New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-09


elry and an entire order of precious goms.
What the name he bears is TO jewelry, be is to
the people and the politics of the State no
offers to represent This name, representative,
symbolic, significant, itself the explanation Of
his coming and the interpreter OF his claim.
with no less than three initials, rotund and
sonorOus, prefxcd, he has flung into the Senate
with an able-bodied petition wrapped around
it. Flung it, as bold Sir Bedivere flung the brand
Excalibar. This too "twinkled with diamond
Z" studs, myriads of topaz lights, and jacinth
"work Of subtlest"-Pinchback. And this "mado
"lightnings in the sDlendor of the moon, and
=" flashing round and round, and whirled in an
"arch, shot like q streamer Of the northern
"mOrn." So too for this petition, as for tho
brand EXcalibar, there " rose an arm clothed in
"white samite mystic wonderful" and drew it
under the Senate table, on motion TO print.
The petition is what worldly minded people
call "settler.n 1t recites the fact that no
was elected in January, 1879 Senator from
the State of Louisiana, for six years begin
ming March 4, 1873, ard that his credentials,
duly attested, with a great seal attached, were
soon thereafter presented to the Senate and re-
ferrcd to the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
him, as was its duty, the Senate has been dis
cussing "the so-called Louisiana casc.' and
left him out in the cold. In consequence OF
his "haying been subjected to inju-
"rous anonymous attacks on the alleged
ground that the delay in the solu-
"tOn of this question to some extent
referred to personal objections to him.
he says the Legislature of Louisiana has como
to the trouble to vindicate him by two re-
elections, once in 1874, "and again in January,
"1S75 as though in case of vacancy, with
"great unanimity." Very strong point that;
there's bond of sympathy between this SEN
ate and any body that vndiCates. He admits
that there was an "infOrmality in some re-
aspects in the manner in which tho
"will of the majority of the legal
voters of Louisiana was ascertalned,' II
1872, but is confident that the Legislature OF
1873 was entitled to perform the functions OF
State Government, including the cleo
ton of Senator. He then proceeds to
argue that the recognition of the Kellogg
Legislature by the President through tho
Acknowledgement, "was intended to be, and
"actually was, q settlement of the politi-
zeal question involved in the Louisiana case
ton, not having been reversed or revised by
Congress, he thinks must be considered as
final and conclusive. And it must be con-
fessed there is very high authority for this
view of the case, to wit, the authority OF tho
man who said Silence gives consent" when
he kissed the deaf and dumb woman.
He maintains that the Presidents action
gave the kellogg government de jue and
de facto character-language admirably well
chosen-being dead-and he might have added
it had given the State de fancto character;
but perhaps he did not want TO run dead Ian
guage into the ground. Some other statesman
we observe has spoken of the Presidents
action as making the Kellogg government
ipso facto legal. These dead languages arc
rather confusing to the average mind, but wo
presume this was mispriDt for ipse dtrit. lt
is. however, upon the action of the Presl-
dent that the Honorable Mr.. PInchback resia
his claim, and he thinks that ought to end
it. Senator Morton seems to be OF the
same mind. He has reported resO-
luton admitting the claimant to a seat. which
lies on the table under motion to print.
The position seems to be entirely in accord
with the precedents lately established by the
party in power. If the President may send
into the Louisiana Legislature file OF soldiers
to act as Committee on Contested
Elections, he may with equal propriety
decide upon the qualifications OF United States
Senators. There may be those who will dis
pute the right of the President to decide such
questions, but it has already been settled
that such persons are either banditti or sym
pathizers with banditti.
AS for Pinchback, after stating his case, he
merely remarks that the delay on the part OF
the Senate to let him in to sit between COnk-
ling and Logan has been FUSED by his
"enemies to damage bis good name and de-
"stroy his influence" A remark as mysterious
as it is pathetic. How on earth such a name
as Pinchback could be damaged passes COM
prehenson anybody who could be injured
by having such q name damaged deserves
commseration.