The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-15
senator tioldthwaite.

1
Gently said
"Senator Goldthwaite was elected
| for u purpose, and ut n time when bis
name and character were useful to the
State. It was known that his health
| had failed. Shall we cast him off now
on account OF misfortune2 We have
refused to join IN the crusade against
| him. because we saw no just grounds
| for the calls upon him TO resign q posi-
| ton to which he was elected with full
knowledge of oil the circumstances.
This criticism Is just and honorable,
Judge Goldthwaite's health had failed
before he was elected to the Senate.
Those who heard his speech at the
Montgomery Theatre during the can
vass OF 1870, remember the painful i'm
preston produced upon an audience
which had so long been familiar with
his vigorous logic and indomitable en-
erEy. 49,, !.
was over. But IL WAS known then, and
Is known now, that his judgment is hs
clear as In the day OF his physical
strength, Notwithstanding his declin-
elected him TO tho United States Senate.
His tinauestloned, and UNREASONABLE
honesty, and his prudence in counsel,
enabled tho Democratic minority to
secure his election. No other Democrat
could have been elected at that time.
or all those whose names are now men
toned for the Senate, not one OF
them sought the dangerous posi-
ton Of u candidate before that
Assembly. Goldthwaite consented
70 become candidate ct
but against his own wishes and inclina-
tions. He had never volunteered In his
life TO seek IN office. The judicial
Offices which no had filled had always
been thrust upon him. On this occa-
sion he presented his state of health as
TN objection. He even argued that IT,
would be with difficulty that he could
undergo the fatigue Of The position. II
was replied that he alone could save
the scat in the United States Senate
from u stranger and nm enemy; that
orations were not wanted from Southern
Senators; that his vote was all that we
needed. Under these circumstances he
was elected.
At that time Judge Goldthwaite was
man Of independent property. Two
years passed by The Legislature Of
1879 was Republican on joint ballot. or
course every Democrat wns glad that
from 1871 TO 1876 one Of the Alabama
seats In the United States Senate was
occupied by n friend In 1875 Lcgisla-
ture largely Democratic assemblies, and
forthwith 10 is discovered by the friends
OF Senatorial aspirants that Judge Gold
thwaite Is not able to wrcstle In debate
with the Republican Aiaxes, and cabal
Is SGT on foot to induce his resignation.
In tho mean time the Judge loses his
private fortune, and In his old age is
dependent upon his official salary At
the call of his State he gave up his
lucrative law practice. Were he now to
resign on demand OF the cabal, he
would return to his home impoverished
and with his professional business gone
into other hands
Under these circumstances we have
no hesitation In saying that IL is not In.
cumbent upon him TO resign. We thank
Radicals one Of the Senatorial chairs
we thank him for tho honest votes no
has cast upon every occasion we thank
him that he possesses the confidence
and respect OF Senators OF oil parties
we thank him for the great usefulness
Of his honorable life;. we beg him to
dismiss from his mind the idea that the
people Of Alabama are ungenerous or
uDgrateful and we hope that when his
Senatorial career ID over, he may live
long to enjoy the love OF that host OF
his fellow citizens who feel that In his
physical weakness he is In heart and
Judgment hundred fold stronger than
those who, before the end Of his reign,
would snatch from his noble brow the
crown which was placed upon It by the
State Of Alabama.