National Republican., 1876-02-29
DUTY OF REPUBLICAN SENATOR'S.

The House of Representatives in Missis-
sippi has voted to present articles OF i'm
peachment against Governor Ames. The
House of Representatives of Louisiana has
taken steps, on the eve of the adjournment
of the General Assembly, to impeach Gov
ernor Kellogg. In each instance the i'm
peaching bodies have come into power
through fraud and violence, and are at
tempting, by revolutionary methods. to
overthrow existing governments and to
compact and strengthen their unrghteously-
obtained political influence in those States.
The action Of the Confederate Democ-
racv. by its very insolenCe and effrontery,
teaches a lesson that the Republicans of the
Senate may well heed. and suggests duty
that they should promptly perform. The
lesson is that the hesitation on the part of
dissenting Senators, which has led to delay
in prompt and decisive action in both the
Mississippi and Louisiana clses, has been
construed by the turbulent demagogues Of
those States as an evidence Of political weak
nesa on the part Of Republicans, and as an
authorization and license 10 continued out
rage upon the government AMI loyal people
OF those States.
The disafcction developed on the
Louisiana case by certain Republican Sen
ators has been interpreted by the Confed-
crate Democracy OF that State TO establish
the existence of profound doubt in the
mind Of said Senators relative TO the right
fulncss of the present government Of
a., o,,I
sidcratelE-cxpresscd scruples have con-
triLUtcd largely to encourage the outbreak
Of September, 1874, and the present effort
at revolution. In view of this lesson,
neither wisdom nor justice will allow tiulid
or divided counsel among Republican Sen
ators The duty, suggested by tae action
of the Confederate Democracy OF the
Louisiana case, which by the votes of dis
senting Republican Senators is 10 this day
in some sort an open question, is final and
affirmative action upon the claim of Mr..
PinchbacI Shall these men be permitted
longer 10 take advantage of the scruples of
Republican Senators growing out of in
formalities alleged to attach 10 this case,
and be allowed through the advantage Of
their own wrong upon the people of
State with impunity TO work by violent
means a still greater wrong:
VIII Senators, because of technical OBJ
ieCtions. not only forego the rendering to
Louisiana and her Senator substantial JUS
tice. bit permit themselves 10 be used by
the Confederate Democracy Of that State
as shield against the punishment justly
due revolutionary violence, and also be
made the instruments OF defeat TO their
own party: Justice to loyal men, good
faith 70 the government Of that State, re-
srect for the popular will, as represented
by az overwhelming majority of her legal
voters, and the continued supremacy Of the
great party Of liberty and progress demand
Rnited and pronounced action by the Re-
publican Senate on this question. Tcchni-
cal considerations must give way to the
5-.------5l, and distractions must retire
bcfcEc the sober, practical questions of
gccd government personal safety and per-
snral justice. The Republicans of the
Senate. at this stage Of the matter, Owe it
to themselves and their party TO act as a
unit in giving Louisiana full representa-
tiyn and Governor Pinchblck his scat.