New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-09
to the people that have been

L ~SSA
ratified.
Mr.. Morton-The very Legislature ths
elected Mr.. Pinchback submitted severa
constitutional amendments to the peopl,
which were ratified by the votes O.
all parties and have since been put
into operation by laws enacted for
that purpose, acting even with regard
to the most important interests of the Stat,
with reference to their public debt. l may
here say, suppose, in general terms, thai
the courts of Louisiana and the people O
Louisiana of all parties have recognized
Governor Kellogg as the Governor and thu
Legislature that elected Mr.. Pinchbsck AZ
the Legislature In every particular exceQ,
one, and that one is simply the election Of
p. B. S. Pinchback. Amendments of thu
constitution in regard to the city of New
] Orleans, q city under Democratic govern
ment, asked for by the leading men of tina,
the Legislature electing Mr.. Pinchback and
ratified, and under which the city OF New
| Orleans is now conducting it's government
| have frequently argued the question be
fore the Senate, and do not propose to dc
| it now, that 80 far as members of that Leg
| islatule are concerned and the State OIL
GERS, their title is to be determined by the
State tribunals appointed for that purpose
The State Returning Board, authorized by
ing the votea, had exclusive jurlsdic.
ton upon that subject. SO far as
the State officers were concerned. The
Legislature, of course, after it coDvenes
and organizes, is made the Judge of the
qualification snd election OF its own mem.
bers. The State courts have passed upon
the State elections by recognizing the Gov
ern0r and the Legislature and the legality
of the board that counted the votes. and
h0 mol r,rlo rf lou hat ho
Court of the United States will follow the
decisions Of the State courts upon any
question arising exclusively under the con-
stitution and laws of State. That was
held very fully in the case of Luther vs..
Borden, and has been frequently recognized
as the law.
There has been trouble down there, Mr.
President; there have been things done on
both sides that can not justify; but want
to say right here that the root Of all the
trouble IN Louisiana CIV out of q con-
spiracy and q combination to eubvert a no.
toriOus Republican majority Of from fifteen
to twenty thousand, by violence and fraud.
That State was Repu blican in 1872 Just as
nOtoriOusly as the State of Kentucky was
Democratic in 1875, and there is abundance
of evidence upon the record to show that
scheme was formed-not only formed but
avOwed-:0 subvert and defeat that we'll
known majority, and to put the Democratic
party IN power. do not say that every.
thing that was done to defeat that scheme
was right; do not intend to be drawn into
the justification of anything that was
wrong; but l say here to-day that the
origin and root OF this whole trouble was
foul conspiracy to rob the people of Lou
isiana OF their political rights, and defeat
and to overwhe!m a well-knOwn majority
OF from fifteen to twenty thousand-s
scheme that has been followed in
the State of Mississippi, and
scheme, too, that was followed in other
States and Is threatened to be pursued in
other elections yet to come.
l will not now adverr to the sad history
of Mississippi during the last campaign
and election. Louisiana was not alone;
Mississippi was not alone. have here the
statement and the confession OF one of the
most distinguished citizens of the State OF
Georgia, recently made, as to the course
that was pursued in that State. refer to
1t to show that it was somewhat of q gen.
ersl policy in those States. Robert Toombs,
once a member of this body, man Of dis
tinguished talents, now perhaps the most
citizen Of Georgia in many
respects. made speech before the members
OF the Legislature of that State the other
day, only about week or ten days ago. in
the city of Atlanta He addressed the
members of the Legislature and a large
mass of people. have here verbatim
report Of his speech in Democratic news
paper. the Daily Constituencies. showing
that he spoke the sentiments OF that peo
Pile, that he was applauded to the very
echo, and that. whatever may be said here,
The sentiments and the facts stated by Rob |
srt TOombs in that speech we're indorsed
Dy the unanimous and hearty piaui;ts OF |
lis auditory. !
do not read this on account of the bit |
erness OF Mr.. ToOmbs; we all know that he |
8 bitter man; bur that he does to-day rep |
'esent what may be called the vital part of |
he Democratic party of Georgia, of Missis-
ippi and other Southern States. do not |
iCubt for mOmenr; but read this extract |
rom his speech for the purpose of getting his
violence as to fact. tact understood at |
he time and believed by most of US. |
low quote simply his testimony without re-
ard to any violent sentiments he utters
gainst the Republican party Or the people
i the North.
Mr.. TOOmbs said:
he first Legislature, but will tell YOU how
'e got them there. will tell you the truth.
he newspapers won't tell it to you. We
OF them there by carrying the black vote
y intimidation and bribery. [taughrerl and
helped to do it, Applause. l would
ave scorned the people if they had not
one it And will buy them as long as
hey put beasts to go to the ballot box
Cheers No man should be given the
ective franchise who has not the intelli-
ence to use 1t properly. The rogue should
Ot have it, for government is made to
drlsh him: the % . should 20: have it, for
os er;.A4en. is made to take care of
in. Now. these miserable wretches-
10 1dnhees-have injected five mill
ms OF savages into the stomach of our
'dy polite, and the man who SAYS
accepts negro suffrage, say accursed
, he tCheers.l l will accept every.
ling. will accept Grant and empire be
re will accept euch Democrat. Zap
III governing you and me! 1t takes the
CHEST order OF intellect to govern the peo- .
e. and these poor wTetches talk of gov
ming US! Why. they can't perpetuate
cir own negro power. In the countries ]
here they were in the majority they did !
It preserve their power and perpetuate !
elr rule. My remedy helped US to break {
at up. We carried them with US by
ibery and intimidation. l advised it, and {
know it. but won't say it. But l will I
it, for l fear no man, and am prepared I
render an account to none but the reat 4
dge, before whom l must appear in few
ars, for my enemies have thought my T
rvices to my country SO great that they I
We done me the honor to exclude me 7
I'm again serving my people, +
There Is very much in this speech that
'uld be interesting as illustrating the con- S
ion of feeling in Georgia and other
ates, the existence of which regret as s
ofoundly as any body.
Now, Mr.. President l have concluded S
out all that intended to say. You are
W called upon to decide this question, S
d l hope will do it promptly. The State 5
Louisiana is entitled to be represented.
all the men who contrived the scheme OF 5
y tho frrai&s of L.. | s