
trial, prove undeserving. want the people
to hurl me from power and no longer trust
me. But until that time arrives. ask the
New Orleans Times and kindred sheets to
cease their relentless and malignant perse
cution. If | can not prevail upon those
papers to do me justice. | appeal to the
people of Louisiana, to the taxpayers aud
good citizens, both white and colured, to
sustain me in my position. | appeal to the
white people. because since | begun nv pub
lie life | have endeavored to deport myself
in such a manner us to eommad their re
spect. These trlmped-up charges that |
have associated with thugs, and have par
tcipated in the assassination OF an honor
able gentleman, | hurl with contempt back
into the teeth of their originators as base,
ahject taIsehoOds. | ask that the judgment
of the people he held in allegiance until the
courts of the State decide upon the ques-
ton. | do not desire to evade an investi-
CATION. as has been asserted by parties who
gave evidence against me. The very
fact of my not going there proves that
| courted investigation. If l had
hunted up these people, the cry would
have been that was trying to buy them OFT
to keep them from testifving against me.
have never committed an act in this com
munity that am ASHAMED of. 1t is true
that was unfortunate at one time, when
an assault was made upon me by my own
brother-in-law and defended myself as |
had IA right to do. How many men have
done the same thing! If l proposed to oc-
cupy the time of the Senate, l could men