Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-02-22

Shall fold me close to the eRrth's dark breast
Special dispatch to the Baltimore Gazette.
Senator Bruce's RevOlt-His Ar
raignment Of Grant.
WASHINGTON. Feb. lO-When the
Senate went into executive session
tbs Z. NJ, it was for the purpose of
getting rid of Billings nomination for
the United States Judtcship in Louis
lana. Senator Nest led off in speech
to the effect that Billings WAS essential
to the prosperity of the republican par
ty in Louisiana. Bruce, the cOlOred
Senator from Mississippi, arose aud
said he was sick of hearing such claims
asserted on behalf Of the prosperity of
the republican party in the South. 1t
was lie. The interests of the party
were not regarded IN making Federal
appointments, aud he would nc longer
remain silent without entering his pro-
test. The carpet-bag element of the
party Was at the foundation of the
troubles ia the sixteen States and he
should resist such prepusterOus claims
as had been put forth 10y The Senator
from Louisiana. Negroes were being
slaughtered ard killed in cold blood
because it helped to maintain the re-
publican party in the north. He ap-
pealed To- the sympathy of those seua-
tors who were fond of parading their
record .as Od time abolitiOnIsls, but
when a serious matter was being dis
cussed under the cover of executive
session they refused to Acknowledge
statements. substantated a5 they were
by eV ,dence they were Oniy TOO willing
To quote in spr preches for campaign pur-
poses. The LtgrO had ceased to he a
slave, but he WAS still n political slave.
He was good enough to elect white
men To Office, but he was not good
enough to hold office with white men.
The Senator from Mississippi then
said, Ake the case Of PinchhaCk he is
to he made IA mOuntebank when the
y I o "a Republican, Convention
meets, or till a-pirantS for the preSi-
demcy are satisfied that whoever Is the
republican nominee will he elected :.
then, am told, poor Pinchhack can
bp admitted, but II would be hazardous
10 take vote now il was cunning
and hypocracy, and if the Senator from
Louisiana West) was disposed to piay
a double game he was ready to accept
the issues, and throw down the gauut-
let declaring that the administration
was unscrupulous and even relentless
in It's pretended support of the colored
people of the South. His seat in the
Senate, which he was told would e
vacated with the assistance of republic
cans and the solid vote of the demo-
Gratis, was pecuniarily of no imDor-
lance to him He could make SIS 600
"A year by personal attention to his
plantation, and the paltry sum of So
600 WAS no inducement TO remain
among old time HhOlitionists He
could not conscientiously hold his seat
as IA representative of republican con-
stituency except upon terms of justice
and right, with full political equality
before his brother senators. Recogniz-
ing this fact. while negroes were being
killed all over tne south, and the
bloody shirt borne for politiCa effect to
promote the paramount influence of
the republican party In the north, he
should assert his right as a senator
without regard To the social standing
of senators who attempted tn control
this body. His people are treated on
ly as aliens, s0j0urners IN country
where the constitution declared they
should be citizens. IL they were such
in fact 1t was time for them to make
terms with the whites for self-iuterest.
His experience was that blood was
thicker than water If the negro Is
to have no political rights he is in duty
bound to regard his personal advgnta-
ges. The white men owned the land -.
the negro performed the labor. At
ttis puint lSruce took ocrasion to saw
HAT President Grant was not only a
hypocrite, hut h liar, who had made
promises in words to break them in
his acts. If his a sertiOns were not
agreeable while an important nomina-
tion was pending In executive session
lie could state them more plainly la
open session. He had been led to look
upon the republican leaders as the true
friends of the south, hut he could free
~ say that in his judgment they were
Nv pocri;es. If Piuchback was not adj
mitted, and at the same time the Kel-
lOgg government was upheld. the SEN
ate would lie acting inc0nsistently.-
lie did not want 10 he member nf a
body that would stulify itself IN this
manner, and must resign his seat wnpn
this spectacle Of asinine conduct W'ns
presented 10 the world. Senator Al
COru said his culirHUue, on reflection.
would modify his Views He claimpd
that The negroes had been mislpd by
VIC va P0'""E olV"V"'i M" N'l"l'hltu
hls independent e, ursr 10y saying that
II was the conduct Of northern intru-
d"rs that made him go independent in
the canvasses in his State during the
past three years. He was glad that the
truth had al last uome out OF he mouth
~ one despised, hut who represented "A
free race very useful to the north in
huildiu" up reconstruction. He knew
negro ch racter welt, hore testimony to
their fidelity in War as well as to their
childlike simplicity in accepting citi-
Eenship under the reconstruction acts.