The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-12-04
Frenzy and Audacity.
From the New Orleans Times.

[From the New Orleans Times.
! The attempt of Gen. Mower to force BY
the power of the bayonet into Offices Of the
highest trust and Importance in the state
and city, persons who are utter strangers TO
our people, who are incompetent and un-
worthy on all the personal grounds which
have heretofore been regarded by all par
ties as essential in the requirements OF
these officers, is one Of the most audaclous,
shameless and insolent abuses OF power
which the history Of the civilized world
exhibits, not excepting that even OF the
last five years in this country.
The plea of insanity, Of delirlum, Is the
only one upon which, as in cases OF desper-
ate hamicides, the defenders Of this officer
can make show Of palliation for his con-
duct. Certainly the pretext OF aiding the
administration Of the Reconstruction law,
and removing "impediments thereto, is
known to every honest man in the commu-
nity to be utterly unfounded. The persons
removed on this allegation are known to
have earnestly and actively supported re-
construction, and it has not been in their
mower, nor ever was it their will or intent
to obstruct that measure. Far more than
Gen. Mower and the miserable gang, who
have hung at his heels, and bounded him }!
in his nefarious course, have the so-called
"impediments labored to promote the
honest and efficient administration OF the
Acts of Congress. :,
We dismiss this pretext, therefore, with
the scornful contempt due to so hypocrltl-
cal an accusation. As for the plea OF in
sanity, we can only say that if there be any
grounds therefor, they are such as the law
regards rather as an aggravation than o
palliation of the offence. The man who
murders another, or breaks into a house,
can hardly escape punishment for his
offense on the plea Of the maddening ma
ture of the stimulant he has imbibed. His
criminality only began when he yielded to
the vile appetite for such stimulants. The
crime of trampling upon the rights and in.
terests Of this community of interfering
with the administration Of justice and the
laws; of devastating and endangering the
funds and property of honest citizens, BY
placing them in the hands and at the dis
posal Of characterless adventurers, corrupt
schemers, convicted -plunderers and des
pelate mendicants-without checks, guar
antees, responsibility or security-is scarce
" less serious than those named, and quite
as indefensible on the plea of frenzied de
lirium. H tf
Two of the most important officers con
|nected with the administration of justics
| in this city are the Sheriff and Clerk OF thu
tSecond District Court.
These offices have been filed by vel
known gentlemen, who have long resided
in this community, who have proved trust
worthy in all their relations, and who OF
their induction into Office gave large secu
rity for the faithful discharge Of their du
ties and the prompt return of the larg'
amount Of property and money which
passes through their hands.
The Sheriff is especially an officer who
necessarily the depository Of an immens
amount Of property belonging to citizens
to widows, minors and insane persons
whose effects are administered by the courts
: He is made personally responsible for th
safe.keeping Of this property Of the Cit
zens, and, to secure his faithful Performance
of this obligation, he gives q large security
. which the statutes have required to be Q
the most solvent and real character, and t
] be subjected to a thorough and formal sifl
ing and investigation before it is accepted
So, too, the Second District court, whic
has exclusive control over SUGGESTIONS, til
3 property of deceased persons, Of widow
and minors. The clerk thereof is the d.
postary Of most valuable papers and
; funds, subject to litigation and awaitin
distribution-to secure the faithful presel
e walton of which, this officer too is require
t to give good and solvent security. Th
; incumbents removed by General Move
promptly complied with the law, and the
securities are Of the most certain and III
: improbable character. Their sureties al
4 men whose aggregate property exceeds tie
= times the amount of their bonds. No
. General Mower proposes to fill these of
0 ces by two strangers and new corners, on
: Of whom has the modesty to demand POI
: session Of the Office without giving any g
curity, and the other files bond signed b
two persons, whose means, if they ha'
: any, are utterly invisible to the naked ey
:. certainly beyond the ken and reach
4 their creditors. A timorous and tim
), serving judge hopes to propitiate favor an
ward off his own decapitation9 by bis ven
: acceptance of these bonds, in fraud Of Il
f rights and interests Of the helpless Poop
. who have been placed under his care an
jurisdiction, and in violation Of the law
9 It is some small consolation to know TIL
n in regard to the first attempt q court h
: been found firm enough to resist it; b.
i whether the expedient Of the new appoi
: tee Of the Clerkship Of the Second Distri
= Court may not be found available to q
complish the end sought to be attained
q the new Sheriff, remains yet to be seen.