New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-18
CONSISTENCY---IS IT A JEWEL?

CONSISTENCY---Is 1T A JEWEL?
Above all things, the American people
admire consistent man. This is what
made Old Hickory the favorite of the De-
mocracy, and old Tom Benton the pet OF
Missouri. Mr.. Clay lost great prestige
when he voted for Adams contrary to pub
lie expectation; and all through his public
life the Democracy used that one act OF
inconsistency, as they termed it, with
greater effect against him than any other
single act of his life. A steadtast adj
herence to a given line Of policy is almost
sure to be rewarded with favor IN this
country, for the people grow into the be-
lief that man who refuses to change his
course. even at their own demand, Is
worthy to be trusted.
Of the sixteen Senators who have signed
the communication that was addressed to
the Senate of the State of Louisiana, tour
of them, at least, have, either in whole or
in part displayed an inconsistency that
must iniure them with their constituency
They assert in their protest that ''Senator
Pinchback is not and never has been the
legal President of the Senate" There is
a principle of law, as old as the law itself,
..that what a man solemnly does that he
shall not deny" Senator Ray and his
associate fifteen admitted the legality OF
the extra session of the Senate by conven-
ing under the proclamation that called 1t
together; and Senator Ray submitted to
the election of Senator Pinchback when
he offered to contest for the Office, and
then voted for Senator COPELAND after he
found that he could not get the Democratic
vote. This settles Mr.. Ray. Senator Coup
land placed himself in a position that can
not be contested when he voted for Sen
ator Pinchback as against himself, for
no excuse that his vote was merely
a compliment will do away with an act
that was clothed with all the solemnities
of a sworn duty. Officials can not hide
behind compliments to escape the respon-
sibilities of these public trusts. AS Sen
ator, he acted for the people, and as a
wandering truant from his position he
can not assume to set aside vote which
was the vote of the people. Senators
Wilcox and Lewis voluntarily appeared in
the Senate, assisted in its organization and
gave their votes for Senator Plnchback.
The record is made, and no power can
change it. The agency that is once full
filled can not be denied except by the
principal. What these have done is final
and complete, and they can neither legally
nor consistently alter or recall it. This
is law and this is honesty. What man
solemnly does that he shall not deny. An
agent who perfects an act is thereafter
estopped from any further authority in the
matter, for his appointment was to per-
form given thing which, being done, the
principal must either act himself or create
a new trust in favor of his appolntee.
The Senate of the State of Louisiana is
solemnly comprised in this matter as a
whole, by having acted with and consented
to the election of Senator Pinchback as
Lieutenant Governor; and especially are
Senators Ray COPELAND, Wilcox and Lewis
estopped from denying or evading the re
suit of their direct action in the matter
OF Senator Thomas, too, it may be still
more strongly said that he not only recog-
nized the extra session by participating in
its proceedings, but that he sanctioned the
election of Lieutenant Governor by taking
part in the contest And what is still
more conclusive against him, he appeared
in his seat in the Senate on Monday, and
voted under and with Mr.. Pinchback. He
has done treble duty in accepting and
RECOGNIZING the Lieutenant Governor, and,
being a lawyer, he must know that his
present protest is at variance with con-
sistencv aud with law, and that all men
must regard his actions as OF more force to
bind his constituency and his conscience
than dozen such assertions as that con-
tanned in the communication which was
yesterday addressed to the Senate OF the
State.