New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-31
SENATOR CARPENTERS SPEECH.

10 | tuhA Ccuoloi oAPOAVCA, VI VAoOoAoAA
: He has appeared at different times durin
J: that period as the great champion of som
It of the extremely doubtful measures whicl
have come before Congress, and ha
v always taken up the side Of the question
which he elected to help with all his zeal
ability, and, we may say, audacity. Th
Senator excels the rank and file of even
great men in two of these qualities. 1t ii
9 possible that with some fixed principle al
his guide he would be great man him
self. But, unfortunately for his reputa
!. ton as statesman, he has always ap
peared before us as brilliant advocate
intent only on doing his level best for his
: client, and determined to win, even
though he had to employ his splendid
talents to prove the worse the better
cause.
Mr.. Carpenter left the chair of the Sen
ate on Wednesday to make another argu-
ment in the Louisiana case. He has
already made four or five speeches on the
same subject, SO he informed the Senate
this time that he did not intend to make a
speech. He had previously argued the
principles involved in the case before the
Supreme Court, conformity with Caleb
Cushing; and being luckily on the right
side of the question, his utterances on that
occasion fell upon the public like leaves
of the constitution of the United States-a
document with which he is evidently very
familiar. He appeared again in the same
case before his constituents in Milwaukee,
| where he presented what we have ever
thought the correct view. But the scene
was again changed to Washington and
Mr.. Carpenter changed with it. Here he
became the author of a report, which was
agreed to by four members out of the
seven composing the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections. After debate
Of more than usual earnestness, in which
wonderful tenacity of purpose was man.
Tested on both sides, the report which
had been SO carefully prepared and SO
ably defended was rejected by the Senate
and all its conclusions fell to the ground |
with it. There was a slight relapse u
reason, partial promise of return to
more rational view of this subject mani
tested when Senator Carpenter visited
New Orleans last year. But it was as
transient as it was gratifying to the Re-
publicans of Louisiana, and we now have
presented to us the notifying spectacle
Of the brilliant Senator, upon whom we
have relied as friend, in alliance with
our enemies.
But we are treating Of question in
which great principle is involved, and
are aware that the vacillations and views
of one man have little to do with the
main question. In his speech on Wednes-
day Mr.. Carpenter breaches from text
written by himself Assuming that the
rejected report of the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections possesses some vital
ity. he proceeds to paint an exaggerated
picture of the condition Of affairs down in
Louisiana picture which is about as
just to the original as are those sent out
every week in the Comic Weekly. He
starts on q basis created by his
own imagination. assumes as in
disputable the differences of his .
which have once been ,
rejected by the body which he was adj {
dressing, and confines himself. through
out his three hours talk, to making gro
tesque images, for which he has no use,
no assignable place, and no tangible rem {
edy. He does not present legal solu- {
ion for the problem he suggests. He
treats the legal government of this State S
rs the subordinate of his famous commit ,
zee; accuses the Supreme Court of being 6
by improper motives; assails a
member Of coordinate branch of the |
United States government, and arrogates l
% himself the right to dispose Of all the t
lights, interests, sentiments and govern {
nent of one of the States in the Union q
according to his own despotic will and 9
pleasure. He has not yet suggested ,
egal remedy for the evils brought S
,pon this State by the majority of
he voters, when they preferred Kel- f
ogg to McEnery for their Governor.
The friends of the latter, who unfor-
unately had control of the ballot boxes, c
Turing and after the election, failed c
n their duty, and forced the Republicans '
o seek other evidences of the victory they c
lad won. Mr.. Carpenter told us at Mil (
yankee that the right to vote implied the c
light to have the vote counted in favor of G
he candidate for whom it was cast. We I
bought this was good doctrine, and be- G
ieved the Senator from Wisconsin would
tand by it. But he now takes the ground S
hat the right to an Office in Louisiana
depends upon what rascally supervisor
If election may say about it, and as the I
eturns of the Fusion boards have been 6
'arted off into the confederacy-been sent, '
perhaps, after the gold that was taken G
rom the old Bank Of Louisiana-it be- f
zones difficult matter to say exactly how r
hings were regulated by the official
s
If it is the intent of Congress to assume I
he revolutionary right of ordering new 6
election in Louisiana, there will be no t
lelp for it. We must submit to it. Some I
If our people, we are aware, favor such G
move. But we insist that it be placed {