The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-04

fixed bayonets, and the officer of the
guard, came marching into the room.
Yerger was hand-cuffed and manacled,
but the chain was long enough to per-
nit tolerable stride. Yerger came Of,
bolt upright, clanking his chain per-
fectly nnabashed, rieithef broken nor
bent. | caught his eye, at least /
have no doubt of it, but lie dcigned no
recognition. His hand-cuAfs were re-
moved as soon as he came into Court.
No sane man, unless hardened in crime
which Yerger is not, could bear up un-
der this ordeal as this man does.
Colonel Yerger is fortunate in his
counsel. The most striking circum-
stances in the courtroom, next to
seeing a civilian and an old friend
tried by United States officers in bull
lion cpau]ettes, was the array Of coun-
sci. Mississippi might be searched in
vain to match William Yerger, Harris,
Simral, Anderson, and Marshall as
lawyers. They are the pride and the
flower of the State. And how admira-
bly,, how patiently, how, thoroughly
they are managing the case! All that
ability and means can do is being done
for Yerger, and, let me say, in the in
terests of law and justice. BE- da41is
The Commission are apparently off,
GERS of intelligence. Whatever their
prejudices may be, they look like men
quite able to decide, even in an unus-
ual case like this, with justice and
Judgment. The President of the Com
mission, Gen.. Swift, a medical officer,
l judge, by his green sash, ard proba-
bly, selected for this reason-is q man
of imposing appearance, and judging
by a few words I herd from him in call
ing the Commission to order, is a per-
son Of culture and ability. -
The two Judge Advocates who rep
resent the Government in the prosecu-
ton, showed no lack of zeal in endeav-
oring toiaccount for all of poor Yerger's
crazy tricks on the ground of intoxica-
ton and deliriMDs tremeas. Those who
know Yerger would never attempt the
solution Of the problem in this Way
It is not your hard drinker who, for
instance, delivers speech in New Or
leans, and is SO overpleased with his
exploits that nothing short Of present.
ing himself with a carriage, on behalf
of his admirers, will satisfy him.
But enough. Poor Yerger should
never have been, allowed to commit
this deed. His friends are to blame
that he should have been allowed to be
habitually armed. Justice will not
permit him to be hanged, but for the
rest of his life, he should be confined.
My gossip would be incomplete were
I to omit saying that Colonel Yerger is
not type of a Southern man, and is
very far from being dear to Southern
hearts. When consumption was the
law of our necessity. Colonel Yerger
forsook his friends, sought sheltar at
the Federal headquarters at Vicksburg,
and betrayed cowardice and disloyalty
to his section by telling all he knew OF
could learn of the Confederate move
ments. rl n
But enough. We like the Cincinnati
Commercial down here, because ii
gives us reliable news. We don'i
always like your opinions, but we dc
like yonr enterprise and honesty. 4,
When we get more labor settled in
our State-it matters not much whetbe,
it is black, white or. copper-colored-
and when our State capitals removed
as it will be, to a more eligible and adj
vantageous position, you may expec'
to hear, of the increasing prosperity
and growing Importance OF ~ ~.
| VICKSBURG.