New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-09
And here 10 tho return on the part Of Mr..

Respectfully returned.
p. b. S. Pinchback is Q colored man; very
much of gentleman, however, and a meri
toriOus officer.
1t would afford me much pleasure to aet
him placed in q position TO serve the govern
ment. J. S. BANGS, JR.,
Lieutenant Colonel and Superintendent O,
Recruiting, Corps d'Afriaue.
Alter that return had been made by the
colonel We find this Endorsement by Gen
eral Banks:
| HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF rHz GULF,
| New Orleans November l9.
Respectfully returned.
This application is disapprored, the com.
missioning of negroes rs commissioned Off
GERS being contrary to law.
BY command Of Major General Banks.
j. SCHUYLER CROSBY,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant
General.
1t will thus be seen that Mr.. Pinehback
was in the service of the United States fol-
more than q year, that he raised two com
panies, that he was recommended highly
Tor commission a. gentleman and
meritorious officer, but that his commits
sion was refused in the cavalry company
upon the ground that it was contrary to IA "
to commission negro.
Mr.. MerrimOn-BefOre the Senator passes
from that point, l beg to ask him whether
he has any information as to where MIR
Pinchback was at that time and lmmedi-
ately preceding the time when General But
Ter gave him this permission TO raise CON-
pany.
Mr. Morton-Mr. Pinchback was in New
Orleans, as l understand. Will the Senator
state the object of his inquiry! Ipresume
l understand it. l ask him to DO frank
about it, and l will answer him frankly.
Mr.. MerrimOn-I will state my object in
all frsnkness. 1 have heard it stated on
what regard as pretty good authority that
at that time he was in the Penitentiary or
WOrkh0use of Louisiana for the crime of
burglary. having been committed there by
| order of q provost court.
Mr.. MortOn-FOr what crime!
Mr.. MerrimOn-I think burglary; either
burglary or larceny. II the Senator has
any information on that subject, should
be obliged to him for it, and AN sure the
Senate would.
Mr.. Morton-I believe l am in possession
of the information precisely that the Sena.
tor seeks for, and suppOsing the question
would be asked brought the papers along.
did not care in my statement to refer to
that circumstance, because it is necessarily
painful one, but am glad the Senator has
made the inquiry as q matter OF justice to
Mr.. Pinchback.
Mr.. Merrimon-It seemed to me a ma
terial fact, and, therefore, inquired about
Mr.. MOrton-I have a memorandum here
which has been placed in my hands con-
tanning the facts:
Mr.. Pinchback. in the epring of 1862.
being in Memphis, Tennessee, within the
Confederate military lines. heartily SYM
pathizing with the national efforts to pre-
serve the integrity of the union of the
States and the authority of the federal
government, so soon as he heard that New
Orleans had fallen into the hands of
United States troops, made his way to |
Louisiana, and arrived in the Crescent City |
May the twelfth, 1862. Shortly after his |
arrival, under great provocation, he was |
forced into q personal collision with Mr.. |
John Keeper, his opponent being wounded |
in the fight"
l am otherwise assured that MIR. Pinch |
back acted simply in self defense. He was
arrested and gave bail on charge of as
ssult and battery; and am advised that
that is the only charge that was brought |
against him; no burglary, no larceny. no in
famous crime; and if any Senator has any
evidence on the point, am advised by MI
Pinchback that he challenges him to pro
duce it.
He was placed under bonds on the
charge OF assault and battery by Judge
Louis Gastinel. q civil officer. and 90 re-
NAMED until Mr.. Keeper recovered"
The man got we'll very speedily.
Pending the proceedings in the civil
am told he was his brother in law
"At the investigation Of parties who were
to levy blackmai!, caused Mr..
Pinchback to be arrested on the twenty
second of May, only ten days after the
assault, the party having meanwhile re-.
and to be brought before Provost
Judge Joseph M. Bell then the military
~hn cd fbo xipr ofN No |
Orleans, by whom Mr.. Pinchback was sent
% prison known as the Workhouse. In
hat prison he remained some time. do not
Know how long, perhaps a month, or until
he matter was brought to the knowledge
# the military authorities, and Mr.. Pinch
,ack was discharged, there being no ground
or his detention. l have here transcript
rom the records of the prison. it is print
d form:
Name of prisoner, Pinkney Plnchback
go. twenty. four; height, five feet nine and
|, gu AFTER inches; color of hair, black: color
i eyes, black; where born, Georgia; educa-
ion, educated; occupation, lsborer; habits,
l suppose the fact was at the time this {
ollision occurred both he and his brother
n-law were somewhat convivisl-a thing {
Which does not very often occur in the t
outh, and of course never with white men,
Laughter
when committed, May %, 1862; time to I
erve, two years; when discharged. July %,
&c.,"
Mr. Merrimon-What is the charged !.
Mr.. Morton-I will find that in another !
aper perhaps Here is the certificate: =
United States of America, State of Louis
of Orleans-Clty of New Or A
Justices Court.-Personally b
anne and appeared before me, w. L. A
Of %ha ,,,o | -
n the parish OF Orleans, Patrick Creagh, G
resident of this city, who. being duly Il
worn, deposes and sage: That in the year a
1862 he was assistant keeper of the work t,
)use of the parish of Orleans, Louisiana, n
I'D that he knows P. B. S. Pinchback; that a
i'd Mr.. Pinchback was in said year. 1862, T
'mmitted to said wOrkhOuse by Judge S
ell, provost Judge of the parish Of Or D
ans, for the offense OF assault and battery; | IL
at said Mr.. Pinchback was so committed 81
the workbOuse without trial by jury b
ID without having an opportunity to call
illnesses in his own behalf and defense, ~,
ID without being heard by counsel, all, as :;
is deponent believes, in violation of law q,
d Justice; that, soon after said confne. n,
ant in the workhouse as aforesaid and H
on full and fair statement of his case a
Judge Bell, and upon showing that great ti
Justice had been done Mr.. P. B. S. Pinch -
ok, Judge Bell released him. Deponent
rther says that he really believes that &C
{. Pinchback was committed as aforesaid "
Judge Bell through the influence of IN
il-disposed persons who desired to ct
tort money from said Mr.. Pinchback. Oh
lis deponent was told by one Mr.. .! o.
c. Morgan, who at that time ~ ~
10 practicing law in said provost court. Of Of
1t if said Pinchback would pay him "a "a
Orgau) $500 be would obtain his release, y. ye
hat Of 10 /