The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1871-12-15

jurisdiction fer the courts of the
United States, an6 in all probability
there are moro indictments in the
Federal courts for infractions Of
criminal law than there are in all
the State courts combined. The
prosecutions are set on foot by the
officers of the Federal courts them
selves. They have got lot Of car
pet-bsg District Attorneys. Mar
sbals and Judges. and they act under
the instructions of the Government
at Washington and institute these
proceedings upon the most frivolous
complaints.
R-Tbe expense consequent to the
proceedings must be great?
Gen Bit is a very great expense
not only to the General Government,
but to the citizens under it. The
latter are dragged from their homes
and carried hundreds Of miles; for
instance, there are but one or two
United States Courts in the entire
State Of Mississippi, and no matter
where, within the State, crime is
alleged to have been committed, par.
ties are dragged from the counties in
which they live, and where their
witnesses arc to be had, and carried
to a great distance, and at a cores
ponding expense in procuring lawyers
and witnesses.
R-Wbat has been the general re-
suit of the trials so far?
Gen B-There has been no eonvic-
tion in the courts of Mississippi as
yet. The trials have been postpon-
ed from time to time, and the indict-
ments, as far as We could ascertain,
were generally, Of the
MOST FRIVOLOUS CHARACTER.
And the nature of many of these
cases may be judged from the fact of
the arrest of the sheriff and posse for
arresting those charged with the
murder of Hugh Lee. They were
carried from Lowndes county to Ok
ford in one of the northern counties
Of the State. for arresting parties
under the plain and distinct statute
of the State commanding them to
make arrests Of all parties engaged
in violent assaults. The distance
the sheriff and his posse of six or
eight men were carried, is about one
hundred miles, and the charge was
that they had conspired to deprive
persons of their rights under the con-
stitutional amendments. They were
released on bail,
AT COLUMBUS.
We went from Macon to Colum bus,
in Lowndes county, where We spent
eight or ten days in taking testimo-
ny. The evidence, so far a Lowudes
county was concerned, did not show
any, or but very few violations of
law of any kind. The county is very
quiet, and the population orderly.
There as in Noxubee, the negro vote
is about three or four to one white,
and they have just elected a fellow
named Lewis as sheriff--a recently
imported carpet-bagger--who was
conspicuous by making a speech
when the man Lee was murdered.
We came home direct from Columbus
having finished our business there
last Friday. We did not stop to
:ake testimony in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE.
R-What is your opinion of the
condition of affairs in that State?
Gen B-So far as I am acquainted
with it, I did not see anything al
legged against Tennessee. That has
passed under Democratic govern
ment now, and it appears to be quiet.
People are more reconciled, and are
doing far better than in States that
are still under Radical dominion.
Mississippi is thoroughly, completely
at the mercy of the radicals. Ala
hama has got rid of her Radical
Governor, and the Democrats have
possession Of one branch Of the Legis.
lature. Many Of the State officers
are radicals, and the whole judiciary
of the State are the same. Many
counties are controlled by radical
officials, especially those counties
where the most disturbances occur.
R-What is said about the procla-
nation of ma rtial law?
Gen B-The people are appreh en-
sivs that if it becomes
NECESSARY TO CARRY THE ELECTIONS,
martial law will be declared by the