The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-03-26

X s
I ment Of case, acted ID manner that mgI
/ with great propriety be initiated b. every con-
i throughout the land. When the attorney gar
lnotiee Of his intention to file an affidavit, Sc
i ting forth that he was not ready for trial, Q
& account Of the absence Of an important witness
u who was 70 prove certain points, the Judge u
!, Piled that he did not want an affidavit in th
{ usual form Of the accused expects and Be
i lieves" to prove BY the said witness eertai
= things, but 9 positive oath that he will PROV
By the absent witness the points alleged. Th
i counsel objected that such an oath might pu
4 his client in position to be punished for PERU
J r., to which the court very briefly replied
fF"that is precisely the position in which wis
I, to put him, il he sWears falsely to an applica
ton for postponement' The affidavit was nc
made, and the motion for postponement was re
fused; the judge declaring that in most case
! such motions we're frivolous prete1ts, mad
with a view e retard justice, that their frequen
1 ey had become public nuisance, and it wa
time something was done TO abate it. A It'll
of the common sense displayed by judge Ca
pron would have most beneficial influence il
i freeing our courts from the numerous motion
for the pos,ponement Of criminal cases, b,
which the business Of the courts is greatly re
tarded, the expense of the judiciary largely in
creased. and justice ultimately eluded Any
one conyersant with the proceedings Of erimi
nal courts at the south can hardly have failee
to discover that majority of criminals are per
mitted to escape unframed, and that in many
instances motions made for the postponemen
OF trials on account Of the absence of witnesses
| BIZ whom the accused expects and believes
be will be able tosubstantiate certain facts and
prove his innocence. arelegal subterfuges taken
advantage otto gain time. In many instances
the wanted witness has no known habitation,
and frequently he is purposely kept out of the
way Of the sheriff. Judge Capron's plan affords
a remedy for the cure ofthe evil, and we hope
that his rule will be generally adopted.
The Frankfort Commonwealth makes brief
but authentic reference to the leading events in
the political life ofmajor Andrew Jackson Dom
elson, the American candidate for the vice
presidency. Perhaps, with the single excep-
ton Of Millard Fillmore. there is not in all the
nation man that has Withstood such powerful
influences in proving his truth and devotion to
our glorious Union as Mr.. Donelson He bat
tied for the Union against the masses of his
own party in Tennessee when such a course
seemed to involve his political ruin:
Mr. Donelson was nephew of general Jack
sons wife. He was named for the general, and
was brought up IN his family. When general
made Mr.. Donelson his private secretary.
In 1844-'5 Mr.. Donelson was minister to the
republic Of Texas, and through him the nego-
tiations and communications which resulted in
the annexation Of Texas TO The United States
were carried on. While yet in Texas he was
appointed BIZ president Polk in 1845 minister
to Prussia-an Office which he held until near
the close Of Polk 5 administration. While min
ister 10 Prussia. he was BY president Polk, in
1s4S, appointed minister to the federal gov
eminent Of Germany, or German confederation.
and fer a time he discharged the dulles of both
offices. In the beginning of 1849 president
Polk transferred him entirely to the mission in
Germany. Upon the incoming of gen. TAYLOR
administration March, 1a49) Mr.. Donelson,
although democrat, was not Immediately SUI
perseded, but continued as minister to Germa-
ny until the mission itself was abolished In
1882 81, when the secessionists and disunion-
lists of the south exhibited their mad spirit and
dangerous designs at the Nashville convention,
Mr.. Donelson headed the Union and compro-
mise section of his party in Tennessee; and by
his aid and the aid Of many other patriots. this
dangerous political heresy was efeelually crush
ed ont in Tennessee.
When Mr.. Ritchie-the great Nestor of the
democratic party-retired from the editorship
Of the Washington Union, the party selected
Mr.. Donelson as his successor. He discharg-
ed the duties Of the position well and efficient
", and to the satisfaction Of lis party, until tile
secession and freesoil appointments of president
Pierce made it impossible for him TO render the
administration hearty support. He then re-
tired to private life. When the American par
ty arose he recognised in it the means of rescu-
ing his country from the dangers of foreignism
and sectional broils which threatened it, and he
at once gave his heart and soul to the good
cause. He has already done frequent and
great service in behalf Of its noble principles,
and well deserves its honors.
Az HosEsT AcKNoWLEDGMEsT.-The New
York News, national democrat, and special
organ Of the hon. D. S. Dickinson, lays the
election Of Banks at the doors of the admins
tration and the administration managers. It.
SAYS it has looked on the event as certain ever
since the election Of Nicholson as senate prin-
Ter. The latter having been chosen, the 4'kitch
en- cabinet" became additionally DESTROYS to-
have the house organized speeia1ly as an or
ganization was needful in order to pay even
printing bills. Hence the withdrawal Of Mr.
Orr, the taking down the platform upon which
lie and Mr. Richardson had stood. and the es
Enlistment By the aid ofeight administration
votes, Of the plurality rule. The News refers
to the bargaining and intrigue between the al
ministation supporters and the black repubii
cans in New Y ork, BY which soft speaker and
abolition officers were elected, and adds that
unless the signs deceive US greatly, the coall
ton -mongering re have witnessed in Albany
has had aptimitation in the capitol at Washing
ion. The administration managers and the
black republican leaders are just the kind offel
sorecd