The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-03-08
,Sed
There
Il, though

1t, c0nEuenL OF Tile ihVOT
4onlcd it; and in that confidence,
s.na9 placed, obtained an order from the
Court refusing to allow the evidence to be re-
duced to writing, as is usual in jury trials, and
took no exceptions or had no reason to take
any for an appeal. Bell and his counsel felt
secure Of victory. The case was fully argued.
Hufty %triumphed. The jury was well com
posed. No honorable man has dared to i'm
peach its integrity.
The address Of the Legislature refers to the
conduct of the Commissioners of Elections, and
to the destruction of votes after the closing Of
the polls. These matters were fully considered
by the jury with the parties to the suit before
them, and after hearing evidence and argument.
Mr.. Hufty has not been called before either
House Of the Legislature. He has had no OPP
portunity of defending his right to the Office
and Of viudicating his good name His right
to ~oflice--a valuable right-has been taken
away from him without a trial.
His removal, under these circumstances, is
in the nature of an attainder. 1t is unjust and
unprecedented, and is not warranted by any
purpose for which the power of removal was
vested in the Legislature by the Constitution.
The trainers Of the Constitution never i'll
tended that the Legislature should set aside
practically the Judgment Of q court in q case
properly Submitted to it--and without sum-
moning a public officer before t~lem--without
hearing evidence or argument in relation to
any charges alledged against him. The power
was intended for cases wherein q party could
not be, OR at least had not been, made anlena-
bic to law. In providing u law for the trial of
a contested election, the Legislature transfers
that matter to the jurisdiction of a court. The
| nyriIapaA Hc,,h,y,,ttaI IN tln s,,,,, bo, ,,a+ hno,
placed before the Legislature. 1t was not
taken down in consequence Of the opposition OF
Mr.. Bells counsel, as has been already stated,
1t was unjust, therefore, even if the Legislature
had a right to act, to assume that the evidence
did not support the verdict.
The address speaks of 1900 votes as destroy
cd, and says that the whole population Of New
Orleans bears testimony to the fact.
The American Party, while denouncing and
rcprobating all violence and illegal conduct,
deem it proper to say that the whole popula-
tion does not bear any such testimony. That
party were content 10 leave the matter to the
decision Of the Jury 10 which it properly be-
longcd.
The action d, the Legislature is Il bad pre-
cedent. In times of patty excitement, it viii
lead 10 injustice and oppression.
The address was passed manitestly at the in,
s~tigation of the Governor, and it must be re.
gardca as a party act to punish en- enemy end
reward q friend.
The nomination Of Mr.. Bell aggrayutes the
injustice Of the removal. The citizens Of New
Orleans huyo not forgotten that Mr.. Bell
many years ago, while enjoying an ofice o
profit under tAe General Government, retained
through party support Il seat Ill the STATE
Senate for the purpose of voting in violation
Vt the Constitution Rt II [. :. Senator,
2 The American Party perceive in the proiec