The weekly Louisianian., 1874-04-04
THE rS1AICS or THE SEN
ATORLAL QUESTION:

ATORLAL QUESTION:
After repeated absences at the
National Capital, amounting to
many months Governor z. 3. s.
Pinchback, Senator elect from the
State of Louisiana to the. United
States Senate, is again in the midst
Of his old friends and constituents.
He has devoted time, money, and
honest effort, not only to secure his
rights as the same were embraced
in the action of the General Assem-
bly, in 1873, by his election to the
Senate, but more and mainly, has
he labored for the recognition by
the National Congress Of the pre-
sent State Government Of Louisiana,
and for the protection Of the rights
of the people and of the Republican
party involved in the. same. He
has met, not only the opposition Of
public enemies, and so-called,
though treacherous friends, in the
accomplishment Of his mission; but
the grave: obstacles that grow out
of political complications between
the great parties, when they IRE re-
~spectiyely making up the issues,
upon which the political and na-
tional campaign of 1876 must be
fought.
The exigencies of party and. the
novelty Of the problems to be
solved by Senatorial action, Oh the
question of his right to a seat in
the U. S. Senate, have held his
claim in allegiance, and pending the
same, enemies at hcme and abroad,
have made irresponsible, but viru-
lent attacks upon his personal char
acter and political record, which
the very circumstances of the case,
in that the investigation that was
necessary to his yindication has not
been had, have precladed the
possibility, on his part, of either
explanation or refutation, in self
defense.
The dignity and manliness Of
his bearing, and the cheerful pa
exhibited in the interest OF
his race, party, and State under
these trying circumstances, do
more credit to his head and heart
than would have been won by an
easier and speedier success, in
his seat in the Senate.
Gov. Pinchbaclk, while abating
nothing in the matter OF his per-
sonaf rights, and while yielding to
the counsel Of the prominent politi-
cal leaders in their methods in re-
ference to the Louisiana case, even
if n%on-action for the present should
adopted as the best policy, is
Of final success and be-
.ieves that success may be achieved
without his sacrifice of personal
honor, and must and will be won, if
need be, by reference to the will OF
sovereign people of the State.
Il is singular, with a record so pro-
,ounced and q course so direct and
as that OF Gov. Pinch
,ack in Louisiana matters, that the
impression should obtain
hat obstacles, to the solution Of the
case before Congress, in
ny sort arise from the claim of
1ov. Pinchback to a seat in the
National Senate, OF to any preju-
lice personal to HMM connection
Such a view of the
iuestion is not only superficial, but
ntruthful. The halt, in the settle
1ent of the Senatorial question,
rises from the presence, back OF
hat, of the graver question Of the
sgal status of the present State
Government. The Congress-the
Official department of the Gov
rnment with or without reason, in
Republican and Democratic I
enators, consider our political con-
ition anomalous and irregular to
~ the least, to such an extent as !
,duces it to delay, by a direct vote
pom the Senatorial issue, to deter !
'ine either the validity or the in !
aliditv of our State Governments,