The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-04-15

commissioners sent down by both par
ties to participate in the count, l am
not going to give history of the re-
turning board of 1876. | am not going
to recount the episode of Eliza Pink
ston; i am not going to bring to the
witness stand Mrs. Agnes jerks. l
am not going to bring up the ignoble
instruments in the fraud which was
there attempted to be perpetrated; by
which the vote of Louisiana was again
to be stolen from her people under the
same auspices, and Republican gov
ernor and Republican Legislature
again installed where the people had
given Democratic majority.
The honorable Senator processes to
have come to the Senate as the result
of that election, and he has remained
in his seat, | care not to inquire from
what cause. Irose day not to discuss
this question over again. | said moth
ing against the Senator or the mode or
manner of his election. | rose simply
to discaim for myself and for other
senators; on this floor, thatjt was owing
to on: magnanimity or our constitu-
tional scruples, that he occupied his
place in this Senate. He was elected
by no legislature at all. Did we not
sit here for two years while this mat
ter was under consideration, and has II
senator risen on that side of the cham
ber to Vindicate his election: Has a
senator risen to contend that the legis-
lature which elected him was the pro.
per and legitimate legislature of Louis
lana: He was elected, aS the world
knows, as every senator on this floor
knows, by Il mere mob, an unorSaniz-
ed body having no more right to elect
and send senator here than any
assemblage of persons gathered in a
county meeting or political caucus.
He is here, and now that he finds
himself here in safety, now that the
Senate is equally divided, with pos
sible Republican majority, he rises for
the first time and waves the bloody
shirt and introduces this class of poll
teal discussion, which he sayShe trusts
he will never hear of again. He can
vilify his people; he can slander the
people whom he prbfesses to represent;
he can accuse them of assassination, OF
violence, of bloodshed, of disfranc
ing the voter at the polls, of making
fraudulent returns of the election, but
he trusts this will be the last time he
will ever hear in this chamber Of sucf
accusations. Does he expect them t.
meet With no reply?
He tells us, Mr.. President, that i,
these charges which he makes agains
a brave people that he pretends to re
| present he is justified and backed h,
the best people in our community, tn
planter, the merchant, the taxpayer
1t is needless for me to answer thi
assertion. The people of Louisian:
have sent two distinguished gentlemen
here claiming his seat. In all tn,
| length and breadth of the State there il
no man, not even | believe belonging
to othe'Republican party, who conscien
tiously believes that my colleague wa:
ever elected or has any right to a sea
on this floor. The man cannot bt
named, the planter or merchant o.
capitalist or man of honor or man o
character in Louisiana, who consider
that the gentleman sits upon this tiool
as fair representative of the people o.
who desires that he shall be maintain
eel in his usurpcd prerogative.