The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-02-01

| The telegram informed 1ayS ago OF the de-
| fectOn in the Republican or Packard Senate of
| Louisiana which resulted in the bolt of Pinch
| back with some of the ablest of his associates,
| and their alliance with the Nichols or Demo-
| cratic Legislature. The New Orleans Journals
| that have since come to hand contain full details
of the proceedings, which are of surprising in
| terest ut this time. Before taking the final step
| to desert the corrupt cabal with which they
were identified, Senator's Demas and Wheeler.
| colored, wrote to Governor Nichols, asking for
| his views with reference to the colored race, to
| which he made fair and candid reply. He
| said that he "recouuized each and every ob-
| CATION of the Constitution of the United States
| and the amendments thereto, and the consttu-
| ton and laws of Louisiana hereunder. All
! citizens whether white or colored should be
equally under the protection and benefits OF
| the law" and he pledged his 'utmost endea-
vors as Governor to promote the educational
| and material interests Of the colored race pre-
| csely TO the same extent that he would for the
White peonle:' and he concluded with the de-.
| claration that sit would be his constant aim to
| promote kindness, sympathy, confidence and
| fustiee between the two races in the State
| With such assurances the colored Senators
| went out of the pretended Senate Chamber OF
| the Garnet baQqers and Joined the ranks of the
| rpal Senate of Louisiana, where they were cor
dialIy welcomed Senator Pinchback led the
| way in statement of the reasons that had in
| fueuced his action and that of his colleagues.
| He said 81 am n Republican, and appear here
| In Democratic senate, as hepuDuCtIl.
7 nlnra the obIioations of party very high but
believe the interests of the State and the wei
fare of the people are above party, and SAY
without hesitation that for corruption, venality
| and dishonesty the Republican party of Louisi-
ana has no e0lal on the face of Gods earth"
Mr. PinchbacE then charged that the pretend
! ed Senate and House of the Packard Govern
lnent were two monster "rings," demanding
prices for every vote and DENYING the passage
of every bill without a bribe; and that in the
a. i I,,-
Louis j. Souer, who distributed TO the mem
bers of that Legislature $3.50 for every vote
given to kellogg for United States Senator TO-
the long term" Mr. Pnchback concluded
with the expression of his belief that ''if the
pledges made by Governor Nichols and Lieu
tenant Governor Wiltz were carried out, as he
trusted they would be, that there would come
an era of peace and prosperity among the com
mon people of the State, such as they had never
seen before
Senator BreauX followed in remarks of the
same purport. He had" he said, ''come into
the Democratic Senate because he sincerely be-
lieved that the interests of all classes and races
would be best subserved by the firm establish
ment of the Democratic government because il
more truly represented the will and the sent
ments of the people. The returns of the votes
actually cast too had shown him cOncluSvey
the election of Governor Nichols and a conser
vative majority in both branches of the General
Assembly," Referring to what had tfunspired
session, Mr.. BreauX said "he had the mortilicu-
ton of sitting helpless in his seat, Il witness TO
the cnactng of spoliatorv statutes more COM
mensurate with the doingS of the semi-burha-
rans of the MeXicans States than Of those Ot
Legislature Of what was once one Of the proud
est CommonWealths in the American Mon.
In conclusion. the Senator said that he cOnSid-
cred it mot Utopan to declare, that with the
recognition of the Nichols administration they
would see the Pelican State regain her pristine
prosperity, with good will and confidence reign
ing supreme"
Senator Dema>, another colOred senator, re-
marked that he had come over in the interest
OF his people to aid in reducing taxation, that
prosperitv NAV come" Referring to the ear
pet-baggers, the Senator said ''that they were
the first to strike down any colored man who
did not obey their olders, and that the cOlOred
men had gained nothing bv their association
with those men. In conclusion, he said 1.-THE
time had come when the colorea man would
act in harmony with the white man, and that
he, for one, would act impartlally ON any mel>
ure Denettting the people, without regard 10
party"
Senator Hamlet, another of the colored Senu-
tors also addressed the Senate in similar
strain. He SAID he did not become candi-
date for State Senator for money, but to help
his people When he went into the Republi-
can Senate he found in it rings, combinations
and secret societies, the objects of which were
to defeat the interest of the black men in the
State. Il stand here to say said he, ION be-
half of the colored people of my district that
they have in Il great many instances, been be-
guiied by false leaders; they have been led into
false positions by the party that is to-day deep
er in corruption, stronger in opposition to them
as n race shan ANYTHING else in existence in this
world" In conclusion, he said to the Demo
cratic Senators "lf YOU continue uS yOu have
done in the last three days, IS and the neNt
general election Will tiud no two parties in thi-
State"
Mr. j. Y. kennedy Il white representative
who deserted the Packard Republican House
and went over to the Democrats, also relieved
his mind by saving that he was nominated in
Jefferson Parish rs an independent Repubi
can, and was supported by both parties with
out A single vote against him. He himself La
voted for HAYES and Wheeler: he knew thai Il
majority OF the votes in the parish We're for