The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-11
A BRUCE IN TIE SENATE.
ELOQUENT PROTEST iGfIVST mn
LINGSiS CONFTRM iTION.

IfNGS'S 60 FIRM tTION.
The Coiored senator from Mississippi Set
ting some OF his White Brethren nm Ex-
amr,e of Patriotism and Consistency,
WASHINGTON Feb. 10.-The sensation of
to-day was the speech Of the cclored Senator
from Mississippi, the Hon. u. X Bruce. In ex-
ccu.'--s session. on the confirmation Of Il. c.
billings The nomination OF Billings 20 be
United States D,.ttct Judge OF Louisiana, vir,,
Duren, who resigned g escape Impeachment,
was, Of course, referred to the Judiciary Com
mttee. of which Senator Ejmunds of Vermont
Is chairman. Now 1t happens that Edmunds
has been OF the Republican Senators the bitter
est opponent of the admission OF PncnGaok to
a sea. In tho Senate as Senator from Lou
Isl ma. This opposition Mr.. Edmunds bases
on purely legal grounds, maintaining that
there no legal Legislature to elect Pinch
back; that the proceedings 10y which
Republican majority secured in that
body were Illegal. Notwithstanding all this,
no reported Blings's nomination favor
ahly 20 the Senate. and advocated his
confirmation. This he did. knowing that Du-
lnps was the man who drew the celebrated
midnight order for Duren, by which tho
regular Returning Board was res raned.
aud on which al the mOns,rou5 fabric OF
fraud and iufamv In Louisiana was built M
MIR. Bruce ", - not disposed to give hia con
sent to tuis sort Of double dealing. Iio had
given an earnest Of his q .sire 10 prevent q sim
ilar reign Of terror In Missi-sipi by on.
uosing Ames and his clique in
their odo,ts to control the election
aud good order IN the south Is TO he
secnr only by non i9terierence with
Wasnington, and from THIS STANDPOINT he
opposed Dling-' confirmation TODAY IN cx-
very effective one. lie went lor Mr Eimunds
without gloves, ami handled him mcr,ilcs Is.
lie declared that he came here as the
is. sp white S as wei Well Pe'Ib S. black.
aud he wa- deeply GOVERNED for their welfare,
which could only be secured uy the res.
toratlun Of order and the Inauguration II
a feeling Of good viii between tins tlgcks
nnout by the people themselves, and he wanted
them To he let alone. II they were let alone and
strife was not stirred up los Federal interference
all difficulties would soon be settled, and the
blacks and whites would live together In
perfect harmony. insir interests were
All his interests were in Mississippi. and he
wanted icace and prosperity restored to tie
b0.dtts aud 10 accomplish tins object ne WIS
not onN MlIlns 20 m greet pers"nil sacri-
uccs, but lie wuuld stgk all party cousid ratnns.
us Stair am hls pee vie Nefe " ctci by the
condition ct Affairs IN Louisiana; - were the
leupie Of every southern state. II there was a
new teicn ut terror inauguratel In Louisiana II
put on indefinitely tue era %; peace and good
VIII IN the South. 10 send Billings there 3 a
United states Judge w.s to cau1a turn OIL and
confusion. billings was recognized as the real
author ~ all the wrougs that had been
hetped upon the peepl, Of that state. and he
tBruce) could never consent to his confirmation.
The coplitner. hip was well known Du.c ell, tho
Jud re; Norton. the universal receiver M bank
ruptcy, and Killings, the attorney Of lftOn. and
the Vas ig'tIttS II the judge. jim Casey. and
Marshal Pack sra were the blowers and strikers
far the combination, aud rcaped their reward
$50. IL was simply question OF brother in
law. some other member OF the royal
fanilv being provided for lie (Mr. Druce)
ala not believe in sacrificing the interests
Of great state, and perpctuating confusion,
turmoil, and bloodshed tor the benent Of a
President. II he couldn't have the friendship
OF the powers that be without surreudering his
manhood. he didn't want 1t.
The scene that followed the delivery of
the bold and fearless arraignment OF the Ad-
ministrltion bv the culored senator was
indeec.rbablc. Ito was no respcctOr Of ler-
son, but went for Edmunds and gave him
mercess castgaton. Edmunds attempted to
bring him down with his awful presence,
but Bruce equal TO the occa-
sion, and gave Edmunds Roland for
bis Oliyer every time. Such scene
has not occurred in the senate ca mber within
the recollection OF the oldest mem
ber. Elmunds and hi4 friends fre fu.
rious. aud declare their intention Of
bringing the impudcnt negro to terms.
more to come. The President Is also furious,
and SO are the isey-Pac kard crowd from New
Oreaus. They say the Niger hail have no
patronage. and that ne shail sug"r for y, but
Bruce says he don't care a fix for the patron
age. lie came here to serve his ueople, the
whole ~ them, and not 10 distribute ufnces
among "A few.