The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-02-19
A Bruce in the Senate,

w WASHlNtfION, ftU. W, wv NtllSH
. tior of to-day was the speech Of thu
} colored Senator from Mississippi, thu
Hon. Il. X. Bruce, in executive session
on the confirmation of f.. g. Billings
p The nomination Of Billings tO he United
, States District Judge of Louisiana. vice
Durell, who resigned to escare impeach.
ment, was, of course, referred to the
Judiciary COm mittee, of which Senator
Edmunds of Vermont Is chairman Now
It happens that Edmunds has been oi
the Republican Senators the btterest
opponent of the admission of Pinchback
to a seat in the Senate as Senator
from Louisiana. This opposition Mr..
Edmunds bases on purely legal grounds,
maintaining that there was no legal
Legislature to elect Pinchhack that
the proceedings by which Republican
majority was secured in that body
were Illegal. Notwithstanding all this,
he reported BillingS nomination favor
ably to the Senate, Nnd advocated his
confirmation. This he did, knowing
that Billings was the man who drew
the celebrated midnight order for Dur
ell, by which The regular Returning
Board was restrained. and on which all
the mOnstrOus fabric Of fraud and In
fanny in Louisiana was built up.
Mr.. Bruce was not disposed to give
his consent TO this sort of double deal
ing. He had given an earnest OF his
desire to prevent a similar reign OF ter
ror In Mississippi by opposing Ames and
his clique in their efforts to control the
election with Federal bayOnets. lie
| still held that peace and gOnd order in
the South is to be secured anlY by non"
Interference with State affairs by the
Administration at Washington, and
from this standpoint he opposed BIZ
lings' confirmation to day IN executive
session. Bruce il a fluent speaker, and
very effective one. lie went for MIR
Edmunds without gloves. and handled
him merclessily. He declared that lh
came here as the representative of aH
the people of Mississippi, white as well
as black, ani h. was deeply concerned
for their welfare, which could only he
securrl by the restoration of order and
The inauguration of the feeling of good
will between the blacks am! whites.
This conld only be brought about by
the people themselves, and he wanted
them to bn let alone. If they were let
alone and strife VAS not -trrpd up by
Federal interference an difficulties
would soon be settled, and the blacks
and whites would live together in per.
feet han imony. Their interest were
identical. His fortunes were cast wish
them. All his interests ware in Mis-
sissippi,a and he wanted peace and pros
perlty restored To the borders, and to
accomplish this prospect he was not
only willing to make great personal
sacrifices, but he would sink all party
considerations.
His State and his people were affect
ed by the condition Of affairs in Iuui4i-
ana, As were the people Of every Spath.
ern State. IL there was new reign of
terror inauguTated in Louisiana it put ,
OH indefinitely the eta OF peace and
good will in the South. TO send Billings
there As United States Judge was to
cause turmoil aud confusion. Billings
was recognized as the real author of all
the wrongs that had been hpappd
upon the people OF that State, aud he
(Bruce) could never consent TO his con-
hrmation. The copartnership was well
known-DurelI, the Judge Norton,
the universal receiver in bankruptcy,
and Billings, the attorney of Norton, and
che tdns AchateS of the Judge, Jim
Casey, and Marshal Plckard were the
blowers and strikers for the combina-
ClOn, and reaped their reward also. IL
was simply question of brother in-law,
or some other member of the royal
family being provided for. lie (Mr.
Bruce) did not believe in sacrificing the
Interests of great State, and perpetua.
Llng confusion, turmoil, and bloodshed
Tor the benefit Of brother-in law or
any other relative of che President. If
ne couldn't have the Friendship of the
powers that he without surrendering
his manhood, he didn't want it,
Inc scene that followed the delivery
Of the bold aGd fearless arragnlnent of
Ihe Administration by the colored Sena.
Tor was indescribable. He was no re>
'pector of person, but went for Ed
munds and gave him mercilesS casti-
CATION. Edmunds attempted to bring
lim down with his awful presence, but
Bruce was equal to the occasion. and
gave Edmunds Roland for his Oliver
very time. Such scene has not oc-
'urred in the Senate Chamber within
he recollection of the oldest member.
tdmnnds and his friends are furious,
md declare their intention of bringing
ne impudent negro TO terms, but I
5ruce takes it quietly, and says there {
s more to come. The President is also Z
urlous, and SO are the Casey Packard
rowd from New Orleans. They say I
be niger shall have no patronage, and t
hat he shall suffer for it, but Bruce I
ays he don't care fig for the partron. S
ge. lie came here to serve his people,
he whole of them, and not to distribute '
'ftices among few. '
Tweed has solved the problems Of :
apid transit, large profits, and no re- >
urng. }
The t. leap year necktie" for gentle =
nen is out We have not seen il, but :
uspect it is young lady's sleeve, with
n arm in it, and goes all the way
round the neck. Every enterprising a
oung gentleman should have one. Q
A Texas farmer named Wades saws y