The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14
A LETTER FROM Mr.. PNoHBACK.
WASHINGTON. D. C., Feb. -, 1876

WASHINGTON. D. G., Feb. II, 1876.
TO THE Editor or HERALD
Approaching the value OF your great journal a. mo
uuh OIL Information TO the people and believing 1t 70
DC your pocy 70 do Justice to all Of whatever race,
color or political faith ask the use OF vour columns
to submit frank criticism upon the late personal at
tack made upon me and legitimate Characterization
OF the policy illustrated by it shall do this with the
plainnesS Of speech demanded and justified By tho
rights involved and yet with the moderation inspired
by the full appreciation my part that such is The
public sentiment Of the country that language emanat
ing from white man which would be considered an
propriate and manly when uttered by me- OF pro
scrbed race would be deemed impertnent and turbu-
lent
For some time have been fully aware that efforts
have industriously made prejudice my Senator
rial claim by nsnuations or declarations intended to
impress the country and especially Senators, that
personally corrupt and dshonorable man but
these efforts of defamation and rresponsi-
Bile, and brave enough to endure the cowardly
assaults in silence, believing that my general good do
pertinent and the patient endurance exhibited all
through this trial would be sufficient protection
against these Vaccinations of my enemies But when
Senator OF the United States rises his place and
declares:-'I have heard It stated what regard
pretty good authority that at that time he in
the Penitentiary Workhouse OF Louisiana for the
OF burglary longer silence my part would be
Inexcusable The mputation that / arrested
for any other cause than that Of personal
rencontre ID utterly false, appears from the papers
submitted by Senator Morton 70 the Senate and which
can be corroborated by living witnesses. And
ess to both surprise and Indignation that this stage
of my and before the Senate had acquired the
jurisdiction to justify nqusition into the matter OF
my qualifications for seat in the Senate any Senator
should gratuitously and without evidence attempt to
cast so damnng stain upon my name. II the object
had been to acquire the information necessary INTEL
lgon action upon the before the Senate such in
formation could have been obtained without doing
and my children this needless wrong II the purpose
secure political strength the democratic party
by my defeat tho same end could have been accom-
pished by first deciding the praa acie and subse
quenty instftutng inquiries relative 10 my quahca
tons But upon mere rumOr authority so question
able, and that too, when l not In a
position TO defend myself, to make this imputation
was wrong upon me and an insult to the people and
State represent Under the circumstances that char
acterlzed this attack am constrained the concu-
that the Senator either forgetfu OF the coure
sizes and equities OF his high position preudiced
TO make manly fight against political foe; and II I'M
friendly rumors 10 be accepted sufficient basis
for reckless and damaging assaults upon personal
character he is not in position TO the FIRST stone
During the existence OF slavery personal collisions
sometimes occurred between the white man and the
coored These whites not considered the repre-
sentatves Of the true Southern gentleman but still
they sometimes exhibited manly fairness in their CON
tests The white combatant, when a true man and
forcing fight upon his legally disabled aud embar
raised colored opponent would invite the contest by
Offering 70 relieve the colored man of his disabilities
In words that have become aproverb he would oner
his colored opponent "a white mans chance " In
this centennial year when the foot fno slave treads
the soil OF the Republic, claim a right what was
formerly sometimes conceded as a favor, "a white
mans chance"
represent on my mothers side race which entered
upon their political and political power
in the South with q charity toward their white fellow
citizens broad enough to cover the wrongs of more
than two centuries and they entitled patient
and generous consideration Instead Of receiving this
however, they have been met upon the threshold OF
their life with profound doubt OF their capacity
and been followed with ungenerous suspicious and pro-
scrptons through every stage OF their weearned pro-
gress Further finding US in our initial efforts embar
raised by tho political nexperience incident and
superinduced by the enforced bondage and ignorance
that they had imposed upon US and sought to perpet
uate the ungenerous whites point TO these disabilities
which evidence of their injustice TO u.s. and plead
them as a bar to the exercise Of our constitutional
rights and as justification for continued proscrip
ton.
Notwithstanding the unchartable judgments and un
friendly temper referred to the coored voters do
favor color line IN politics political organization
the basis Of race They entertain kindly feelings
for their white fellow citizens and anxious to vote
all questions before the country their merits
They fully appreciate the evils that result them
the community from the political complications
South, and they recognize the imperative need OF CO.
operation between the races in order 10 settle our
divisions to secure good local government; and
whenever prescription against them a race shall
far as TO permit independent political
by them, with the security TO life and person as
enjoyed by other citizens, they will be found willing
to sink all race minor considerations to accomplish
these desirable ends.
Thrown into public life in a revolutionary period and
in a community still suffering the demoralzing effects
Of O great civil strife, with her social industrial and
political conditions unsettled and undetermined It is
ngular that in looking back my life should
find for regret in instances and of cor
rection and improvement In Others. Robbed of a COM
potency my youth by my fathers kindred half edu-
Gated and poor with the disabilities Of prescribed
race attaching and embarrassing every STEP
have in honorable endeavor every success have
enjoyed and every post of honor have held and re-
ferring to my humble origin without shame point to
a record OF which any American might be justly proud
Inviting fair criticism Of my political life / affirm
there Is nothing in nv antecedents or the manner of
my election to make my exceptional that jus
tles departure from the established precedcnts Of
the Senate in the consideration thereof that
the extension of the courtesies in the deci
sion Of such Appealing for support and a
righteous judgment in the premises to the great nation
whose justice and charity found appropriate expression
our political elevation invoke their indignation TO
rebuke the who seek and every opportunity to
put in question integrity and to mperil polti-
cal rights. Respectfully, p. B. PINCHBACk.