New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-06
ANOTHER WRONG BROUGHT TO GRIEF.

Ii any sensible man ever doubted what
the REPUBLICAN has constantly insisted
upon, and what the Times and Pjcalplre
have as repeatedly denied, that there was
an unlawful and desperate organization in
South Carolina, sworn to enmity of feel
ing and hostility of conduct toward the
colored Republicans and their whit
friends, II is not probable that that man
is willing to declare himself to-day. The
last doubt that existed in the mind of the
reasonable has been destroyed by the
open confession and public conviction of
more than one hundred members of the
organization; and the volume of testi-
mony that is developing every day only
goes to confirm the conclusion which the
REPUBLICAN maintained in the face Of the
most outrageous charges as to its
to their iii~gal and unpatriotc orgal-
cation, and admitted to the otfansns
with which they We're charged. The GOV
eminent followed them in their midnight
raids, tracked them in their secret paths.
listened to them in their midnight meet
lngs, identified them before they masked.
and pursued them in their DISCUSSES to the
commission Of their assaults. until having
secured all the evidence that was neces-
sary, it put forth its hand to arrest and
confront them with the evidences Of their
guilt. Thus met and overwhelmed. the
members OF the organization accepted the
situation, and confessed to the particulars
that they already felt satisfied the authori-
ties were prepared to prove against them
Those who resisted and denied have been
convicted, not by the witnesses which the
government had summoned in its own be-
halt, but by the confessions OF the confed-
crates Of the prisoners themselves. The
unbeliever will therefore have to doubt tie
sworn admissions Of the offenders, made.
IN open court, after having been satisfied
that denial was useless This, we pre-
sumo, no reasonable man will persuade |
himself to do.
Even III what it has done the govern
ment has displayed neither that nalignity
which was charged against it, not that dis |
position to pursue the weaker members Of |
the organization which it has taken III
hand. The heaviest sentence that has yet
been pronounced was only for a fine Of
one thousand dollars and five years I'M
1risonnent, which was very lenient, con-
,ldeIing that the offender had lead many
aids, whipped many poor colored people
because OF their political faith and Sc
'erely injured one white Republican
whose remaining il the State after he
lad been ORDERED; out was his only Of
ense. Over one hundred persons have
onteoscd and been convicted, all of whom
we're released on the payment OF small
ines, or after being subjected to short
punishment. The government acted with
existence il bringing the guilty to JUS
ice. 1t is now tempermg its wrath with
lercy-Will.n9 to trust the inch who ad-
litted their error with another oppor-
unity to become good citizens. Let Us
ope that they will embrace it, and that
heir WLilom friends who have deserted
,.eln in their trouble will let them con
nue IN peace, free from the teachings Of
hat incendiary spirit which luisled thcm
, believe that they could do wrong with
at being brought to account for it.