New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-07
THB RLEoTIoN or aRNAToRs.


The REPUBLICAN expresses no individual
preference for candidate for either of the
positions of United States Senator, which
the Legislature will be called upon to fill
on Tuesday. But we, in common with
every well-wisher in the State, which, as
we hope, includes every member of our
party, and certainly many who call them
selves Democrats, have decided preferences
for the style of men to be chosen and the
manner in which they are to be selected.
Leaving out of the discussion, at present,
any consideration of the long term can
didate, we intend to offer few hints to
the Legislature about the selection of a
suitable man for the short term.
1t will be the privilege and the duty of
this gentleman, Immediately after his
election, to proceed to Washington and
ask for admission. He will there meet
with determined opposition, and may be
required to employ counsel to argue his
case before the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. In that case he will incur
legitimate expenses enough without being
required to act a generous part by his
friends at home. We suppose that upon
his admission or rejection for any cause
by the Senate will depend the question
of our own State government. If this
Senator for the short term be received by
the Senate, it will settle the status of
the Legislature which sends him. But
if he be denied admission, either
because of his personal unftness, or be-
cause he has bought his election, our
local Democrats will be encouraged by
this rebuke at the hands of our friends in
Washington to double their exertions
here. 1t is not only possible, but, in
our judgment, quite probable, that if our
short term Senator elect be rejected,
there will be an end of Republican gov
eminent in this State; the Legislature
will be dispersed, without pay; the DEM
ocratic dynasty set up, and the whole
fabric of liberty, free public schools,
civil rights and colored suffrage be swept
away in this State as completely as it has
been in Georgia or Texas.
To provide as far as possible, then,
against such disasters, it becomes the
duty of the Legislature to exercise more
than ordinary care in selecting Senators,
especially the one for the short term. He
should be man of unexcepionable pri-
vate character. One whose reputation
would at once dissipate any suspicion that
he had employed bribery or any other
improper means to obtain the place. In
telligence and ability to apply the
knowledge are no less necessary than good
character. A dullerd who could not
present his case properly would be as
much out of place in this business as
VIGOROUSLY corrupt man, who would
be compelled to make damaging con-
fessions if questioned closely. We have a
number of standing candidates for Sem
ator, who have heretofore fortunately
failed to succeed, bat have not yet learned
that back seats are made to be occupied
in politics as well as in churches. Against
nearly all of these the Democracy could
bring damaging charges, and, what is
worse, prove them too, which would de-
feat their admission to the Senate if they
went to Washington with title as IN.
doubted as ever presented by Calhoun OF
Benton, who once VIGOROUSLY owned
their respective States. We do moi
wish to see the success of a whole party
or the interests of this great State i'm
periled by such mistake as the selection
of the wrong man, and in wrongful
manner would be. There is little doubt
that if some gentleman of ability and
character be sent as our ambassador on
this occasion, there will be an end put tc
our greater political differences at once
and comparative peace ensue for at leas
four years. It depends, therefore, upor
the Legislature either to vote its own dis
solution or more firmly establish its aU
thority.