New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-08
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.
Third Day.

the doors OF the st. Louis Hotel were
closed except that on Royal street, where
strong guard of policemen was placed,
with instructions to allow the admission of
no one except delegates to the convention.
Tickets had been prepared for them, and
each as he made his app earance was fur
rished with one. This precautlon acted
like charm. Turbulent outsiders had 40
opportunity to annoy the members, and the
best of order was preserved the entire day.
A. FIVE minutes past el even o'clock Presi-
dent Young called the convention to order
Rev. r. V. Thomas offered prayer.
The chair stated that the business before
the convention was the consi deration Of the
motion OF Mr. Ray, Of East Feliciana. to
consider the report of the committee on
credentials parish by paris and ward by
ward.
NJ. Pinch back said he presumed there
would now be no objection to the motion of
Mr. Ray. Il would enable the convention
to settle impartially the several cases.
Mr.. Steele, of Tensas, suggested the con-
vention had business Of more Importance
than the settling of ward quarrels of New
Orleans. It wouldn't do delegate any
harm to be refused seat. He had been
marched out of the Baton Rouge Conven-
ton at ouicl, music, and had not been hurt
by It.
Lieutenant Governor Antoine protested
against adopting the report as whole.
Mr. Davis, of the eleventh ward, de-
manded hearing before the convention, as
his case had not been heard by the commit
tee.
Mr. Ray. OF Tensas, wanted the people
protected and recollected that at Baton
Rouge Mr.. Steele advocated the same
course he now condemned.
M. Montaldo moved to adopt the report
as a whole but did not obtain a second
Mr.. Brewster in the chair.
Mr. Pinchback-The time has now come
when it devoives upon me to explain this
issue TO the convention, and show why this
report should not be adopted. And when |
have explained the damage it would do to
the Republican party, l expect every honest
and respectable man to support me. do
not appeal merely to the black man, but 20
the white Republicans as well. l DO not
believe you will put your approval on the
most damnable outrage that was ever in
hicted on community, on the border ruff
ticed. Why. there we're large numbers of
men who were forced to these acts and
have since told me how it was against their
conscience: but standing behind them
were their wives and little ones, and they
were compelled TO 60 to the tenth ward and
work against me to preserve the sustenance
they were earning for them. l appeal to
WI,o<l 4 ,;v,1-
of that9 do not believe there is one who
will dare to put his approval on such acts.
The question interests every black man
1t was simply an effort to destroy my inhu-
ence; it was stab in the back from officials
put in place. 1t was done to create the
impression that Pinchback had lost the con-
fidence Of the black man. 1t was done in the
fourth ward, at the election to the parish
convention, and then telegraphed all over
the country that Pinchback was beaten
in his own ward. That attempt was a
failure. 1t was then determined that l
should be beaten in the tenth ward. The
Department of Improvements, the Metro
politan Police, the longshoremen and sailors
were enlisted TO do it. Again it was tele
graphed that l was beaten in my own ward.
learn there was a caucus last night, and
it was resolved that l was to be beaten at
all hazards. Now, | ask if this is carried
out what safety is there for black man in
Louisiana.
l found that it was the intention to run
Lieutenant Governor Antoine tor president,
and 81 aid make no opposition to him. He
will be sure to appoint an impartial com
lnittee. and fair dealing will be assured.
And this was the committee selected:
Heating, of Caddo; Kelso, of Rapides;
Steele. of Tensas; Allan, of West Baton
Rouge: Stamps, of Jefferson Herwig, of
Orleans; Joubert, of Orleans; Blunt, of
Natchitoches, and Twitchell, OF Red River.
Could you have had fairer committee
than that? But it was too fair. 1t was so
fair that one gentlemen could not serve on
it because he had some axes to grind. What
was done you know very well.
Now, if this convention is not going to
give US fair play, 1 want it to pass vote
expelling me from the Republican party,
and let NE retire to the privacy of my
home. l can then leave you to bear the
burden, toll and expense of the campaign
alone. Ii you choose to heap injustice on
me, and follow the lead of Mr.. Packard,
then shall retire from the party; but not
into the ranks of the enemy. If you do
this. you will perform the most monstrOus
act and write the blackest page of the his
tory OF the Republican party
Mr. Packard-I had hoped that this aues-
ton would be settled without raking up old
sores. My friend Senator Pinchback has
"
has assailed me. hope shall be excused
from answering anything except the points
he has made. Mr.. Pinchback was a candi-
date in the tenth ward, as was to be ex-
pected. After his club had held one or two
meetings it indOrsed him, not that knew
of for any ground except his ability. 1t
was heralded all over the city that he was
indorsed as against Packard, and at the
same time he publishes four or five columns
against me. l am called q failure, and
nv removal demanded. You see that the
issue was thrust in my face, and it was not
Mr.. Pinchback, but others behind him.
[Mr. Packard here read extracts from the
Louisiania1al would ask the delegation
from East Feliciana what good the auxil-
iary committee of Warmoth did! Mr.,
Gair-NOnel And what was the Custom
house convention but struggle OF war.
moth to obtain control of the State Central
Committee, when bayonets had to be sum.
moned to protect the colored man? Was
failure because l prevented it. l spent
three months in Washington last winter
trying to secure Senator Pinchback his
rights. There Is no issue between US, but
it seems to me, as our Senator, he should
hold aloof from ward squabbles. The
fight in the tenth ward was bitter,
as well it might be after these ar
ticles in the LOuisianid,,. Mr.. Pinchback
has four of the seven commissioners, have
three but he refused to count the votes.
Mr.. Bbb had 200 majority. | must stand
by my friends. No man will 60 further
to honor Mr.. Pinchback than for the great
work he has done, but we must have no
White League in the Republican party.
Mr.. Plnchback-If you can find q man
who will say ever said I was candidate
for chairman of the Central Committee l