The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1882-03-10
But the proposed beneficiary OF
this bill at q time when the people

this bill at q time when the people
had placed him at tho head OF the
Army, when they had created the
highest military Office in the land for
him to fill. when they had placed
him in q position full of honor and
full Of cmelumont, which he could
have occupied TO his last days with
tho appreciation and unanimous ap-
proval Of tho whole people-North
and SCuth-thought fit to abdicate
that positi n, and to enter upon the
career of q civilian and politician.
Elected by his people to the highest
offices in tho government, honored
equally with the Father OF his Coun-
:ry, and equally with the best and
greatest in our conntry's history, he
retired from that position only be-
cause the people wero fai,hfu! TO
their traditions, and considered that
his measure OF civic honor had been
filed. have not head that lie has
lost fortune. II so, stand here
ready to assist in voting him pen.
i'm, in voting him money, in voting
him anything which will aid in pay.
ing tie debt which the nation owes
him as O successful commander OF
her army, and probably as such her
savior in her hour Of peril. When
however, he comes hero rs civilian
aud when wo are asked to place him
upon tho retired list OF tho Army, az
reward, not for his military servi'
ces, because VIC rewarded them to
our uttermosL at tho time he was n
soiJ.;,, but 10 reward him as q civil
iuu. I stand here as the representa-
tive OF a people who havo the right
to challenge his acts as q civi'ian,and
to ask in what he has earned their
gratitude ard in what he is entitled
to tl:oir praise or further honor.
Mr.. President, caunot vote Tor
General Grant, because Us President
in 1873, and in 1875, he subvcricd
and destroyed the libertie: OF the
people whom, represent upon this
# .or. I canno. vote for General
Grant because whom lie was Presi
dent in 1873 and tho people OF Louis
iaua were being deprived OF their
constitutional rights and privileges,
aud government foreign to them
and not elected by them was being
Installed over them by his order and
by military force, they sent on to
him committee Of two hundred ol
their best citiz,us, not politicians but
citizens and tax payers, men posses
sing IN interest in tho State ~ the
representatives Of property, aud they
telegraphed to him:
"Please do not take any final ac-
ton in tho recognition of this gov
ernment until we shall have chance
to lay our case before you"
He responded 10 them through his
Attorney General:
"Itis u,e.ess for you to send 200
Of your best citizens; they canuot
he heard; tho case is adjndged; the
Pinchback goyornmcn. II acknowi-
edged, and 1t will bo maintained
Am I 10 vote civic honcrs, nm l to
vote military houors, to the man
who thus set his foot upon the libor.
ties OF my S'a.e9 and was deaf to the
appeal of hcr people TO be heard?
Again, in 1875, when the Lcglsla-
ture of the State Of Louisiana was as.
ecmblcd, and organized, belted Of
ficor, followed by his tayonotS, enter
cd tho legislative chamber OF the
State and unseatcd the Speaker
whom the members had elected, and
dissolved that Legislature, which
had organiz ID. and this was done by
the order and command OF Genl
Grant. Pre-, idout Of tue Nation, and
as such acting Commander-in. Chief
Of the Army. Did this cntitle him to
The regard and support Of my people;
No, Mr.. President; for what he
did in war, all honor; no ono will
accord it to him more cbeerfully than
I: but not for what be did in peace
as civilian, land / consider the bill
before US now to confer reward as o
civilian, and as such he is to be pro-
moted,) I for ono shall never con-
sent by my vote to reward or ap-
prove such victories as ho gained in
Lonisiana over republican institu-
tons and the liberty OF the people.
A prominent Front row merchant