New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-19
General Reynolds and the New Orleans
CustOmhOuse shame.

CustOmhOuse shame.
From the San Antonio Express.
We notice that a number of Republican
as we'll as Democratic papers have assailed
General Reynolds as being party to the
outrage committed upon the delegates to
the Louisiana Republican convention, by
Casey, Packard & Co.
This was to be expected from the morbid
Democracy, but we are sorry to see SO many
unouestionable Republican journals jump
at Democratic conclusions. and join in their
hue and cry against consistent and careful
officer. before they have examined the
evidence in the case.
The New York Lgnis Fatus. alias New
York SIM, charges that in the event of Gen
outrage, it will establish the fact that Cen
eral Reynolds aided and abetted the scheme
of Casey and Packard. and should be sent
before court martial for the otfense.
Republican journals have intimated the
same thing.
Now we do not wish to be understood or
considered the apolOgists of such mutton
headed, ambitious blunderers as the Casey
Packard crowd, but join hands and voices
with our Republican contemporaries in de-
nunciation Of their highhanded and danger
GUS experiment.; but we do wish it under
stood that we are prepared to assume the
championship or defense of any officer of
the government wrOngfully or maliciOusly
misrepresented. We also have facilities for
knowing the facts concerning General Key
nolds' connection with the Customhouse
affair. which are as simple as they can we'll
he, being nothing more or less than that
General Reynolds was as innocent of the
knowledge of the real object for which the
troops were to be used as Misrepresentation
could render him.
Mr.. Packard did not telegraph 20 General
Reynolds for troops as president of the Re-
publican State Central Committee, but as
United States Marshal, alleging that they
were required for the protection of United
States property. General Reynolds being
at point remote from the scene had no
means of judging either as to the expe-
diency or necessity for the troops asked for,
the statements of Mr.. Packard by virtue
of his official position as United States
Marshal.
In any event it was not the place of Gen
eral Reynolds, as a military commander,
not upon the spot, to sit in Judgment upon
the representations of a United States Mar
shall. 1t was enough for him to know that,
under the law, Packard was duly authorized
and empowered to make requisitiOn for
troops to enforce law or to insure protec-
ton to life and property.
The reUuisitiOn of Marshal Packard hav-
ing been made under the latter pretense, it
was the plain duty Of General Reynolds to
comply with the demand made, without
delaying to investigate the necessity Of the
same.
If Marshal Packard used his official posi-
ton to mislead or deceive General Reynolds,
and after securing through this means the
force necessary to give the protection it
was alleged was necessary, prOstituted the
same tn a FOREIGN and ILLEGAL use why should
General Reynolds be lugged into its respon-
sibility!
No, the burden of the whole affair rests
where it originated-with Marshal Packard
and his fellow conspirators-which Packard
has publicly declared, and on them alone
should tall the censure and penalty.
We hope to hear no more of this unreason-
able twaddlc connecting General Reynolds
with disreputable business.