, 1875-04-17
A NEGRO SENATOR,
The Life Of PiDrbha,L.

war He had favorite quadroon slave cir
no bore him one child. The old Major Wa
man Of letters, as we'll as a follower o
Mars. His favorite poet was Shelley, and il
a sportive mood he dubbed his illegitimatt
slave son Percy Bysche Shelly Pinchback
Holmes moved to Mississippi in 1913, aud be-
came very successful planter. He had
however, one ruling passion, which finally
impoverished him: lie WAS an inveteratt
gambler, and his fAvulite l.astime waa travel
ipS mp and down rile Mississippi on a steaE,,
/ boat.
( In those days there was always high gamb-
ling on Mississippi steamers. They were the
favorite resort of all the great gamblers in
the country One day Major Holmes took a
/ trip on the Magnolia, and became engaged
in an unlimited game of draw poker with the
commander, 81. Clair Thommasson Holmes
had an unusually bad streak of luck He
| undertook TO bluff the Clptain Oh tvo
pair of skies. ThummaSsun WAS famous for
his nerve, and SOON raised - Holmes ont gf
cash. In fit of desperation, he Old man
a put up" little Pinch, as ne always called
his boy. \ show of hands revealed three duces
pair Of skies were nowhere. With perhaps
a slight sigh Of regret the Old man bid little
Pinch good bye, and went back to his plunta-
tion a poorer but not wiser man.
Pinchback now became the valet of Captain
Thommasson, and made himself generally
useful on board the Magnolia. He WAS quick
and bright, and had learned to read end
write while with his father When the city
Of New Orleans WAS taken by the federal
forces, Plnchback, having saved a consider
able sum of money which he had picked up
III various WAYS during his river life, ilves:ed
il in restaurant. lie was a good caterer,
tasty and neat, and ambitious of being the
first in his business. In very short time
lis RESTAURANT became famous, and was large
ly patronizcd by the speculaturs who locked
tki;her, IS well as by the officers of the fed
aral army To Accommodate all the tastes of
his lavish patrons. Pinchhark opened a faro,
bank in the second story, and private can
can in The third story His intimate knowl-
edge If the river, and his extensive acquaint-
ance with the ncgrQrs gave hia exceptional
ly good facilities for O5taIuing Co.t.aband
news. Cotton sPeculatUrs, blockade runners
agents, confederate spies, and all other classes
who had any interest in sending or receiving
messages through the lines always found
Pinchback ready to do them good turn for
consideration. OF course be Prospered.
Indeed, he made piles Of money, and having
gocd business qualifications he invested judi
ciously in real estate. IL got into trouble.
hswesar. lust before Ben Butler was relieved
of the command of the Department Of the
Gulf. The Generals brother wanted to
monopolize the contraband trade well as
the cotton permits. In some way or another
Pinchback interferei, and Butler had him
arrested on charge OF keeping disorderly
house. He was tried, convicted, aRd sem
tenoed to the papiteHtiary foS : tsrsa Of YeaFs,
ba. wa2 released after only few months
confinement.
He was now rich man, and eourted the
daughter OF rich mulattu, who, prior r0 the
war. had been large Shareholder. There
was quite a tiutter in aristocratlc colored eiF-
cles over the event. Fluehback was not Of
the creme de la creme. lie was a contraband
A low uigger, who had become rich through
very questionable means. His bride was of
the first colored circle, cultivated, accom-
pl;Ehed and rich. Her parents objected
strongly to the match, but the dusky maid
was constant in her fidelity to her handsome,
clever lover, and finally her pleadings moved
the obdurate heart of her sire, and the twain
were made one.
Pinchback's 5 star was now IN the ascendant.
The war over, the slaves em9ncipared and
enfrancLised, he became a great political
power His influence over the ignorant
blacks was almost unliaiteA, and be really
laid the foundation of the ring power which
has been dominant in Louisiana since the
close of the war. He discovered Warmoth,
who was an obsure municipal Judge, and at
tracted by his winning ways and handsome
personal appearance, as well as by his intel
lectual power, Finchback determined TO make
him the leader Of the republican party in
Louisiana. He suggested him as candidate
for - Delegate TO Congress from the Territory
Of Louisiana, and instructed his agents to
direct all the negroes pat only TO cast their
ballots for him, but also TO contribute q dol
lar piece a. an election fund Warmoth
was elected and enriched at the same time.
Piuchback's little scheme melted his friend
about $40. 600. Wsrmoth came TO Wash
fngton and spent the winter; but as all re-
member, the territorial delegates Yere not
admitted.
When the State was reconstructed, War
moth was elected Governor. Pinehback
could have made himgslf Lieutenant-Goyer-
nor. but he was not ambitious of tie honor.
He preferred to be member Of the Legisla-
ture. There was more money in it, as we'll
as more advantages TO him as politician
He had his eye even then on the United
States Senatorship. This vas his ambition,
and it is not strange, therefore, that he should
be savage at lis radical friends desertiDg him
hen he was about to pluck the long-coveted
prize. While in the State Legislature, Pinch