New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-30
Ex.SPEAkER CARTER.

EX.SPEAkER CAkIER.
u Remarkable Caracter-The Checkefed
Career of Minister. Soldier and
Pols1ician-Preachng and Duelins rs
Fine Ar,.-Fifteen Challenges in Twelve
Months.
We copy this morning an article from the
pen of the Washington correspondent OF
the Cincinnati Commercial, purporting TO be
the report OF an interview with eX-Speaker
Garter, in Washington. OF this report an
interviewing writer for the Pjcay,sae makes
Colonel Carter say:
He lodged the interviewers, but after all
his efforts to main ain an unubtruslve modes
fy. the correspondent OF the Cincinnati COM
n,erciaL zone Ramsdale, or Ramshorn. or
some other sort OF a Ram" by dint of the
most persistent, pertinent and lmpertlnent
Questions, succeeded in obtaining the raw
materials out of which, by drawing upon
his maginatiOn for three-fourths OF his
facts, for manufacturing quite sensational
article on New Orleans and her Remarka-
BILE Characters" taking Colonel Carter as
an example of what he the correspondent
was pleased to call "a very bad class.
Colonel Carter had no objection to being
made ITO point moral or adorn tale,
but was unwilling to father the statement
of ..Ramshorn as bi0grapher. especially
in his rather coarse and vulgar pOrtraiture
of Governor WaTnoth. wherein he says that
Colonel Carter said he was a thief. traitor
and liar, and had stolen himself millions
of dollars.
This is the Commercial interviewcr'S re-
port:
l was sitting beside Boardman Smith.
who was a member OF the congressional
committee to investigate the recent legisla-
tive troubles in New Orleans, and We were
talking ABOUT the inquiry ana the mis-
chIevous complications that lad been en-
gendered in that city.
"By the way.' said he suddenly. Garter
is here. and | want you TO see him. He IS
a remarkable man. He stands against the
door there.
/ looked in the direction he indicated.
and saw the profile OF face that seemed
to be without cultivation or refinement: 1t
was, indeed, rather coarse. L answered
that | did not care TO meet HIM; but after
a few moments Carter came over to Mr.
Smiths seat. and We were introduced. As
soon as obtained a full view Of his face
could see that he was something more than
an ordinary man. He is about five feet ten
or eleven inches high. light complexion,
handsome brown hair, which is rather long.
an auburn mustache. the ends falling down
yver the corners OF rather sensual mouth.
His forehead is rather low, but tulI above
the ewes His head is large and his body
is medum-sEOulders slightly bent. His
eyes and the expression OF his face are mid.
but there is something that tells people he
is not to be tritied with. He does not dress
quite AS well as an ex-Speaker OF the l.oulsl-
ana Legislature should dress especially one
who has SO lalely kicked up such an awtu!
row. He had on dark military coat ana
cape, a flaming green necktie ana shlft
that was a triie soiled. He had brown
SLOUGH hat in one hand and massive gold
~, tl,.r al lp'. W q
chew OF tobacco i'll his mouth. Although
his face as before stated. indicated that he
was a man not to be trit1ed with, yet Mr
Smith and the writer. between us, succeeded
in getting a good deal OF personal history
out of him. He said his age was nearly
forty-that he had been thirtv-eight for the
past two years. asked him what bis occu
patton was.
L! am lawyer nov
"What We're you before
'.Lcgisator
@'l6etorc that!
Colonel in the confederate army"
''Anything else p
yes preacher-a Methodist preacher
The devil Is that all -
No" he answered. Il used to be teach
ar. The fact is, was raised very nicely
but the devil got the advantage some way
Some people call me scalawag, but not Il
my face, mind you: but am not scalawag
L
not a scalawag / am a native of Virginia
and own a plantation III that State now
I was educated in the South. at the Jniver
sify of Alabama. received my degre
there"
"Wbat degree =
"JEhy, Doctor OF Divinity.
Then You are d. D.. are you
well. | was; don't know whether ut
served il or lOt."
after yea graduated. where did You go'
"Oh | was professor in the MISSISSIPPI
University. in the University OF Petersour!
Virginia, and others. When the war brok
out | was president ot the University
Texas
Did you ever preach p | asked.
con, yes he answered. Il was yer
good preacher once.
why didn't you remain in that prote
sion and continue to be a trulyfs cod ma
like Deacon Smith, Of Ohio
"Weil," he answered. rather sOrrowtullI
Il withdrew 10 light a duel, and never II
turned. Yes he continued. noticing III
surprise, Il left the Methodist Church
challenge a mdn-Judse Grey, Of Texas"
'.What tOT =
ale called me a scaiawag. ! was nal
ing reconstruction speeches. and while
went into the c0nfederacy rebellion Wit
all the a-dor Of young lover, and all IL
patriotism which possessed. and altboug
I never loved cause 50 vel IN all III
checkered existence. vet when we Wel
whipped and beaten, for one was read
70 submit. We made "a 1allant a fight ;
was ever made, aad When one does Il
best he can and is fairly whipped, 1t Is I
disgrace. so | went for reconstrnctio
That was the only challenge | ever CAV
but don't allow anybody 10 insult me.
am very peaceable mar, but it IS ge
orally understood in New Orleans that
allew no man to insult me.
FIGHTING A CLEAN SHIRT
Did you ever accep.a challenge"