New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-04-24

back? Was il because he is not able to hl
the position? Certainly no such fimsy oil
false objection as that could have been urged
for all who know the gentleman and his grea,
abilities would not hesitate a moment If they
are honest enough to speak their candid con-
yicti0n, to pronounce him an ADLER man than
half the Senators nowin Congress. / do not
say he is better educated, or as well educated
but in natural genius and sweeping eloquence
he Is the superior OF half the Senator'S there,
and a far better statesman. Let US take that
miserable old mummy, Joshua Hill, of Geor-
GA, whose time has just expired, and who
never championed but one cause, and that
was to fight Senator Sumner when he was
trying to press our civil rights bill, and whose
speeches read like a school boy trying to read
Latin backwards. Why, l can find dozen
corn-feld negroes in Georgia who could speak
the nose from his face. He is man utterly
destitute Of any ability at all. He would not
make an intelligent wagon-driver. Mr.. Pinch
back could teach him fifty years, and yet the
Senate seated that mummy some years ago,
without half the claim to his seat that Mr..
Pinchback has. Mr.. Pinchback has also
proved himself statesman of the first order
and the Republican party has received the
benefit of it. The snap and strategy dis
played in his contest with Yarmouth, andthe
vim with which he executed his plans and
saved the State of Louisiana from the yora-
ciousness Of Democrats aud ncgro-haters,
entities him to the gratitude Of the Republi-
can party.
And if Mr.. Pinchback had been white
with such record behind him, he would
have been seated with applause. Besides
he had the prestige Of the Administration at
his back. The President had recognized his
services and his government. The courts of
the state and Of the United States had done
the same, Congress had done the same, by
severely letting the matter alone, when the
President had in express terms invoked their
action if they were opposed to it. And with
all this in his favor, the Senate refused him
admission with 4 certificate from the very
Governor they and the President were recog-
nizing. and are still recognizing, as the legiti-
mate Governor of Louisiana.
One of the oddities in this case also, is the
denial Of the seat to Mr.. Pinchback even
temporarily, for it has always been GUS
tomary with Congress to grant the strongest
claimant seat, though it might know at the
time that the charges Of frauds, bribery, and
other Illegal transactions, would unscat the
parties as soon as the question was investi-
gated, none Of which can be charged against
Mr.. pinchback, specimens of which cases
also have been and are now before the Sem
ate. What special pleadngs have inter-
posed to sngularize this case, and provoke
an oddly Of action by so grave body as the
United States Senate, L have been unable to
learn, nor do l believe there is any. The
trouble is, Mr. Pinchback is colored, and he
is smart, he has saved the State of Louisiana,
he is another hero of New Orleans, he has
defeated another Republican,, his conquest
over rebel sharpers and Democratic tricksters
will rank his victory with those Of Generals
Jackson, Butler, and Farragut, each Of whom
are called the heroes of New Orleans. He
has demonstrated rather too much states
manship for some of those fastidious Sena-
tors ); and they had rather keep him out or
twadde around for some time before they do
admit him. say again, had Mr.. Pinchback
been white, he would now be in his seat, and
while I am not disposed to follow this I'M
pleasant subject any further, as we shall
watch it vgilantly, L would like to whisper
Seep our e e sa o S heS s will ch MS 0h Mr.
Pinchback out Of his scat"