New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-01-29
The Case Of Gov. G'inchbac

Our race in this country has the good for
tune to have a voice in one branch of our
National Legis azure. This is highly inn
portant, as the events OF the past few weeks
have demonstrated. The claim of cur natural
inferiority and incapacity for mental culture
made by those who believe condition of
oppression and cruelty to be fitting for ne
gro, has been met with such ELECTIVE evil
denae 70 fae contrary by tsc ability displayed
by such men as Elliott, Ransier, Rainey,
Walls and Cain in the House of Representa-
tives as to utterly confound the negro-haters
of that body.
Fortunate in having an able delegation of
representative colored men in the House,
welding an influence highly beneficial to the
race, We would be still more fortunate could
we be represented by one of our own race
in the Senate who, through experience and
ability, can represent us equally as well as
we now are in the House of Representatives.
In Hon. p. b. S. Pinchback-now claiming
a seat in the Senate--we have man in whom
the colored people of the country have every
confidence whose struggles in behalf of
Republicanism in Louisiana from the very
beginning Of reconstruction, and continued,
under not only terrible disadvantages but at
the risk of life and limb, up to a period not
far in the past. when for a man to avow him
self to be firm and consistent believer in
the teachings of the founders of the nation
was, in the State of Louisiana, to jeopar,lizc
personal safety, and to incur the malignant
hatred and persecution of defeated treason.
The deep interest eynced by the colored
people Of the whole country in Governor
Pinchback, is simply explained by their set
tied confidence in him because of his un.
swerving devotion to the best interests of
his suffering people at times when wealth
and position were lavshly offered him to in
duce him to take a course directly opposed
to the interests of the negro. Ambitious as
Governor Pinchback undoubtedly is, he has
never allowed that ambition, either for
wealth or position, TO ALLEVIATE him from the
cause of the people with which he is identl-
fed by rae: and color. We cannot forget
in 1865 in the city of New Orleans,
when Mr.. Pinchback was set upon by howl
ing and infuriate mob of rebels intent upon
taking his life because of the manly stand he
had taken in behalf of Republicanism nor do
we forget the important service rendered his
people, by Mr.. Pinchback, in saving the State
of Louisiana, by standing by the Republican
party when tempted by enormous sums of
money to do otherwise, a service the full inn
portance of which will be comprehendcd
when it is remembered that but for the Kcl-
logg government which owes its existence
to Mr.. Pinchback, the colored people of the
State would have been placed at the mercy
of the rebel democracy.
The motion Of Mr.. Morton, in the Senate on
Monday last, to recommit the case of the
from Louisiana to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections. and the re-
marks submitted on that motion, Indicate
that new objections TO Mr.. Pinchback's
claim have arisen. We do not know what
the new objections TO Mr.. Pinchback are or
can be. From personal acquaintance with
the Governor We have become impressed
with a full belief in his loyalty to the cause
which We have at heart; and speaking for
the colored people we ask for the best
interests of the Republican party and the
colored people that the rejection of Mr..
Pinchback shall be for no trivial |
bjection-trumped up to furnish retreat |
through which Senators who cannot rise |
above shameful prejudice of color, may
pass and reject the black mans legitimate
claim 10 representation in the Senate of the
United States made by the legal application
If Governor Pinchback as clearly demon
,trated by Senator Morton few days ago.
With US as a race every step in advance is
and as every check to laudabIe
Mort is 10 certain extent discouragipg, we |