Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-17
Mr.. Pinchbsck is said to attribute his de-

MI TlEcuudck Is S4lu 10 attIiooss hio ~
feat to the ''old abolition State of Vermont
1t is not often that a colored man uses the
word abolition as q term Of reproach
but as to the substance of his statement Mr..
p. is not far from right In the debate,
Senator Morrill,. of Vermont, said. in ez-
PLANTATION o. his vote, that the fact that there
was doubt about the legality oil Pinch
back : election was implied by the nOn-ae-
ton Of the Senate. If the question had been
free from doubt the applicant would have
been admitted three years ago. 1t had been
argued here that the members OF the COM
mittee wbi ch made the investigation into
Louisiana affairs had changed their opinions.
Suppose they had, that did not change
fact IN the case. But for the ability OF the
Senator from Indiana (MI. Morton) the case
would now have no place before the Senate
TIE Constitution Of the United States made
the Senate the exclusive Judges OF the cleo
ton Of its own members, and, for one, he
was not ready TO accept the doings OF the So
called Louisiana Legislature As the natural
and legitimate outgrowth of Republican in
situations. The colOred people were emit
tied TO Representatives in the Senate, and he
hoped they would have such representatives
in point of ability and eloqucnce as would
make Senators proud TO call them peers. lie
tMr. MorrilD had no prejudice on account
OF color other than IN lis favor. This whole
thing IN Louisiana looked TO him like STU
pend0us fraud, and 50 lar a be was con-
cerned he would vote against receiving any
Senator elected by that Legislature, be he
Republicans or be he Democrat.
The Philadelphia Press SAYS Of the case
The Pinchback case has AZ last been de
cided after pending in the Senate more than
three years. The remuneration OF the Re
publican Senators who accomplished this
end Is, under all the circumstances, highly
laudable and extraordinary Ii Is height
OF virtue TO which the Democrats are not
likely to attain. Pinchback would have
been q sure vote Tor the Republican party
should he have been admitted 10 q seat III
the Senate. To refuse him his chair l. to
throw the election Of Il man 10 I'LL the Va
caney into the hands Of the Democrats. Ii
Is doubtful whether Gubernatorial ap-
poIntment would meet with any success
in the Senate Hit did not, next winter the
Legislature Of Louisiana would have the case
IN It's hands, and "a the two houses are tied
the election would have TO be by Joint ballot,
IL which event the Democrats viii have
3 majority.
Now. the case OF Pinchbacs was not
yery bad one a. political matters often 90.
1t Is true that he had been under arrest ID q
doubtful way But il he made money IN
any worse way than Sli1el and Benjamin.
the last Democratic Senators from Louisi-
ana, the country has yet to learn OF it, If
his personal character was not a. clean and
upright. the choice between them must rest
OIL 3 yery slender basis Of excellence II Is
true that the election behind his certificate
was tainted all through with suspicion, IT. :
regularity and fraud. but the fraud Of the
returning board was only counter to the
Democratic frauds al the parish elections
and their pretended rectihcation II kei-
logg could not give 4 respectable certificate
neither could McEnery The facts seem 10
be that the Democrats were defeated 3,
their own tactics. Under such cIrcumstln-
ces, the exclusion of pinchback from the
Senate would not cure the Louisiana frauds.
which were bad enough on either side
= time went On, and the House Of
Representatives IL Louisiana was given into
Democratic hands BY the action Of Con
gressiOnai Committee sent 10 New Orleans
bv a Republican Congress. the politica! mo-
tive Tor seating PinchDsck became much
stronger. Two powerful motives prompted
this course-ihe wish not 10 throw sena-
torial election into the Democratic Legisla- .
jure Of Louisiana, and the lear Of offending
the c0i0red voters who regarded Pinchbaek
- the exponent Of their cause But a..
these temptations have been resisted. and
the Republican Senate has dared TO do vhat
IL believed 10 Be last and right without Re
gard to party gain We think the action Of
the Senate altogether wise and right. and
1l.y regret that It was not taken two YEAR
asO. Beyond all question, the highest Do
.itical eIpediency l. 10 do the lust and hon
CRADLE thing But i; j. not every party that
can rise 70 this seli-c0utroi and CONSCIENTIOUS
nes- Of action Above al. there j, not the
slightest reason 10 believe the Democrats
~ould make such . Remuneration Their re
cent action 10 defeating justice II Belknsp-
case shows how completely they are governed .
by party eIpediencY They are eager
enough 10 show " Republican de.inquencles.
but they arr greatly embarrassed IN their
efforts 10 do this by the readiness OF the Re
puhlicans % prosecute offenders and .,
present they are devoting a. much reflection
and time 10 devising methods to hinder Re
publican- from participating IN abe purihca-
zion bushes and executing the law- L. in
hunting scoundrels While making such
record the country vii have NJ difficulty il
Judging how they would act II case ike
that OF Piachhack were they only sure % biz
vote