The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-08

[ooH1muzD ZION Ymsf 1Ae1.l
vouId stand by their record this question
-ould be decided. Even if subsequent event
did cause the recognition Of Kellogg as Gov
ernor, that would not justify them IN votinl
for the admission of Pinchback.
There was but one thing upon which tn
question turned, and that was whether tn
body of men which assumed to elect Pinch
back was the lawful LEGISLATURE Of Louisl
ana or not. If they did compose the law
full Legislature, then Pinchback was emit
tied to his seat. If they did not, then III
could not be admitted. Mr.. Thurman ther
referre to the decisions of the Supreme Cour
of Louisiana, and said the question now be
fore the Senate was for the Ssna.e u
decide. No decision of any court, no. ever
the Supreme Court of the United States
shuld have any influence IN the matter
the Senate being the exclusive ]udge Of
the election and qualification OF It's own mem
bers. In conclusion, he said ne did not see
how changing circumstances IN Louisiana
could change legal opinions. were senators
to listen to an appeal to choose between Re
publican and Democrat as if they were set
ting as electors2 If Senators would stand by
their consciences, which induced them to vote
for the Carpenter bill, he would promise
them that there would be o result which
would be in accordance with the dignity OF
the Senate.
Mr.. Christiancy, of Michigan, said when
this case was up last March he had expressed
his views, and re did not wish to take back or
change one word he said then. He stood
now where he stood then. He thought the
question had been fairly stated by the Senator
from Ohio (Thurman). In his (Christiancys)
view, party policy had nothing to do with the
case If be allowed his party feeling to in
fuence him in the matter he would feel that
he was deserving of eternal infamy. II In the
Senate when the vote should be taken ne
vould yo.e against the admission of Mr..
Pinchback.
Mr.. Howe of Wisconsin, said he had no.
tioed here to-day, as always since this great
question arose, that there WINS claim on the
part of those who opposed Pinchbaok. that
they represented good morals, fair minded
and honest politics. and as a consequence
those who defended the rights Of Pinchback
to q seat in the Senate misrepresented all
these things He should vote for the admis-
mon of Pinchback. He would vote according
to the honest convictions Of his conscience,
and he would do SO believing that there was
not man on the floor holding seat who had
Q better right to it than Pinchback had to his.
He Howe hoped all the Senate and all the
world would be assured, as he knew all the
angels in heaven were assured, that he would
give his vote through no personal considera-
ton. He argued that Pinchback never had
anything but prina facie case in regard to
his signature to the report of the committee
in 1872. He said he had signed that report,
but he had done pennance for it since, as far as
. Senator could do pennance for mistaken
vote.
The question of who was the Governor of
Louisiana, or who constituted the Legislature
of Louisiana in 1872, had not been decided to
his satisfaction by Judge Durell or any other
judge. There was only one tribunal in the
world which could determine who was or |
who was not Governor Of Louisiana, and that
was the people of louisiana So far as
the imperfect evidence before Congress
could guide one to result, and
upon an examination Of that evidence, |
He had been profoundly convinced Of two
Louisiana on the night of November 4, 1872, |
. majority of the ballots resting in them were
cast by Republicans and for Republican can
didates. Second, that during that day many |
thousands of Republican voters with Repub
lican votes in their hands had by force been
driven away.
The certificate of Mr.. Pinchback's election
as Senator was signed by Kellogg as Cover |
nor. and that made q prina facie case. He
argued that Kellogg was Governor de Jure, II !
majority of the people in Louisiana voted for |
him in 1872 but when were added to the
votes given for him those also who tried to vote
for him but were prevented, there was no
doubt about him being Governor de jure.
That fact the Senate had not tried, but it
should be tried. and the man who holds his
(Kellogg's) certificate of election to the Sen
ate should be seated until the matter could be
inquired into The Legislature which elected
had made laws from the time he was elected.
The ghost Of Durell had been paraded in
the Chamber again to-day-it was more
honest ghost than that of Banquo-for it
would down if Senators would let it. He had |
resigned. and did everything he could to quit |
the sight Of Senators, but they would not let
him.
In conclusion, Mr.. Howe spoke in regard to
the order of Durell, and said he seemed to
have thought he could outflank Warmoth. |
He usurped authority which the law did not
confer upon him, but the result of it was that
there was not man kept out Of the Legisla-
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