The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-03-02
Mammoth Before the Grand jury,

OF the parish of Orleans to get Gov Warmoth before
it, he made his appearance the 21st, just as the
court was ordering a writ of attachment to issue
against him. What passed in the jury room was, of
course not made public but shortly the jury and Gov
ernor came into court. His Accidency took seat at
the bar, AFTER" says the Bulletin reporter, CORDIALLY
shaking hands with Arnheim then trial for subor.
nation of perjury in the matter of the veteran frauds
and who hour afterwards was found guilty of the
charge"
The Governor had refused to answer the questions
asked by the grand jury in regard to the parties who
had offered brides to himself and the Legislature and
was brought before Judge Abel for decision as to
his right to refuse The Indigo having asked him
the cause of bis objections to answer he replied in
substance that the questions propounded to him we're
intended to prove bribery and corruption the part
of certain persons That there existed no la to pun
ish such offence under the circumstances 1t would
be useless to indct the persons sought to be indicted
for it would be simply continuing the excitement
caused by his revelations, without any beneficial
suit to the State Besides the jury had right in law
to obtain testimony in matters which were unknown
to the law.
Judge Abel reserved his decision until another day.
Gas the matter demanded reflection, and thorough
investigation of the meaning of the law, which conduct
the part of the Judge is severely commented upon
by the Bulletin. This paper has the following the
subject in its issue of the 23d ut from which in
fer that his Honor had not given his decision up to
that date
If the Governor had been honest in his denuncia-
tons of the corruptive appliances brought to bear up
him and the Legislature by citizens of this city, he
would have acted differently than he did when ques-
toned by the grand jury. And if he possessed the
slightest feeling Of gentleman he would have known
that he ought not to insult whole class such bro
kers or bank presidents and then refuse the only salts
faction left to them-of indicating positively and by
name those to whom he referred.
The universal talk the streets is that Gov War
moth has entirely backed down, and that the back
down is due to wholesome fear his part that if he
opens the of specific and positive charges he will
! evoke testimony of the most damaging kind to him
self. 1t is openly said that the Governor afraid
that he knew full well he had been offered brides and
had received them; and that these would be brought
to light if he opened his mouth to those brides which
he had rejected. The feeling of the people is simply
this: that Gov. Warmoth refused a bribo Of
eFed unless more was to be made on the other SIDE
A WORD TO THE FREEDMEN.-A gentleman remarked
to the other day that the freedmen OF this place
had it in contemplation to attempt the organization OF
colored militia In aH kindness we would say to them
that they had -nuch better let that thing alone We
cannot >nceye what possible grievances they have to
| e~.apain Of So far can see they are getting on
as well the whites Their labor commands the most
remunerative prices. They are represented in the
State Legislature by three talented and distinguished
gentlemen-al of whom were honestly beaten at the
election namely, Honorabes Moses Sterrett, Antoine
and last, in point of morals and decency Charles W.
Lowell The freedmen had much better let well
enough alone. If they indulge in the silly dream of
social equality, we tell them as a friend and as one
who has at all times in their slavery or freedom enter
tanned kindly feeling for them, that they are pursu
ing shadow-are being deceived and misled by false
prophets and vain aspirngs. The Radical party have
used them to subserve its own base ends and really
for them than for the OK or the ass upon
their farms. And as they do the and the ass when
the years of profitable seruitude over they will
turn them upon the common to die. This is no idle
assertion, but fact patent to all intelligent white men,
and indeed, to many of the intelligent freedmen
Social equality, we repeat is snare aud delusion 1t
can never, never be. The poems of Mexico though OF
the same lineage and complexion, to great extent,
as those who lord it over them, have been virtually
slaves for centuries and will continue, in all human
probability, unto the end. The position of the
freedmen here is infinitely better than theirs
If they could but read for themselves, they would
learn that in the history Of our Government no party
can remain continuously in power This is so in the
very nature of things. Power inevitably begets cor
ruption, and then the time must come when the people
will arise in their might and hurl from the hiph nIaceQ
the public plunderers who have been fstening upon
their substance That day is inevitably at hand for
the Radical party The hour will surely come when
the Northern themselves will weary and grow
sick of this eternal trampng upon their interests and
their rights; and then the votes of the freedmen will
be poweress to save their false leaders and hollow
hearted friends
We would not have the freedmen for one moment
entertain the idle fear that under any circumstances
they will ever again be reduced to slavery. But we
would have them understand that the day comes when
they must stand or fall upon their own merits Let
them then so deport themselves as to win the friend
ship and secure the kindly Offices of those who must
become the ruling element of the country as surely as
the day follows the night.
We repeat and re-repeat the advice to them to dis.
card all ideas of coored militia, if they have ser
ousy entertained them for such step will result only
in their injury-no possible good can come of it.
-------~a~--
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS IN ARKANSAS. Colonel
Heryey, Of the firm of Hervey, Elstner Warren has
Just returned from trip through Little River and
other counties of Arkansas, and represents the pros
poets of the people as by no means fattering. The
freedmen having drawn during the wear the valna IF