The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-07-17
ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF G. A. DANA.


ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF 6. A. DANA
The course Of the New York Sun in expos
3 ing rascality 10 high official circles seems t
have drawn upon Mr.. Charles A. Dana. tn
editor of that influential journal, the concen
trated spite and malignity Of all government
. officials. The administration party is indebte'
to him for the exposure of the Credit Mobilize
swindle, which proved about the severest blow
yet dealt the Radical party; and his persisten
! expositions of fraud and villainy. on the par
|of officials high in authority. causes the Radi
cal leaders to fear the Snn as the devil doe'
holy water.
A short time ago communication from
Washington appeared in the Sun. exposing
some Of the rascality Of the Radical ring il
the District of Columbia. in which Alexander
Sheppard, Vice-President Of the Board Of Pub
lie Works. and H. D. Cooke, the Governor Of
the District, appeared in anything but an en-
viable light. Sheppard, not relishing such dis.
closures. made an affidavit in the Police Court
of the District accusing the editor of the Sun
of libel; and armed with the papers, Assistant
District Attorney Harrington hurried of to
New York and procured from U. S. Commits
sioner Davenport warrant for the arrest Of
Dana, who was at once taken into custody and
brought before the Commissioner. The attor-
ney of Mr.. Dana denied the jurisdiction Of the
Commissioner to pass upon the matter in any
shape or form. but the Assistant District At
torney demanded the cOmmittal Of Dana, and
that he be delivered into the custody Of the
U. S. Marshal, to be by him turned over to the
Marshal of the District Of Columbia and that
the order for the extradition of Dana bs issued.
The Commissioner, doubtful Of his authority
to accept bail, referred the matter to u S.
District Judge Blatchford, and on appearing
before that functiOnary he at once ordered that
Mr.. Dana be released on his own recognizance
TO appear before him on July 10th.
This is about the most audacious attempt,
on the part Of the Federal authorities to in.
tertere with q citizens rights under the Con-
stituiion. that has occurred for years past.
Under the law organizing the Police Court Of
the District Of Columbia. person brought be-
fore that court is not entitled to jury trial.
but may have trial by jury on appeal to the
Supreme Court Of the District. aud We. the
Constitution provides in Art ) Sec. 2 that
the trial Of all crimes. except in cases Of im-
parchment. shall be by jury; and such trial
shall be held in the State where the said crime
shall have been committed" and Art. 6 pro
vides that in all criminal prosecutions the
accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the State
and district wherein the crime shall haye been
&c. In defiance of these coDs,;.
tutional provisions. Grants ,ainions cndearor
to force Mr.. Dana oGt of the State OF New
York and drag him before q petty Magistrate
in the District Of Columbia. where conviction =
would follow the farce Of trial, regardless Of
aw or Of evidence. II Dana has violated any
aw, or is guilty Of any ofcnse. be is entitled
% q trial in the State Of New York where the
,fense was committed. He has violated no
aw OF the District of Columbia for his paper
s published outside Of the District; and if a
petty Police Judge. or Magistrate. in that sec
ion can bring Dana from New York to stand
, trial there for a libel published ia New York
,ity, then Senator Jones, OF Nevada could make
complaint before some one-horse court in the
'age.brush State and have the editor Of the
Sun brought out there for trial, in charging
'im with bribery for paying old Jim Nye I
$50, 900 to get of the track for Y. S. Senator.
Every thieving carpetbagger in the South,
whose rascality has been exposed in the Sun
night pursue the same course, and the unfortu.
ate editor would be buffeted from pillow to ,
'ost, and dragged from State to State during
he remainder Of his natural life. Tho assump. !,
ion is ridiculous. The idea that al insight.
ant local Territorial court should set itself I'D
8 great central "star chamber" tribunal, to Z
ct the part Of censor Of the press. and pass
pon the legality and proprety Of such publca.
ions a. may be distasteful to the Administra.
ION, and the thieves in its employ could only
ave emanated from q foul and corrupt source.
they think to silence Dana by such means, !,
hey mistake the character Of the man. The
luck, boldness and perseverance, Of the editor '.
the Sun IS too well known; and his success i.
attacking and exposing corruption in high
uarters challenges the admiration Of all who
esre an honest administration Of our nation.
affairs. The ring Of robbers in Washington a
you'd rejoice over getting Dana into their d