New-York tribune., 1876-02-15
PINEHhAEh.

Now that Judge Billings has been confirmed,
{" on Just enough of case" Senator Morton
may naturally feel fresh confidence in the
chances of his friend Pinchback, whom he has
been trying for more than two years to crowd
into the Senate. 1t was as the agent OF kel-
logg, in promoting the admission OF Plnchback,
that Mr. Billings made his last notable ap-
pearance at Washington in December, 1873,
and he wrote at that time to Gov. Kellogg:
" shall telegraph yOu tonight to telegra II
ION Friday to Carpenter as follows: The
"'party is united on, and the Republican
"'interests require the immediate seating OF
"' Pinchback.'" About the right of the claim
ant to the vacant seat there was not much If
any discussion, Mr. Billings and his associates
resting their demands upon "thc interests v OF
the Administration party, and resolving if pos
sible to push the matter to vote ION just
"enough of case How they looked at the
question may be judged from a queer little
massage in the now celebrated letter from
Billings to Kellogg. Morton asked me-"
writes Mr.. Billings, "did know there was
" Republican opposition to Pinchback from
"New-Orleans. He said charges were to be
"preferred on account of legislative frauds.
Il asked him what that had to do with
"hs being seated, and he said, nothing di-
"rectly." Fraud or no fraud, the question
then was, according to the Kellogg and Pinch
back party, whether the interests of the Ad-
ministration would be better served by keep
ing this man out or by letting him in, and the
question in the mind OF Mr. Morton il still
the same.
As for the personal character and antecedents
| of Pinchback. they are not properly under
debate. The only point for the Senate to con-
slider is whether he was lawfully elected.
That point was discussed at great length and
with great care more than three years ago.
when the validity of the Durell and Kellogg
Legislature. to which Pinchback owes his cleo
ton, was investigated by the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. 1t was stanch
Republican Committee, and 1t reported
that the so-called Legislature was
fraud and usuTpation, called into ex-
istence by the illegal and outrageous
orders of Judge Dureli. drawn up by Mr.. Bill
ipgs and enforced by Federal soldiers. Sena-
tors Carpenter. Logan, Alcorn, and Anthony,
who signed the majority report, concurrcd III
the resolution that there was no State Govern
ment existing in Louisiana, and that Congress
ought to order new election. Senator Trum-
bull agreed with them as to the character of
the Kellogg Legislature; 80 did Senator Hill !;
Mr. Morton stood alone III sustaining If, and
even no denounced the judicial interference
which created it as Gin every way wrong"
The Report was 80 overwhelming that the Sen
ate has never dared to call il in question The
Administration majority in that body has been
always bold often insoent, intolerant, par
tisan, and unjust but the strongest efforts OF
the Kellogg party, continued without remission
for three years, have not been able to drive it
to the recognition Of any Senator elected by
the pretended Legislature which Judge Durell
and Marshal Packard set up in the New-Or-
leans State House.
Three Of the six signcrs of ths'Commitiee
Report of 1873 are still in the Senate, and the
country would be glad to know how they re-
gard this fresh attempt to sci aside the docu-
ment to which, after q full examination OF the
case, they deliberately affixed their names
Have they no protest 70 make against what
they have substantially declared to be an out
rage? Or will they be driven at last, by the
cruel lash OF the party whip, into vote which
they know TO be wrong, or tact acquires
cence almost equally dish0norable!