New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-15


Tribane says:
In consequence of the erroneous and
sensational accounts which have Oeen ppb
lished OF what took place in the executive
session OF the Senate Yesterday 1t 10 i'm
pOrtar. as a matter of justice to those con
cernei and TO the truth OF history that a
detailed account should be given of what
actually did occur is derived from sources
which can not be questioned. 1t may be
said that no prOfane language was INDUCED
in by any Senator: that NO Democratic
Senator participated in the debate; that
Senator Gordon was not present, as he is
absent in Tennessee; that Senator Bruce
did not oppose the confirmation of Mr..
Billings as United States judge for Louis
isana, but, on the contrary, voted for him;
and that Senator Bruce made no attack
whatever on Senator West, and that no
words passed between them that Senator
West took no part in the discussion, and
that the name OF Mr.. Pinchback Was not
mentioned.
The facts are that Bruce, colored Senator
from Mississippi. did make an earnest and
animated, but entirely dignitied, protest
against what he regarded as the injustice
perpe:rated upon his race, because he said
that he doubted the sincerity of the pro-
LESSONS of the Republican party as to the
interest which it claimed to feel tor his race
He said that while the Republican party
professed to believe in equality, he expe
rienced il his own person the ho,iOwness OF
such pretense. He felt that he was looked
upon as an inferior. There was no real
concern for the welfare Of his race. Moth
ing done at Washington Injured to their
benefit, and the Republican party ia the
South. which was mainly composed OF his
race, was neglected. They had no prOtrc-
ton in his State Of Mississippi. The Re
publican party was largely in the mai ,rity,
but thew were so inundated by the master
race that they could not assert themselves.
Three times last tall he had applied to
the President of the United States, and
asked that troops 10 employed to protect
his people in their rights. The President
had received him in the coolest manner, told
him that he could do nothing, and that he
would not use the troops. He believed that
ULYSSES S. Grant was responsible almost
entirely for the blight and the aches which
had come upon the Republican party and
the colored people of the South. The fed
eral app0ir tments in the South we're of the
worst possible character-cOrrupt, selfish
and designing men, who cared nothing for
the co,ored people, but only to further their
own ends. As for himself, he was sick OF
politics; he loathed and despsed the Demo
cratic party. but he saw no uliimatum but
to submit to it.
1t was of no benefit to him nor to his race
that he should continue to hold his seat in
the Senate. He did not know that he would
hold it. He did not know but he would
follow his impulses, resign his seat, 90 home
to his people, advise them 10 submit to
their destiny, surrender 20 the Democratic
party give up politics and any claim to the
holding of offices, and ask only OF the mas
ter race that they be permitted to earn their
living and make money, if they could
AlcOrn said he agreed with his colleague
in much that he said, but he did not agree
with him in his censures upon the President
because Of his refusal to use troops in the
South. The President in this matter had
NO alternative but to pursue the course
which he had As to the federal appointments
in the South, Mr.. Alcorn said they we're OF
very improper character generally, and of
men " ncse acts were calculated to bring tae
Republican party into disgrace and disre- |
pute. de was asked, WHY, then Il. did he not |
recommend Democrats for appointment to
the federal offices. He responded with much |
emphasis that the present race of |
Democratic politicians in the South !
were more corrupt and as unworthy of con.
fidence as could be found anywhere. He |
also said that Mississippi was Republican
State, that the last election had been car. |
red by violence, fraud and intimidation.
He said that. deserted as they were by the |
Republican party of the North. the negroes |
in the South would doubtless have to 20 to |
the wall in the end, but, in his opinion, they
would make one desperate effort more for
their rights as would be attested by the
lighting OF the torch and the drawing of
the blade.
Edmunds spoke in constitutional strain
He said the Republican party in the North
was sincere in its professions for the cOlOred
people of the South, and would do all in
it's power for their protection. He said to
Bruce that the Senator must remember
that whenever any attempt was made TO
Use troops in the South it was met by
almost universal denunciation from the
press of the country, and that in such a
matter the President and the Republican
party must proceed according to the foros
OF the constitution and the laws. He sym.
pathized with the wrongs Of the coiored
people, and with the wrongs visited upon
the people Of Mississippi, and in the inves-
tigation which was to take place OF the cleo
ton there, he hoped a remedy would be
provided.
Bruce said he had evidence which could
not be dsproved that 800 of his race lad
been murdered in the last campaign in Mis-
sissippi. He asked, in Gods name, where
could the colored people look for protec-
tion if not to the President and the Repub
Lcan party.
Morton then said that, because he had
proposed to inquire into the Mississippi cleo
ton, be had been visited with the most per
elstent abuse and denunciatiOn. He wanted
to get at all the facts of the case, and then
to devise ali necessary measures to protect
the coiored people in the exercise of their
rights
This was the sum and substance OF what |
took place. The report as indicated by |
conversation with Senators to day, is most |
probably the ordering Of the investigation |
Governor Morton, though, perhaps, not on |
50 broad scale as his resolution calls for.