The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-01-24
ALEXANDRIA, La. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY "A,
! NO. 90.

| ohNtSA WV SOASlibuGkOA vi Ul3C ~ ulUSN
States, and Of the amendments there
to, and the Constitution of Louisi-
ana and the laws Hereunder; that I
recognize that it would be my boun-
den duty to carry out faithfully and
impartially the amendments to the
Constitution, as well as the original
Constitution itself; that I recognize
that all citizens, whether they DO
white or colored, should be equally
entitled to the benefits and protec-
ton of the law; that | was utterly
opposed to class Legislation. Any
attempt to legislate so as to deprive
the colored people of any of their
rights under the Constitution of the
| United States and its amendments.
would meet with my most deter
mined opposition.
AS Governor, | make these same
declarations:
| will use my utmost endeayors as
Governor, and with all the influence
at my command as such, to promote
the educational and material inter-
ests of the colored people, precisely
to the same extent that I will those
of the white people.
1t will be my constant aim to pro-
mote kindness, sympathy, confidence
and justice between the two races in
the State. F. I. NICHOLS.
PINCHGAcK's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of
the Senate Of the State ofLouisiana:
| am not unmindful of the response
bility of the action of myself and the
gentlemen who entered your body
to-day, and | beg to assure you, and
to assure the good people of Louisi-
ana, white and black, that we have
not acted precipitately. We have
carefully measured all the ground;
we have, after mature and deliberate
consideration, made up our minds
that this was the right thing to do,
and we have done it, (applause) and
like old Richard the Third we have
"cast the die and intend to stand the
hazard" You all know me; nearly
every man in the State of Louisiana
knows me. In every corner of this
broad State am known to this peo-
ple-white and black-and all of YOU
know that l am Republican, and 1
appear here in yours-a Democratic
senate--as Republican. Car
plause.) [ place my party very
high, and believe that party obi
CATION is sacred obligation, but I
believe that the interests of the
State and the welfare of the people
are above party. I am familiar with
the workings of the Republican par
ty OF Louisiana from its Inaugural
ton down to this date, and I saw,
without hesitation, that for corrup-
ton and venality, for dishonesty, il
has not its equal anywhere on the
face of Gods earth. applause.
say here, and | will prove it to the
people Of Louisiana and of the Uni
ted States, that from head to foot,
from centre to circumference, there
is not an honest drop of blood in it.
And | say, as a supporter of Ruther-
} ford B. Hayes, Republican candidate
for the Presidency of the United
States, that if he be inaugurated on
the 4th of March next be cannot af-
| ford to soil his National Administra-
ton with this blight upon the Ame-
Q rican people. l told his confreres; I
told his chiefs and his confidants.
that could not afford to stump the
e State of Louisiana for the Republican
ticket. told them that I would
; stump it for him, but to stultify my
J. self; to demean myself SO far as to
throw my cap in the air, to shout fol
# the head of the ticket, was an impos.
sibility. Icould not do it. And ]
may honestly and frankly tell you
gentlemen, that possibly had I not
seen premeditated purpose to con
J. tinue the regime ofold, might have
helped this thing to do it's fullest
and lent myself and my assistance t.
the Republican party of this State
) For / tell you that l dislike yer,
i much to take issue with my party
k and to be the instrument, as itseem
y | am destined to be, Of its overtime,
If here. But when ! saw in the presen
lie pretended Senate of the St. Loui
l. Hotel, and in the pretended House {
ID Representatives, two monster ring
,e demanding prices for every vote,
in said this thing is too corrupt for N
I'd to stand by it longer. tell you ths