New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-16
Congratulations 60 Senator PinchbacL,

! iOuT4 Hlik Twelve U ClOch VI 10 Uayo
! Congratulations 60 Senator Pinchbacks
! On the occasion Of the congratulatory
visit 70 his residence Tuesday night, when
the band ceased playing, Governor Pinch
| back responded:
Ny friends, thank SoV. 9s:and here at
| This time in about the same position as did
| a distin guished gentleman of the olden time
| when called upon to deliver eulogv upon
some distinguished individual WHO had
fallen. After taking his place on the ros-
trum, be was silent. and some one near re.
marked: o'The audience awaits YOU"
Turning 20 the man who had prompted him,
the orator. after gazing on him tor moment,
answered, saying that "'the magnifcence
and grandeur of the scene had almost
struck him dumb" Such are the feelings
which possess me tonight. Having re-
ceived at the hands Of your rep esentatives
the highest compliment that the State could
pay one Of it's citizens, ] am deeply i'm
pressed by it, and can not find language in
which TO convey my sense of the high honor
We arc living in revolutionary period
we are surrounded by thousand difficult
ties: we are in disturbed condition, and
every man must lend his best energies to
the task of evolving peace and good order
promotion of the kindliest feelings between
the races
To this task I shall address myself while
here and while away, with the hope that
kind Providence may smile upon my efforts
and make me as successful in whatever |
undertake in the future as have been in the
past lCheers.1 Tit be the will of an over
ruling Providence that | shall become an
instrument to restore to this distracted
land peace and prosperity, i shall not have
lived in vain. If l can accomplish that
grand object ] will consider it a higher
honor to return here and receive another
mark of appreciation at your hands; con-
slder it of grander significance than all the
other hOnUrs the country has TO bestow,
even President OF the United States.
!Cheers.i
have held office lightly, and have never
valued it tor itself. From the nature of
things l have been thrust forward-ad-
vanced from one position of trust to an
other, in all of which / have endeavered
TO carry ont the wishes of the people rather
than to crafty nay personal ambition; and
in my new position it shall be my constant
effort TO satisfy the people of Louisiana.
without respect to race color OF previous
condition. [Cheers.}
thank you, gentlemeA, again, for shis
mark of respect, and as | have great deal
to do in the short time that expect to re-
main in this lovely city-fny old home-f
shall not occupy your time any longer by
any useless speech. / regret that my prem
ises are too small to comfortably hold you
all, but come IN gentlemen and mako your
selves at home.
At the close OF Governor Pinchbac&'s
speech, Jaeger's band played lively air,
after which there were loud calls for Sena-
tor Burch, to which that gentleman &C.
sponded as follows:
Fellow-c w-citizens-yniife the distinguished
gentleman who preceded me, this occasion
does not strike me dumb, and Judging from
the many calculations of qualification and
pleasure on all sides, am satisfied that
you are not dumb either.
There may be those around us who won
der at these Outbursts of genuine joy upon
this our great achievement but if they take
into consideration The fact that we, the
hitherto down-trodden and desp;sed race Of
America, have at last succeeded it taking
one of ourselves from the common walks of
life and lifting him to the highest position
in the gift Of a great State second only to
the highest Office in the gift of the Ameri-
can people, they will understand our en-
;husiasm and our JOY.
For years this race has stood as silent |
figures in the great mass of Che human
family. denied the commonest privileges,
having no place that they could call their !
own. and no rights that were respected. |
But We have emerged, thank God, from |
that position by degrees, almost impercepti- |
BILE at first, till at length We have reached I!
our present advanced condition. So poor |
were we but few years ago that not even |
I he proud flag Of America could be called |
ours. That flag waved IA a standing invl-
tatiOn to every nationality on the face Of |
the earth except to the poor African,
to find beneath its ample folds a
guarantee of the protection of this nation.
1t told the Irlshman, the Frenchman, the
German, the Swiss and the Englishman
that under its protecting Rgis they could !
enjoy liberty. peace and prosperity. But |
within tho limits Oc th6sb United States
" ere milliGns of cOlored men, brought here
against their wishes and desires, TO whom
this flag was faunting symbol of power !
that made "might right" Though the flag |
Of the country in which ne lived, in which
ne first saw the light, it was n0t his flag.
No: For when in time of danger
he negro asked the privilege Of raising his
arm in defense of that flag, re was told that
here was no law upon the statute books !
which would permit him 20 strike for his
reedom or his family's.
But, thank God! VIC live iR different
lines, for to-day that flag is our flag. The
7alor OF the cOlOred soldier upon the battle
ieid has kept intact the stars that stud the
,lue; his heroism and integrity have kept
intact the purity of it's white, and his blood
lpon many well fought field has dyed
leeper the ged that covers its disk. To day
right ma kes right" and in the tulf habili
nents of manhood, protected by wise en-
Lctments and just laws, we are tonight the
living embodiment of the advance OF civil
zation, liberty and progress.
1 repeat that from the common walks OF
ifc We have selected one Of that hitherto
iown-t n-trOddtn race 70 represent this great
state Of Louisiana in the United States
senate. No wOn!er that our mouths are
He'd with praise and loud protestatiOns OF
,leasure and qualification Silent figures
hOugh we were, we have advanced, step
" step, in our pupilage of politics TIL, at
asst, we have rived at an acknowledged
position in this great dation, and to-day the
listing uished gentleman who stands upon
az right is living, breathing, moving fig
ne, standing forth as beacon light, gnd-
ng the eyes o: this great nation to our ad- |
ancement.
And now, q few words % the members of |
he GcHerai Assembly. who have so n0biy
too. ne il our contest. To the white |
IeMtsscs We woud aay that the feeling
reated by the detection of certain white
eua ors. vho sought 30 betra7 the cause
hat had advanced them politically, who
Betrayed th. party that they claimed to re-
resent. has, By your action to-day. been
0Iurje'e'y wiped away. TO ;h.e coloEed
lsmlssCs would say tina: Your action Of
c-.iajs "a g complete sefutation Of the foul
I'd Un!us: charges that have gOu. the
'nsth and breadth Of the land as regards
rUr position in this State
You aase been represented. - ignorant.
chased 'lepraved and corrupt Legislators,
: has been represented that you could DO
ul.ief, coaxed and beught like sheep .or
ne nnrnoses OF those who Il il claimed con !