American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-02-19
BEUCE'S BOMBsHELL.
Mississippi's CoIored Sonstor De.
nounces the Administration.
he Wants His Race TO Make Friends of
CT The Southern Whites.
Special to II. o. Picayune.l

OF the IliulcaiS III cNcCutiNe SIS
sion last night, exposing Vests
double dealing in insisting upon
the confirmation of Billings, while
he consents to have Pinchback' S
claims put off from day to day. He
said that formerly he thought the
Republican Senators were true
friends of his race, but now he was
convinced they are hypocrites. He
warned them that the cOiored vote
could not hereafter he implicitly re-
lied on; that the negro will here
after vote as his interests direct.
His speech created great excite
ment, and is the subject OF univer-
sal comment to-day.
Bruce's speech is construed to be
the first gun from the Pinchback
battery, and that he intends to
lombard the Radical camp till
Pinchback's claims are recognized.
The Radicals are showing conster-
nation at the threatened loss of
negro votes, without which they
can hope for nothing in the South.
Correspondence N. Y. Herald.1
There was a dreadful flare up in
the Senate this evening. After two
long and wearisome centennial
speeches, which occupied most of
the day, the Senate went into exec
utiye session. For nearly three
hours Billings, the Southern ques-
ton aud General Grants po.icy
were discussed with unusual ami
nation. Among the leaiing Sena-
tors who participated in the debate,
were Morton, Conkling, Thurman,
Bayard, Bruce and Aicorn. The
first thing brought up was the
question OF the confirmation of E.
G. Billings for District Judge at
New Orleans. Tnis caused the
Democrats to express themselves
very freely which warmed the blood
of the Southern Republican mem
bers, and in IL short time the entire
Senate was in lively state OF ex-
element.
Senator Bruce, of Mississippi, lis-
tened to the inslnuations of the
Democrats and the soothing re-
marks of the Liberal Republicans
until lie could bear it no longer.
Then he took the floor like a bomb
shell, and scattered his shot i'll all
directions. He said that the col
ored men of the South had suffered
every indignity from the white
Democrats. and their rights had
been trampled under foot by those
who were supposed to represent the
Government. Instead of protecting
their rights under the Constitution
President Giant had deserted them
aud left them helpless under the
heel of despotism. 1t was useless
to conceal the truth any longer
President Grant had not kept his
promises his administration was q
failure, SO far as justice TO the col
ored Voters of the South was con-
cerned.
The passion of the speaker grew
more iutense at every word; wlleI
he had reached the grand climax i,
his descriptive recital of the ont
RACES committed on his people, he
astonished the silently listening
Republicans by declaring, with erea
emphasis, that the lime for looking
W IhC ioA hCtD 1ltt
passed. There was no help for the
negroes unless they made peace
with the Democrats. lie was il
favor of going over to them as thu
only means of safety to the negro
He clearly perceived Vests treach
cry to Pinchb Ick, aud the genera
hollowDess of Radical pretences t,
special love for the negro. He dc
nuunced Grant and the leadiu,
white Radicals of the South, as un
truthful and treacherous, and sait
they used the negro for selfish pur
poses only and did not scruple t,
have him killed in order to furnish
political capital for the party. IL
said the negro could not trust them
but would be compelled, for self
protection and quiet, to form pOiiti
cal alliances with the resident whit
men of the South, who, as class
were honest and trustworthy.
The speech produced a terribl
panic among the Radicals. Senate
Simon Cameron, true to his vigorou
way of expressing himself, said j
was ga hell of a speech" land Alcorl
enjoyed it hugely. The Democrat
applauded it, and told Bruce tn
negroes ought all to be Democrats.
Senator AlcOrD, in reply to Bruce
said he was sorry to hear such inju
diciOus remarks from his colleague
He admitted much of what ha,
been said, and he knew that tn
colorel people had suffered man.
wrongs; but the President ha,
been their true friend and had don
Everything possible for them, undo
the powers granted him by the Con
stitution Of the United States.
Senators Conkling, Morton ant
other Northern Republicans follow
ed i'll the same spirit, and rehearset
a long catalogue of benefits whicl
the coloIed people had received
rom the Government. They knew
that full and impair iaI justice woul,
be done them in the end.
Bruce said he had no quarrel will
AlcOrn, but he paid little attention
to these assurances. He said Ii
knew what he was talking about
The colored people were not to b.
deceived any longer by Administra
ton promises. He wanted TIL
. Northern Republican Senators pres
ent to understand that the grea
masses Of the colored people of tn
! SOuth waulI not vote for Giant fp