Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-21
WASHINGTON, May s. 1868.
His Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States ffrrlrr t.rH ft.H


WASHINGTON, May s. 1868.
| His Excellency Andrew Johnson, President Of
the United States 80 .lTc ~ aa1
SIR. We are just in receipt of a COM
munication from Gen. James Fl. Clanton,
of Montgomery, Ala, Chairman of the
State Central Conservative Committee,
and of counsel for Ryland Randolph, in
prissn by military authority, with denial
| of bail and civil trial General Canton
urges US to seek your interposition in
behalf of justice in this case, the circum-
stances of which are detailed in the news
paper slip which accompanies his letter,
and which we have the honor to transmit
with this note
The offense of Mr.. Randolph is, at
most, assault and battery, cognzable by
the civil tribunals, and coming under that
clause Of offenses which, in published or
ders, Gen. Meade has declared should not
be interfered with, unless it should appear
that the State courts would not or could
not act or unless, in the Judgment of
the District Commander himself, " the
preservation Of order and the good Of the
people should justify his interposition."
In the case of Randolph, those con-
ditions do not exist, for at the moment
of military Intervention he had been ac-
tnally arrested, and was under bond of
$500 to appear and answer before the
State court.
In this case, too, writ Of hsbeas cor
pus had been sued out and granted by
Judge Busted, of the United States
District Court for the State of Alabama,
which General Meade has refused to
obey. This we learn by telegraph, But
the following correspondence authentic
and official: b
MONTGOMERY. April 30. 1868.
Major General Meade. Atlanta. Ca:
Judge Busted has granted writ of
.hdbeds corpus in Ryland Randolph's
case, returnabls the 9th of May at this
place. Please stop the trial by military
commission, which will commence at
Selma tomorrow. -r
JAS. II. CLAXroN, Counsel.
ATLANTA, Ga, May !, 1858.
To James II. Clanton:
To Commanding General declines to
grant the request in your telegraph of
yesterday.
r. G. DRUM, A. A. g.
This, Mr.. President, is one of a class
of cases which is filing our jails with
citizens as military prisoners for com
mon demonstrating in themselves, or
for no offenses at all, upon charges
trumped up BY white and black partisan
malice. You will perceive how severely
disregard Of the legal right of the citizen
by those in military authority, like this,
tries the patience of people who are
practicing every human fsrbearance un-
der great wrongs and provocation, IN the
trust that their fellow citizens of the
United States will, through the peaceful
agency of political action, some day re-
lieve them from them.
There is great danger that disregard
Of law to suppress the violations of law,
will provoke scenes to excite the regret
Of every friend Of order and lover of
peace. =.
We submit the case to you and ask il
General Meade ought not, and cannot be
required to respect writ Of habeas cor
pus issued by court Of the United
States. As the military trial is in pro-
gress, we respectfully submit that IL your
Excellency can and will do anything 10
behalf of the liberty of the citizen, that
time presses, aud TO be efectual, the &C
ton should be, prompt
We have the honor to be, very re-
specially, your obedient servants,
TSiRned JOHx FORSYTHK,
LEWIS T.. PARSONS.