The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-03
Strange Dolngs In North Louisiana.

From the New Orleans Delta.
In the Shreveport Southwestern, O
the 18th, we find long account of stPaDg'
proceedings in North Louisiana on the
part of the officers having charge of thu
| Freedmen's Bureau.
1t seems that the Grand Jury OF Bos
sier parish, early in September, indicted
negro man for horse stealing. The
negro had fair and impartial trial but
unfortunately for him, the proof that he
was guilty, as charged in the indictment
was so strong, that the jury before which
he was tried, brought in a verdict oi
guilty. &
For his participation in the trial and
conviction of the black horse-thief, the
presiding Judge of the Tenth District
Court-Hon. James l. Weems-was ar
rested by order of Capt. Chas Berry
Provost Marshall of the Freedmen's Blu
reau for the parish of Bossier, on the
charge of having violated paragraph !,
of Circular Nos, issued from Washing
ton by Gen. Howard, Chief Superinten.
dent of the Freedmen, etc.
The Judge was brought to Shreveport
under guard, and the case was inVeSti
gated by Chaplain Callahan, Assistant
Commissioner for that District. The
|
Callahan in full. Had we room we would
publish it at length, as it is a wonderful
unique production. But, for the present,
| at few of the leading points embraced
IN the Commissioners decision, which
govern the whole case. The decision
does not deny that the negro was q
horse thief il does not question the
fact that he had an impartial trial. i'm
which every opportunity TO prove his
Innocence was allowed him : really, all
these importanttpoinrs are yielded and
although the Judge ruled that negro tes
timony might be admitted in the ne.
gro's defence, still it availed him nothing.
nor the cause which he impartially ad-
! judioGted,
The horse thief was negro. and hence
Mr.. CALLAHAN decided that neither Judge
nor jury of Bossier parish could infict
punishment for any crime committed by
him. Had he been q murdea ey, a raw.
isher, burglar or house-burneP, there
would have been, according to this
strange ruling, no redress for the people
of Bossier parish through their judicial
trie1nals. A negro may commit any
crime he please in the district ruled by
Mr.. Callahan, and no power can punish
him except Mr.. Callahan He is the
supreme aFhiteF7iHdge, law, jury, wit
ness, everything,
Mr.. Callahan admits that ''if Judge
Weems were entrusted with the doing
of every act i'm legal process, NO wrong
would be done !; that he was regularly
appointed Judge was not brought in qnes-
tion /: that st every stage of the trial"
the rules of legal practice we're strictly
observed, and much meroiful consid.
eration was shown the prisoner.n a The
perfect formality of the trial i'm all it's
steps" is not denied. Only the iurisdic-
tion of the hourt is disputed.
Commissioner Callahan then goes into
. long constitutional argument, in which
he essays To prove THAI the people Of
Bossier parish have no constitutional
rigts and are entitled to no constitutional
protection We quote There 10, then,
in that parish, ~ in every other part of
Louisiana within the Confeder ate lines,
ne Constellation. no ciU1 Law. They sinned
away their day of grace until no Gos0 10
left Ae'r 5nt the bavOnet Of he negro" "
Thomas Callahan, Assistant HapeF.
intender of Freedmen, etc, will prob
ably be informed by advices from Wash.
ipgton, ere long. thAt he Was not ap.
pointed Tor the purpose of passing upon
great Cons itutionxl questions and tho
Preside ut OF the United States hayinR
decided that thePeoPle Of IOQisi9Oe Do