New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-14

the New Orleans Times, and Governor
Warmoth, came to my house, reused me
from my slumbers, and offered me $50 600
in money, and the appointment of as many
officers as desired which Colonel McEnery
would carry out if l would enter into this
combination. | told them then and there |
would consider the matter. / did consider
the matter, and when rose this morning !
addressed to the Governor letter, which |
Will read to you. Early this morning his
eXcelency, IN pursuance Of the agreement
| made between him and myself, so anxious
was he to be party to this conspiracy to
overthrow the will OF the people that he
sent his messenger with the following note:
ST. CHALREs HOTEL, New Orleans.
MY DEAR GOvERNoR-COme as soon as
| you can-before nine, if possible. / must
see you, whatever may be your determine
ton. Yours, WARMOTH.
To which I replied as follows:
New ORLEANS, December 9, 1872.
MY DEAR G0YERNoR-I have slept on
the proposition you made to me last night.
and have resolutely determined to do INV
duty to my State, party and race, by de-
Ginning respectfully to accept the same.
am truly sorry fory0u. but can not help
you. Very respectfully, etc,
z. B. S. PINCHBACK.
Now | say to these Senators, with the ad-
ditional evidence of this scheme before nv
eyes, that had the programme mapped out
by these old Senators been carried out, we
would have had again the constitution and
laws. trampled under foot, and /. c0nstitrl-
tional officer, would have been elected from
my position.
Mr.. McMillen-I desire to call the Chair
to order.
Lieutenant Governor Pinchback-I say,
then, to the Senators ] care not for the pro-
test. | have explained my reasons, and if
| am not justified in my conduct the Senate
has its remedy, and can address me out OF
office.
REMARKS OF SENATOR BI'MILLEN.
Mr.. McBTilIen- The President Of the Sen
ate in tit of Indignation and passion casts
up something which has transpired between
him and the Governor of the State, and
seems prepared to exhibit that passion in
an unseemly, unparliamentary and undig.
nifed manner before the Senate. In the
diarrhea of passion emitted by him he
thinks proper to charge Senators holding
over wit&a purpose to COnspire against the
institutions of Louisiana and the party he
represents, and the great rights which the
constitution, it seems, has empowered him
TO protect and defend. All that have to
say in reply to that is, that so far as | am
concerned, as a Senator of Louisiana, one
holding over that the charge made against
them is utterly and entirely false There
is not one, word of truth in it as far as
am concerned. / have not conspired
with any person to overthrow any
political party, or any cabal Of men,
whether they belong to the United States
government, or whether they be citizens OF
the State Of Louisiana. | have been
party to no proposition to overcome the
objections Of the gentleman either through
venality or any other way. | have not
sought him in any way other than to meet
him in caucus and to agree in caucus as a
man, a Senator, and Republican what we
should do when we came together. That
agreement has been violated, and it was be-
cause | was in favor of carrying out this
agreement and of doing what | consider
precedents show was the proper thing
TO be done; that / desire to en-
ter my protest against the arbitrary,
revolutionary, unconstitutional proceedings
of a man who, at best, is but an ex-senator
of the State, He is there in that seat by
not by law, not by the constitu-
ton, and not because of any right that he
has to be there. simply express my 0pin-
ion that the act if there was any power to |
pass upon the act, committed by ex-senator |
Pinchback to-day, would be declared IN |
lawful, unconstitutional, and null aud |
void We have a precedent of that kind |
in this State. In 1865 the Senate of |
Louisiana came together ard organized |
itself under precisely similar circum-
stances as those which surrounded us TO-
DAY. The Lieutenant Governor had become /
Governor, and the Senate of the preceding
General Assembly elected President Of |
The Senate ex OtiiciO, who served by virtue
IF his Office as President, as Lieutenant
Governor, whose term expired with the
preceding General Assembly. When the |.
senate assembled for the purpose Of organi-
zaGon, ex Senator GastineI on that occa-
,IOn, just as ex-senator Pinchback now, as
3umed the chair and called the Senate to
order; hnt one member rose and objected
o Mr.. Gastinel acting as Senator, because
lis term of Office had expired with that Of
he last General Assembly. The validity
If the objections was recognized, and the
Senate immediately proceeded to put an
,ther man in his place.
Mr.. Harris-Wili the gentleman permit
ne to interrupt him? This was not under
he present constitution.
Mr.. McMiIlen-But the same provisions
re in existence. | am simply stating these
acts to strengthen my argument.
The President-ThG Chair does not like
0 interrupt the SENATOR but he is fully
ware that some motion must be before the
enate.
Mr. McMillen-I viii simply reply to the
The President-There is nothing to reply
Mr.. McAIillen-The Chair has cast an in
nuation on Senators holding over, which |
II one stamp as false. / am not member |
any conspiracy either here or elsewhere.
have been and am simply here for the pur-
Dse of discharging my duties as justly and
faithfully as | can as Senator of the
ate of Louisiana, and / do not recognize
10 right of the President of the Senate to
lpugn my motives in this manner.
The President-The gentleman by his ex-
anation, if had any doubt, has removed
ZEN by saying ex-senator Pinchback. ] i.
n now satisfied you are in it.
Mr. McNllllen-That is an expression of
,iniOn.
The Senate went into executive session.
Executive session being raised, Mr.. Nc
illen said he desired to enter his protest
the journal.
The President declined to entertain the
otion on the ground that it was disre- !
ectful to the Chair, |
Mr.. McAlillen-This is not an agreeable
ing for me to do, TO ask to have this in
rted on the minutes. It is not an agree /
lie thing for me, as a Senator, to he con Q
onted on my entrance into the Capitol by :
e bayonets of United States soldiers, and I
have United States marshal, called +
Dm some hidden recess, and claiming to 7
we the right to determine whether shall
me in here or not. 1t is not pleasant a
ing to take my seat surrounded by the :
horts Of the United States, to see men in !
itorm in this room, and United States !
2vshal5 without number crossing the Sen l.
g Chamber and crowding round my seal q
r the purpose of swelling the tide of in =
aidation which now sweeps across the .
V. !.
Tie President-2 call the gentleman 20 b
der: there is nothing before the house. q
Mr. McAIilIen-I move to have my pro u
It spread upon the minutes. II