New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-22
ArTTrpT n TTrDlfB i WIT1Esa

ATTEMPT TO UTuDA1B 4 WlIhEsH'
The persistent attempt to bully and in
timidate Captain Meyers, by the attorneys
and apologists of the Baton Rouge rioters,
is a sign of weakness. There is, obvi-
ously, no other or better line Of defense.
If there were, it would probably be
adopted. His testimony is direct and
positive. His character and bearing
tower so far above his enemies that he is
unassailable by ordinary means. No
other resort is left but to hector and bully
the gallant officer into some expression
that can be tortured into an exhibition of
temper. The plain English Of Captain
Meyers testimony is that certain mis-
creants engaged in riot in Baton Rouge,
on the night Of election day. They at
tackled, and shot down in cold blood, un::
armed colored men. They endeavored to
lull the guardians Of the peace
into security by falsely representing
that all was orderly and quiet, even
while thA work of death was
in progress. They were detected in
all their schemes. The participators
in the riot were taken with arms in their
hands. They even went so far as to show
signs of hostility 70 the troops sent to
quell the disturbance. Officers wearing
the uniform Of the United States were shot
at, and their lives and the lives of the men
under their command endangered by the
rebellious mob. Captain Meyers says he
was unable to take the obviously necessary
steps to teach these lawless men salutary
lesson, because there were women and
children standing just behind them. So
he arrested them, with their pistols yet
hot from recent use, and brought them
before the civil authorities He gives his
testimony against the offenders in a
straightforward manner, narrating each
circumstance succinctly, and with fearful
effect-fearful from its graphic accuracy.
The counsel for the prisoners, in spirit
of zeal for his clients, and perhaps with
view to manufacture Confederate capital,
adroitly endeavors to put the witness on
the defensive, and asks him, in open court,
if he is responsible for what he says"
This was an unprofessional question.
A witness under oath, or an officer
of the United States army, answering
upon his honor, can not be held response
BILE for the effect of his words. He is
summoned by the sovereign power to tell
the truth. He is not volunteer witness.
He is merely asked to tell what he knows,
and he must do SO, and let the conse-
quences take care of themselves. If wit
nesses are to be threatened with assassin
alton, or required to answer personally to
counsel for their words on the stand, un-
der oath, there is every reason to suppose
that Justice will be cheated. If the wit
ness happens to be timid man, he will
be afraid to tell the truth, for fear of per-
sonal consequences.
1t makes little difference as to the guilt
Of the prisoners whether Captain Meyers
is willing or not to maintain against all
corners the truth of his words. But it
makes wonderful difference to the State
whether or not he is to be grossly insulted
while on the witness stand. He happens
to be brave man, without fear and with
out reproach; but if he has to pass the Or
deal Of fire for simply telling the truth,
the next witness, who may be more timid,
will be likely to conceal what he knows to
avoid the danger of personal violence.
Captain Meyers is abundantly able to
take care Of himself. He is ready to
meet the enemy in q court of justice or on
the "feld of honor" as at barricade
with women and children behind them to
protect them from the bullets of his COM
mand. But it is not for such a brave
man as Captain Meyers that we make this
protest The next man may not be made
of such material. He may be we'll dis
posed to tell the truth, but afraid to do
SO, for fear of the consequences.
We can not see that there is anything
in the case thus far that requires Captain
Meyers and Major New to go out and try
to kill each other. No intelligent man
can fail to believe the testimony of the
witness. And We all admit the right Of
the lawyer to save his clients if possible.
But he should refrain from resorting to
intimidation or anything that is calcu-
lated to alarm men possessed of less nerve
than Captain Meyers. If it comes to a
fair issue between outlawry, rioting, muir
der and rebellion on one side, and loyalty,
preservation Of the peace and protection
to life on the other, the result will not be
doubtful. The laws must be enforced.
Peace must be maintained at all
hazards, and all manner Of rioters and
disturbers of public tranquility punished.
We protest against the attempt to make
Captain Meyers bear the brunt Of the
quarrel. 1t is really no affair Of his. He
is the officer of our government
and a material witness. He must
not be put out of the way in any man
ner, either by private assassination or by
the equally odious and brutal mode pre-
scribed by the code. There is no life on
the side arrayed against the government
that can be esteemed equal to his. If a
victim is wanted, perhaps some one may
be found who knows less about the MUIR
der of Williams and LOficiel than Cap
%o;,, Mo,,orc JOac If tho two narfiaC ora