Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-15
His BOmbsheI Speech on the Ccnfirma-
tiOn of Billings for Judge Du-
rell's Place Plain Talk.
He Denounees Grant and the Leading
White Radicals Of the Senate as
Untruthful and Treach-
erOus.


They entertain kindly feelings for their
white citizens, and are anxious
TO vote on all questions before the couf-
try on their merits. They fully appTe-
ciate the evils that result to them and
the community from political complica-
tions in the sCu b, and recognize the
imperative need OF Cooperation between
the two races in order TO settle their di-
visions ard Secure good local govern
meDt, and whenever prescription against
them ss q rsce shall so far cease as to
permit independent political action by
them with the same security to life and
person as. is enjoyed by other citissns,
they will be found willing to sink all
race or minor conditions to accomplish
these desirable ends" Mr.. Pinchback
invokes the indignation Of the ct ,intry
in rebuke Of the men who seek and use
every opportunity to put in question the
integrity Of the colored race and inn
peril their political rightF.
BRUCE CONDEMNED.
New ORLEANS, February 13.-Lieu-
tenant. Governor Antoine, State Super
intendent of Education Brown, Secreta.
ry of State Dsslonde, and all the colored
members Of the general assembly have
signed dispatch to PiDchbeck stating
that, while they desire to see him seated,
they regard Senator BTuce's speech as
impolitic and against the true interests
of the colored race.
THE SPEECH HE WAS CONDEMNED FOR.
New York Sunl
WASHINGTON, February 1O.-The SEN
sation of to-day was the speech OF the
colored senator from Mississippi, Hon.
b. M. Bruce, in executive session, on
the confirmation OF E. G. Billings. The
nomination of Billings to be United
States district judge Of Louisiana, Vioe
Durell, who resigned to escape impeach-
ment, was, of course, referred to the
judiciary committee, of which Senator
Edmunds, of Vermont, is chairman.
Now it happens that Edmunds has been
Of the Republican senators the bitterest
opponent Of the admission of Pinch
back to seat in the senate ss a senator
from Louisiana. This opposition Mr..
Edmunds bases on purely legal grounds,
maintaining that there was no legal
legislature to elect Pinchback; that the
proceedings by which Republican ma
jority was secured in that body were il
legal. Notwithstanding all this, he re-
ported Billings's nomination favorably
to the senate, and advocated his con-
firmation. This he did, knowing
that Billings wss the man who
drew the celebrated midnight order
for Durell, by which the regu-
lar returning board was restrained,
and on which all the mOnstrous fabric
of fraud and infsmy in Louisiana was
built up. Mr.. Bruce was not disposed to
give his consent to this sort OF double
dealing. He had given an earnest of his
desire to prevent 6 similar reign Of terror
in Mississippi by opposing Ames and
his clique in their efforts to control the
election with Federal bayonets. He still
held that peace and good order in the
south is to be secured only by non-inteT-
ference with State affairs by the admin
istsation at Washington, ard from this
standpoint he opposed Billings's con-
firmstion to-day in executive session.
Bruce is fluent speaker and very eff
fectiye one. He want for Mr.. Edmunds
without gloves, and handled him merei-
lessly. He declared that he came here
as the representative of all the people of
Mississippi, white as well as black, and
he was deeply concerned for their well
fare, which could only be secured by the
restoration of order and the Inauguration
of a feeling of good, will between the
blacks and whites. This could only be
brought about by the people themselves,
and he wanted them to be let alone. II
they were let alone, and strife was not
stirred up by Federal interference, all
difficulties would soon be settled, and
the blacks and whites would live to.
gether III perfect harmony. Their in
terests were identical. His fortunes
were cast with them. All his in
terests were in Mississippi, and he
wanted peace aud prosperity restored to
the borders, and to accomplish this OBJ.
ject he was not only willing to make
great sacrifices, but he woUli sink al
party considerations. His State and his
people were affected by the condition oi
affairs in Louisiana, as were the people
Of every southern State. If there was 6
new reign of terror inaugurated in Loui.
sians, 1t put off indefinitely the era o.
pesce and good will in the south. Tt
send Billings there as United States
| Judge was to cauee turmoil and confI
siop. Billings was recognized as the
real author OF all the wrongs that haC
been heaped upon the people Of tina
State, and he (BEuce) could never con
sent to his confirmation. The copart
nership was well known-Durell, tht
| jadga; Norton, the universal receiver il
bankruptcy; and Billings, the attorney
OF Norton, and the fdus AchGtes of the
Judge, Jim Casey, and Marshal Pscksri
were the blowers aud strikers for tht
combination, and reapsd their rewart
also. It was simply question Of broth
er-in.lsw, or some other member Of thr
royal family beirg provided for. H.
| (Bruce) did not believe in sacrificing tn
/ Il knk- -
ating confusion, turmoil and bloodshe,
for the benefit of brOther-in-law O
any other relative of the President.
he couldn't have the friendship Of th
powers that be without surrendeIing hi
manhood, he didn't want 1t. The ecen
that follow wed the delivery Of the boil
and fearless arraignment OF the admin
istration by the coloTe1 sena' or ia indil
cribable. He was no respecter of pei
son, but went for Edm unds and CAV
him q merciless casti2ation. Edmund
attempted to bring him down with hl
awful presence, but Bruce was equal
the occasion, and gave Eidmunds Re
land fer his Oliver every time. Such
scene has not occurred in the senat
chamber in the recollection of the oldeS
member. Edmunds and his friends al
furious, and declare their intention
bringing the impudeDt negro TO term!
but Bruce takes 1t quietly, and say
there is more to come. The PresiGeI
ig also furious, and 80 are the Casey
Packard crowd from New Orleans. The
say the niger shall have no pstronag,
and that he shall suffer for it, but BruC
says he don't care fig for the patron
age. He came here to serve his peopl
the whole of them-and not to di
tribute offices smorg few.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
| New York HeTald.l
WASHINGTON, February l0.-Thel
was q dreadful fare up in the senate tn
evening. After two long and Wearison
Centennial speeches, which occupie
most of the Day, the senate went in
executive session. For nearly thr,
| hours Billings, the southern questiC
ard General Grants policy were di
cussed with unusual animation. Amor
the leading senators who participated
the debate were Morton, Conklin
Thurman, Bayard, Bruce and AlcoT
} The first thing brought up was the que
ton of the confirmation of +. c. B
lings for district judge at New OrieaI
: This caused the Democrats to EXPIRE
! | themselves very freely, which warm,
r the blood OF the southern Republics
I ! memb. II, and in short time the entl
Z senate was In 3 lively stSte OF eXcil