New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-09
A CARD FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
PINCHBACK.

| GRNTLEMES-For some days past re
| porter Of your paper has been aecus
| toned to visit She Executive office IL
search Of news items, which were, az
matters of courtesy, from time to time fur
| nished to him by me. Though requested ty
| him and other representatives OF the press
| city and general, to consent TO an interview
| en- the political situation. / have uniformly
| both as a matter Of preference and from a
sense OF propriety, declined acceding to
| such requests. Whatever items of news
| may have been furnished, neither as mat
ter of fact or purpose have been inter
viewed.
Is Was matter of some surprise
to me, therefore, to find that the
conversation of Monday last had been
interpreted as au interview, and what
purports to be the result thereof ap-
peared in your editions Of Monday even
ing and Tuesday morning. My surprise
was increased tO find in your iesue of this
date that a conversation, casual and de-
sultory in its character, should have been
heraded as formal utterance of mine
upon the condition of Louisiana politics,
and especially the political attitude of the
colored citizens in connection Herewith.
From misapprehcnSlon or otherwise, your
reporter misrepresents both the purpose
and tenor of my remarks ON each occasion;
and claim as matter OF right and cour-
tesy the use of your columns TO correct
these pretended interviews so far as they
misrepresent my views.
In what purpOrts to be the first interview
made no reflections upon our citizens from
the North and West, whom your reporter is
+ pleased to call arpet-baggers." l said
simply that held my present position tenn
porariy. and under an exceptional class of
circumstances. That as far as the offices
were concerned, my successors were the
real parties in interest, and that |, uueE-
pectedly called to Executive position and
duties, and for so short % period, could have
no personal interests to subservo in conflict
with and at the expense of the public good,
and in the discharge of the functions Of my
Office was entitled not only to be credited
with integrity of purpose, but t1 the SYM
pathy and support of the people whom |
was striving to serve.
This morning, as usual, the reporter called
at the Executive office, and after friendly
conversation, stated thar be was requested
to propound three questions to me, and OBJ
tain nv answer thereto: The inquiries were
subs tantialIy as follows:
First-What do you think the McEnery
Legislature ought to do2
Second-What is the feeling of the cOiored
people toward tho whitesi
Third-What are General Grants pur-
posesi Does he desire to establish an en-
pire2
With the disclaimer that Iuy answers
were pot to be considered d part of an iu-
teryiew, and to be heralded as such through
the public press, stated that | had no OBJ
iections to giving my opinion on the ques-
tions propounded.
In the first place, | expressed the opinion
that it would have been better tor the Dem
oeratic- Liberal Senators and Representa-
tives-such as Messrs. Booth. Voorhies,
Eustis and others-returned by the legal
board of canvassers-tO have taken their
seats in the General Assembly, because
there was a Conservative cOlOred and white
element therein who would have cooper
ated with these gentlemen, and prevented
any ineonsiderate aud unwise legislation.
In my Judgment these gentlemen could have
combined with the mure experienced Re
publican element, and at the same time the
public disquiet and disorder would have
been avoided; discreet and judicious laws
would have been enacted, and all the hasty
and extreme legislation of which the peo-
pie have complained would have been re-
vised; and both the political and material
interests of the State would have been pro-
tected and subseryed much more efficiently
than by the revolutionary and questionable
methods subsequently, resorted 10 by these
gentlemen.
In the second place, I stated that the
colored citizens had the most friendly feel
ings towards their white brethren, and
that the seeming antag0nism between them
and The native white population was neces-
STATED by the prOscriptive course of the lat
ter toward them. | expressed the opinion
that if the Southern whites would cordially
concede to my race all the rights, civil ami
political, embraced in the matter of Ameri-
can citizenship, the time was not far dis
tant that party would spring up ib the
South, in which the white aud oolOred citi-
zens alike, upon the basis of a community
of interests and rights, and in harmony with
the progressive ideas of the Republican
party, would combine and rule the country
in peace; and that this union, upon the basis
of a mutual recognition of the rights of the
parties in question, would hold and guaE8n-
tee the benehcent future of the South.
Finally, | expressed the opinion that
President Grant had taken General Wash
ington as his model and exemplar; both
were great military chieftains in revolu-
tionary periods; both had been elected to
second term, and that the Presidents
largest ambition was fully satisfied i'll
emulating the example of the Father OF his
StEu'JNs d COutNi HDb COutGINc LDdE rEt
Presidtnt had any personal feeling iD this
contest, unless so far as it might arise from
the fact that Warmoth, His public traduccr,
was leading the opposition. &ut q personal
motive, under the circumstances. of this
sort could Rot reasonably be supposed TO
exist, and influence the conduct of the Pres
ident i'll the premises. With his slightest
ambition satisfied, did NOT believe the
President intended to go outside tho law
IN IrItia ,,f hia offs to bS1 iv,
this case either personal or party end.
and that no sober minded American either
desired or contemplated the esta bishmeut
of au empire in the United States.
In conclusion, permit me to say, that is Is
exceedingly difficult to account for the
general misapprehensiOn on the part OF
your reporter of both my views and the
purpOrt of my words; and. without in
tending to charge intentional wrong, a set
purpose on his part to misstate my utter
ances could hardly have suited in more
perfect misrepresentation of my opinions.
| certainly made no suggestions relative to
dIspusing of Lieutenant Governor Antoine,
or that looked to any lack of confidence in
Republican principles or the Republi
party. As q representative c0lored man,
c0noecing the integrity TO my political op-
poDeuts that I claim for NV self. and mHking
large allowance for the prejudice of race.
as The centuries OF servitude have produced
their, and my confreres, asking only what
is rj-hf, earnestly de-lre, as mCc.o az in us
lies, to live i'll peace With our ioIIow-eitizenss
irTespt Give OF race ur coioFo and will re-
spouJ promptly to all just and generous
measures 10 build mp the prosperity OF our
s ate and the peace and publiS coateae at
our common county.
Men in public position aTe legitimate sub
gets Of cr7;cism, but Z am noS aware that
my previous course as II leader in the Re-
publican party justifes the impression that
], tor either the United States eenatorship
or any other office, would fail in my duty
or DO wrong to my people; and whatever
my personal ambitions may be, l desire so