New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-19
I,AWI,ESSNESS,

The many acts of red-handed violence
that have been perpetrated in this State
within the last two years, to say nothing
of what occurred prior to that time, are
sufficient to establish the fact that spirit
of lawlessness is still rampant and defiant
in many of the parishes. If we are ever
to have prosperity again this thing of muir
dering in cold blood, with impunliy, has
got to be stopped. Men from dis
lance will not bring their families to
settle in a State where the law
can not be enforced against men
who band together for the purpose of MUIR
dering and resisting the officers of the law.
1t is safe to say that within the past two
years hundreds of men have been slain III
private or political feuds, and we are not
aware that one solitary individual has yet
been called upon to pay the forfeit OF his
life upon the gallows for having committed
the very grave offense of murder. We are
forced to admit this is sad commentary
| upon society in Louisiana, where the ma
jority OF the people are known to be civil
ICED and Christian; but it is better to do
this and make an effort to rally
them in defense of law, than to hide
crime and suffer the lawles to pursue
| their infamous work without the fear of
punishment. When we reflect upon this
melancholy condition of society, and re-
member how recently were enacted those
terrible scenes of blood wherein, upon two
OCCASIONS the very sirongholds of the law
were invaded by disguised men who de-
manded of its officers-in the one case the
release OF prisoners; and in the other, that
the prisoners should be delivered up to
them that they might take summary
vengeance on them; and when they were
refused, how they shot down the sheriff
i'll the one case, and proceeded into the
cells of the Jail and shot down awitness
who was there confined and then released
the msn who was also confined upon
charge of murder; and how, in the other
case, they actually compelled the law Off
GERS to leave their quarters and surrender
up the building in which prisoners were
confined for safe keeping; and when this
was accomplished fred the Jail, bursted |
open the door of the cell where |
the prisoners were, and then retired |
out of harms way to wait until |
the fire should drive out their |
unfortunate victims, SO that they |
could shoot them down in cold blood.
When we say we remember these things,
and others of the kind, we are forced to
admit our condition is melancholy, and |
we long for the interposition of the strong
arm of the law to put stop TO the reign
of lawlessness. Until this can be done in
Louisiana our people can not expect that
rapid growth in population aud wealth
that can be attained whenever people
abroad can be assured they have deter
mined to assert the majesty of the law;
have determined to suppress lawless-
hess. Let us, at all events, have
40 more Sherlffs, Judges and other law
officers shot down in cold blood while 10
he discharge of solemn duties, without
ear Of punishment to those who commit
heir heinous offenses against society; who
n taking the law in their own hands do
lot hesitate to murder, if necessary, the
worn officers Of the law. The State has
,een furnished with constabulary law
nd militia law, and if the spirit of law
essness that has SO long pervaded this
tate, to the injury and disgrace Of all good
itizens, can not be suppressed without
heir aid, it is better that the Governor
hould proceed at once TO organize the
onstabular and militia forces than that
he law.abiding citizens should longer be
the mercy of desperadoes and murderers.
let the State be prepared to enforce the :
sws, and the people convinced of the ne
ssslty of doing their whole duty; as we'll /
/ the jury box as with the cartridge box
nd the ballot box and the time would
,on come when all men would have a I
holesome respect for law, and the red
and of violence would no longer be at its
|