The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-14
A BREACH OF FAITH.
pinchbaol's Admission to the ssnat

w ASHlNtION, IcDEudiy Q. 1Ao ohOouy
stated in The Worlds dispatches the vote
upon the Pinchback case will be very close.
Last spring there was close majority
against him, and if Eustis had not been
sent here as rival claimant the accom-
plished poker player would be rejected
even now. AS the case stands it will re-
quire great deal of manhood to enable a
senator to vote partisan out and an oppo-
nent in, Thurman's speech has proved
effective not only as a statement of rea-
sons for Democratic action, but as an
agency in shaping the result of the vote.
A Republican senator who before the de-
livery of the speech had consented to pair
off with Democrat who wished to be alb
sent during the week, has since withdrawn
his consent, with design OF voting against
Pinchback's admission. Nevertheless, as
the confirmation of Billings, the author OF
the infamous midnight order issued by
Durell, to be the success sor of that modern
Jeffreys, is considered certain, it is not
easy to see why those who cast their votes
for placing one rascal on the bench should
hesitate to put the other into the senate.
If the people of New Orleans would re-
main patient under the outrage, nothing
better for the fortunes of the Democratic
party could happen than the admission OF
Pinchback and the approval of his fellow
coRspirator The administration could
make no greater blunders. The encour-
agement which such action would give to
the carpet4bag element in Louisiana, would
hardly compensate for the opprobrium
which it would bring upon the whole
party.
In arguing the Pinchback case the Demo
cratic senators have based the whole ques-
ton upon the illegality of the legislature
which elected him, showing clearly that
the Republicans cannot admit him to a
seat without the grossest violation of law
as we'll as the grossest disqualification
They have not-probably through repug-
nance to bringing the claims of Eustis for
ward to complicate matters-alluded to the
fact that this whole scheme for seating
Pinchback is virtually the overthrow of
the Wheeler compromise, to which the
good faith of both parties in Louisiana is
pledged. Eustis has been chosen senator
by the legislature established by that COM
promise, and the indignation which Messrs.
Blaine and Wheeler in the house denounc-
ed the attempt of Mr.. Wood to open up
the old question of Louisiana politics on
the first day of the session should now be
turned upon the Republican leaders in the
senate. Blaine then said in the debate up
on Mr.. Moreys credentials:
Before the gentleman from Mississippi
takes his seat. will he permit me to ask
him, because he is the gentleman of all
others to whom | desire to address the
inquiry, If it is not matter of history
known outside-and, while l shall reveal
nothing other than what is known outside
yet still better known inside the house
that last year in what was known as the
Louisiana adjustment, when the legislature
was changed and the party relation within
that state was changed, it was upon thi:
floor perfectly understood matter-tht
gentleman himself understands it-tha
the vote of the house declaring Kellog t.
be governor was considered to be the fina
settlement; and ask him further whether
in order to get that question before thu
house, the very Nestor of the gentleman
party, the very gentleman who l regret i,
absent to-day, the invalid statesman from
Georgia (NIr. A. ii. Stephens) did no
IL. l..
that might be the settlement? And nov
the party of the gentleman having obtain
ed all the advantage which was involve,
from their side of the question in Louisian
through the legislature. do | understand
my honorable friend that he comes her
to head a movement to trample on tn
other side of that agreement; that tn
other side of the Louisiana agreement is t.
be stamped in the dust; that the Republi
cans having obeyed, and to the last jot an,
title of honor's extreme demand, wha
they agreed to, Democratic house o
representatives, in which the gentleman
himself is a conspicuous leader, shal
trample on their side of it, and that the
will in an incidental way of this kind, at
tempt to reopen and dshonor the agree
ment that was made last year," i.
This imprisoned agreement was haile
with delight by the Republican press 9th
country, and the papers rung with accla
nations over the first triumph of the part
leader in the house. Why does not ever
word of Blaine's speech apply to the al
tempt to foist Pinchback into the senate
Here lis an authoritative avowal of tn
sacredness of the Wheeler compact i
Republican eyes. Here is a guarantee t
the Democracy of the advantages of tn
compact gained through the Legislature :
Here is pledge that the Republicans ar
to "obey to the last jot and title of honor
extreme demand" the terms of the com
promise. Here is scathing rebuke TO
whoever ventures to reopen and dis
honor" the agreement made last year.
Blaine's brethren in the senate should cor
slider his words and, like the Democrats i
the house, acquiesce in their wisdom Tn
editors who applauded these sentiment
in December should reiterate them i
February, and secure the tottering result
Of the Wheeler compromise, which fall t
ruin in the exclusion of Eustis. j. orc.
|
Who is Gen, RabcockP
Orville Il. Babcock, now on trial at 81