New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-13

1uere Is one portion OF his testimony winch
seems to me to be extremely spicy. refer
to the following extract:
II was surprised to learn from
Judge Dibble and General Sheridan that
Pinchback was the Governors choice. i
expressed my disgust in emphatic terms;
whereupon General Sheridan excused the
choice as one to which the Governor was
driven by the apprehension that if con-
sentative citizen was placed in the Lleuten-
ant Governorship, the Legislature would
impeach Warmoth in order to get that citi-
zen into his place, and that the SECTION OF
Pinchback would flank this movement:
Judge Dibble gave the same reason, and
took the same view. l denounced the
proposition as indicating very low Ideas
and notions Of action.
"Question-Did these gentlemen deny
that Pinchback was rascal
.'Answer-No; they said he was the smart
est negro in the State"
This, | say; is very spicy piece of evil
dence. l reply that if either Judge Walker,
Judge Dibble, General Sheridan or the
Governor says that my election was effected
for the purpose of preventing the Govern
ors impeachment, it is positive falsehood.
l state emphatically that were l satisfied
that no other motive actuated those who
supported me than that alleged by Judge
Walker, would not allow another day to
pass without rendering to the Senate my
resignation as Lieutenant Governor. lhOld,
sir, that l was elected to cement, ii possible,
the broken ranks of the Republican party
of Louisiana, and not to prevent the i'm
peachment of Henry c. Warmoth. l care
but little whether Governor WarmOth be
impeached before his term expires; care
still less whether he is Governor hereafter,
but do care for the success Of the Repub-
lican party. l am willing at any time to be
made the instrument for the preservation OF
the Republican party; l am prepared to 0c-
cupy and assume the responsibilities and du-
ties of any office in which can subserve the
interests OF my people, my party and my
State; but | am not willing now, nor Will
| ever be willing, to become the sup
plant tool OF Henry c. Warmoth, or
anybody else. If l had had the slightest
that such were the motives that
induced my election, l would have indig-
nantly refused to accept the position L
occupy You know, Mr.. President Mr..
Barber), better perhaps than any other
person, that l am not President OF the
Senate and Lieutenant Governor by reason
of any desire on my part to become SO.
You and l, as you well remember, debated
at great length the question as to whether
it would not be impOlitic for me to accept
the position. and you, with many other OF
our representative men, urged me to do so.
Judge Walker goes on to say that "he
had no idea that his tPinchback's) appoint
ment was popular among the colOred peo-
pie They would regard such a man as an
successor of Dunn, who was
Justly esteemed by all classes as an up
right. dignited, intelligent negro, to whom
Pinchback had been opposed. Piachback
ros not representative man. His APP
pOiutment, SO far from pleasing the
negroes, would be regarded by
them as an insult" OF course that state
nent would provoke a smile from any intelli-
gent man who is at all cognizant of the
opinions of the colored people of the State.
Judge Walker, Collector Casey. Mr.. Pack
ard and all of the opponents of the Repub-
lean party here, agree in according to
Mr. Dunn the position Of the foremost
negro in the State. If it be true that he was
10 land have no desire to gainsay it), does
t not appear exceedingly strange to sensible
men that, holding the exalted position
If Lieutenant Governor, he could not force
ne to give way to him in the late election
or United States Senator! Is it net aston
shing that he did not defeat me in the first
election that took place here after the war,
when he ran on an Independent ticket for
he constitutional convention! Is it not
surprising that every time we measured our
political swords. was the victor! do not
lite these facts for the purpose OF
iepreciatng in any way the merits
e Mr.. Dunn, but for the purpose
# showing that Judge Walker. in his testi-
nony. has had no regard for the truth. A
Gentleman who testified before that com
aittee in the interest of his party, declared
hat the Democrats in the General Assem-
,ly had voted for Mr.. West as United States
' ~, I 10
ected if they did otherwise. That is the
trongest kind of testimony, it seems to
ne. Of my representative character as
olored man; and yet Judge Walker has
he hardihood to go before that committee
nd. in utter disregard of truth, assert that
am not a representative man. l believe
very unprejudiced, reasonable man will
gree with NE when | say that this gentle
nan has made these statements for the pur
ose of preventing, if possible. my welding
ny influence in the political affairs of the
tate. In other words, he knows that am
ow iuaugurating policy that will ere |
own. make the Republican party of |
.ouisiana a solid unit: and he wants |
, thwart me in that endeavor. He |
afraid the Republican party may be
rought together again and the State saved
!, Republicanism. That is what hurts the
pntleman. He also says that my charac-
II is infamous, and / desire to inform the
enate and the members of the congressional
in what my infamy consists.
am infamous because l can not be
ightened nor cOaXed into support
g the Democracy; l am infamous be-
,use from the very day the constitutional
met in this city have cham
oned the cause of the down-trOdden col
ed people. From that day to this have
ot tailed, whenever the opportunity
resented itself. to cast my vote and raise
V voice in behalf Of the class | represent.
have stood firm at my post Of duty, and
is for that reason that Judge Walker
I'd others Of the; same class characterize
e as infamous. venture to say that had
been one of those who We're will
g to sell out the rights and interests
the coiored people and join
tblican party of Louisiana. instead of the
ines, Bcc and other sheets Of the same
aracter, aspersing my motives and Willy
2 my character | would be held up to the
lblic gaze as one of the Iobest of the |
ack race. and the brightness of Mr.
unn's fame would pale before the shin
g lustre of Pinchback's name. But be-
use, forsooth, saw fit to stand fearlessly
my post because saw fit to advocate in
ason and out of season, the rights of the
ce | represent, am man CT ''intamous
aracter.' Who would expect any other
rdict from such a source The black peo-
e. ain confident, still trust in me. They
We never yet failed to give me what )
ked. in the way of political preferment;
q well known to them and they to me,
d feel confident there is no unfavorable
count to be balanced between us. If l
We failed to do my duty, the people,
e only earthly tribunal before
lich l shall be arra gned, will render their
lgment against me. Whether my char
ter be infamous, whether l am no longer
,rthy of the confidence of the people, Will
decided in 1872. and until that final dec-
N is rendered | care not how much NV