Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-26

the public been more concentrated
or more intense than in this cese
tits very earsy % comprehend the
outside influences which command
this inteFest-suCh as the family
association, social characters
tics and public character Ofthe ac-
Cused--coupled with the fact that
he killed, in g personal rencounter,
q prominent officer Of the United
States Army; alta time when mill
tary dictatorship vas substituted
for constitutional Law. But these
circumstances could not in them
selves keep alive the interest for
so long a time. When we consider
that the accused availed himself Of.
the most eminent counsel in the
State, aided by distinguished
%jurists at Washington, We are at a
loss to understand the cause Of the
extraordinary delays which from
time to time have been resOrted TO,
and which have greatly puzzled
the public. Is that great bulWark
Of liberty, the writ Of habeas
corpus, q dead lettera Three
times the prisoner has attempted
to avail himself Of its privileges,
and as often has extraordinary in.
reference from some quarter pre-
yentet a hearing. What Is the
meaning of thisF Why have emf.
nent counsel acquiesCed in mo-
lions for delay, when 1t appeared
to be the universal opinion Of the
Bar that the prisoner Is entitled to
bail, whilst many are Of the Opins
ion that be should be absolutely
discharged.
Here comes the speculation Of
the public concerning the recent
extraordinary escapade Of Yerger,
and his subsequent voluntary re-
turn to prison under an escort Of
armed men. It is very apparent
he could have absented himself %
long as he thought proper, and II
is also very apparent that when h
returned he did not intend to b.
arrested, which would have beer
q great triumph in certain quar-
ters. There must be a reason 70.
all this that does not appear Of
the surface, and notwithstanding
the Clarion says the escape va
exceedingly foolish" " undigni
fed" &C., We have too much re
SpeCt for Col. Yerger's intelli
, gsnCe to regard 1t In that light,
,. We have been q sOjournsr at th
/ Capital for q day OFstwO. "
|, have endcavOred TO iathOm thI
: mysterious case. We think v
r can safely say that the logic I
these events will appear In d.
|. season. The attempt Of Senate
Shoup to deprive Circuit Judge
| OF Jurisdiction in hGbeas corp,
/ cases outside Of their respectiy
circuits, was a bold attempt to re'
OlutiOnize the Judicial system I
. the State, and to throttle the III
critics Of the people. This
known to be one Of the links
that chain Of persecution whiC
I has bound the prisoner for near
3 twelve months. Why, IL he
entitled to bail, has he not bCC
granted itf Why longer prOcra
C innate and evade2 He simply d
mands that he shall receive 4 %
4 hearing, unparalleled and impa
tial. before the courts Of the cOu,
try. 1t is but fair to add that Il
most prominent and inHuenti
Radicals with whom we have co
I'd versed, denOunce the action b,
in this case as prejudicial to Il
interests Of their party and Of ID
Y ticc. Had Yerger been a Mort
ern man OF Radical persu
Q sion, we doubt not b
case would long ago have be-
o disposed of and he honQrahly Q
/, Quilted, but being a Southe
l, man, independent in his polite
If principles, and jealous of
ls rights and honor he il q 1t su
d Ject for Radical persecution. '
70 are glad TO note, however, that I
4. chiefest among his traducers a,
,e enemies, are for the most pa
Al strangers to him and the count
/. Those Of the Radical party W
+. have conscientiously founded tn,
n faith upon the hope Of a restoI
ton of civil and constitutional n