The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-20
Opinion of Judge Yerser.
JACKSON, Miss, June 9, 1868.

GEN. JOHN d. FREEMAN,
Dear ir:-In reply to your question of
this date, / state that by the common law
a conspiracy is defined to be any comblna-
tion, confederacy or league of two or more
persons for a corrupt and illegal purpose or
for effecting lawful purpose by the use OF
unlawful means All confederacies or
LEAGUES whatever, wrongfully to prejudice
third persons or the public, are highly
criminal at the common law. Consplracles
have always been greatly reprobated, and
every person participating in them is sub
iact to Indictment or information, and on
conviction may be fined or imprisoned, or
both fined and imprisoned. 1t two or more
persons unite together to effect any illegal
purpose it is conspiracy Any league or
combination of two or more persons to OBJ
strnct neryert or defeat the course of public
iustice. to iniure the public health or to Ell
feet any public mischief, is conspiracy
and as such may be indicted
The free exercise of the right to vote, or
of the stelective franchise" as it is called, Is
of the utmost importance to the public On
IL. depends the maintenance OF Tree gov
arnments and the safety of the State. Any
| ot+annt to interfere with its exercise by
faar threats or intimidation of any kind. or
- daceiye and defraud the voter as to his
| RIGHTS and duties, is great publlc wrong
anil cannot be too highly stlgmatlzed or
nunished. And if two or more persons unite
| together in a confederacy or league, for the
| nnTnose of intimidating voters, or by means
IF secret pledges or oaths not prescribed by
low To hind the voters to pursue partlcu-
| 1ar nolicv. to vote for particular party, or
| - srnnort a particular man or class OF men,
| or bv means of bribery, or threats, or lntlm-
| idation of any kind, to prevent the free ex-
i ercise by every one, of the rignt TO Vote'
/ sncb persons and every one of them SO COM
S;n;ng or leaqueing together, are guilty OF
! the crime of conspiracy, and may De lnolc-
ICY hove no personal knowledge of the pur-
/ $50 or objects of the secret political asso-
| ep;at;ons thew call Loyal Leagues.
That they are secret polltlcal assocIatlons @
-pledging their members TO conceal l noih, =
,ba nnblic their objects and purposes
snf;eiantt TO arouse grave doubts IN the minus
of ali right thinking men-of their 10 amy
"a nropriety: and if il be true, as you nave
fao,, IN formed that they bind their members
hv a secret oath, to vote only for tnelr parry
nominees. and. threaten punishment Oh ans
Kind. upon those who break the pleoge.,
= Ia +rne. as You have been informed ina,
+bay are leagued together for the purpose o.
rey Uroy entino a particular class of the eommu-
a,;tr from voting any ticket except such ~
80 be agreed upon by their party-ane
= ~ 70 effect that purpose, they use threat'
J or Intimidation, of any kind, or adopt ans
otbar means to deceive or mislead the vo'sl
otlie 1 ..a,-ant the free exercise of his judg
anu a,ent then they are certainly. IN the hignes
lnSrraa criminal and as such should pe lhuicle'
and everey punished The ballot Sots eo5 freep
not be left too Free The rgns 20 soae aanno asT
w too carefully guarded and every one wn p
pe g6ITS ~ Any SOCIETY OR LEAGUE, 10
the nTsaantine ahaea
fear or SECRET oAThs th fro o. epNercse pasrdf of th
sf deIefIlfs ~ ss,,tfrage is guilty Of HIGH GRIM
lla, inst y the peace and welbeing Of the ssaI a
ga shonld be subjected to the ZEN Allie
9 prescribed by law pas,ectf,,lly.
WILLIAM YERGER-