The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14

MIR. Pinchback's Letter.
We willingly allow Mr.. Pinohback to be
heard in our columns in defence of his per-
sonal character, which, we believe, has been
unJustly assailed on the floor Of the Senate.
If the accusations to which he replies were
true, it would be proper for any Senator who
had evidence to prove them to offer that evil
| dence for the consideration of the Senate,
and for that body to exclude him on those
charges, without regard to the regularity of
his election, If they should be substantiated.
But no proof has been offered, and the accu-
satIons are improbable on their face. Nearly
three years have passed since Mr.. Pinchback
appeared in Washington with Governor
Kellogg's certificate of his election as
Senator, and his opponents have
RETAINED from no assault on his
character which had any color of proba-
bility. If he had ever been convicted and
sentenced in Louisiana for burglary the
records of some court and the register of the
Penitentiary would show it, and the fact
could not have been concealed for so long a
period. If it were true authentic evidence
would long ago have been in possession of
some hostile Senator. No Senator has
right, at this late day, to cast such infamous
aspersions on Mr.. Pinchbach's character
without the most incontrovertible proofs. In
the total absence of supporting evidence we
regard them as a wanton and inexcusable
libel, and think it a simple act of justice to
print Mr. Pinchback's letter in defence Of
his good name.
We have always regretted the defamatory
SCOTS of the democratic press against Mr..
Pinchback founded on his race and his
former pursuits citizen of African de-
scent has as perfect right to hold the Office
Of Senator as any white native or white natu-
rallied citizen. To be sure, Mr.. Pinchback
was once a barber, as Henry Wilson was
once a cobbler and Andrew Johnson was
once tailor; but it is the peculiar boast of
our democratic institutions that they open
the highest career to the humblest individual
if he has sufficient capacity and energy to
surmount the disadvantages of his youth.
Sneers at the former occupation of Mr.. Pinch
back are more illiberal than they would be
in the case of white citizens, because almost
every desirable occupation has been closed
by public prejudice against colored men.
filings against Mr.. Pinchback because he is
mulatto and was once barber are ungen-
erous and despicable.
His claim to seat in the Senate ought to
be decided with sole reference to the valid
ity of his election, and on this ground we
fear that his case is weak If there be not
some great flaw in his title why has he
been for nearly three years an unsuccessful
applicant for admission The Senate, since
he presented his credentials, has had a
republican majority of more than two to
one; so his exclusion cannot be accounted
for by alleging party prejudice. 1t is a
strong Senate of his own party that has kept
him waiting and soliciting for nearly three
years. The whole question turns, or should
turn, on the validity of the Legislature by
which he claims to have been elected. I'm
fortunately for him a committee of the
Senate, composed chiefly of eminent repub-
licans, made an investigation two or three
years ago, and reported, with almost perfect
unanimity, that that Legislature was irreg-
ular and possessed no legal authority. We
have long been of the opinion that their con-
clusion was sustained by the evidence, and,
while reprobating the unjust personal abuse
which has been vomited against Mr.. Pinch
back, we are persuaded that he has no valid
title to the seat which he claims