The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-12
BRUCE, the IRREPREsSIBLE!
The speech OF the COlored senator which
Provoked the President TO Wrath.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l.-Whcn the Sem
ate went into executive session yesterday after
noon, IL was for the purpose Of getting rid Of
Bilingss nomination for United States Judge
IN l. luisiaua. senator West led of in u speech
to the effect that Billings was essential TO the
ospCrity OF the Republican party ia Louisiana.
Mr. Bruce, the colored Senator from Mississippi,
arose and said he was sick OF hearing such
claims asserted In behalf Of the prosperity OF
the Republican party IN the South. 1t was a lie.
The Interests Of the party were not regarded in
making Federal appointments. lie would no
longer remain silent without entering his pro-
test. The curpet.bag element of the party was
at the foundation OF the troubles IN the South
ern States, and he should resist such prepos-
ferrous claims as had been put forth by the SEN
atOr from lui~ilna. Negroes were being
81 tughtered, killed In cold blood. bee iuse II
helped to maintain the Republican party in
lie appealed 70 the sympathy Of those SEN
ators who were fond Of parading their record AS
old-time abolitionists. but when serious mat
ter was being discussed under the cover OF
executive session, they refused TO acknowledge
statements, substantated as they were by ev-
dence which they were only too willing TO quote
N speeches for g impaIgn PURPOSES The negro
had ceased 10 be slave, but he was still II DO
litlcal slave He was good enough TO elect white
men to Office, but ne was not good enough to
| hold once with white men.
Look at the case OF Plncnback. He is to be
made mountcbank until the National Republi-
can Convention meets or until aspir!nts for the
nominee Will be elected, then, am told, poor
Pinchback can lie admitted, but that II
now now If the Senator from Louisiana sae west9
was disposed to play a double game, he was
ready to accept the issues and throw down the
gauntlet. lie declared that the Administration
| was INSCRIPTIONS and even relentless In Its pre-
tended support OF the colored people Of the
| South. His seat In the Senate, which lie was
| told would he vacated with tho assistance OF
| Republicans and the solid vote Of Democrats,
was pecunlarily Of no Importance TO him. lie
could make $4,000 n wear by personal attention
| 10 his plantation, and the paltry sum OF 5000
abolitonsts. lie could not conscientiousiy
| mold his seat as the representative Of Repub-
| licin constituency except upon the terms Of JUS
| tce and night with full political equality before
| his brother Senators. Negroes were being killed
all over the South, and the bloody shirt borne
| Repu Olican party in the North. lie should as
sert bis rights as Senator, without regard to
the social standing OF senators who attempted
| To control this body. His people were treated
| only as aliens, soJourners, In IA country where
the Constitution declared they should be citi-
zens. II they were such In fact, II was time for
| them to make terms with the whites for self
| interest. His experience was that blood was
| thicker than water IL the negro Is TO have no
political rights, he Is In duty bound to regard
| has personal advantages. The white men owned
| the land, the negro performed the labor.
| AT this point Mr.. Bruce took occasion to say
| that President Grant was not only hypocrlte
| but "A liar, who had made promises in words TO
| break them In his acts. III his assertions were
not agreeable while an important nomination
| vas pending IN executive session, he could state
| them more plainly In open session. lie had
| been led to look upon the Republican leaders as
| the true friends Of the South, but he could
| freely say that in his judgment they were hypo-
/ critts. II PinchbaCk was not admitted, and at
| the same time the Kellogg Government was up
held, the Senate would be acting inconsistently.
| lie did not want to be member OF body that
| would stultiiy itself In this manner, and must
| resign his seat when this spectacle OF assinine
| conduct was presented to the world.
| Senator Alcorn said his colleague, on reiec-
| tion, would modify his Views. lie claimed that
| the negroes had been misled by the carpet bag
| element. and indicated his independent course
| by saying that II vas the conduct OF Northern
! intrndcrs That had m de him 20 independent In
| the cdnVhsses IN MS state during tho Dlst tnreo
| years. lilo was glad that the truth had at LAST
| come out Oi tho mouth OF one dos pissed, but
] Nbo lotle5eAt0d Ice rana very useful w tho