Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-25
The Louisiuna Difficulties.

In the early part of last winter, when Cover
nor Warmoth applied to the Supreme Court
for writ Of prohibition against the govern
ment set up in Louisiana by Judge Durrcll, 1t
was refused, and the court then stated that an
appeal would lie to it. Subsequently to this
Judge Durell refused to allow 40 appca AT
forwards it was repeatedly said by leading re-
publicans 10 Congress that Judge DureIls set
ting up OF the kellogg government was utterly
unauthorized and illegal But as Congress did
not remedy the injustice, and the President
sustained Kellogg, and Judge Durrell refused
to allow an appeal, the people OF the State
have been powerless to shake off the rule so
fastened upon them In the hope of obtaining
an opportunity for the people to be heard, Mr.
Philip Phillips, as counsel for the McEnery
government, has filed brief in the Supreme
Court calling its attention to the facts OF the
case, and asking that the court entertain an APP
peal from the decision of Judge Durell, or that
it issue mandamus compelling him to allow
an appeal to be entered 1t is earnestly hoped
that the Supreme Court will, on its reasScnl-
bling, grant the opportunity for a hearing Of
the merits of the case. Counting on perfect
impunity. the Kellogg government arc now
endeavoring to collect taxes by shutting up
places of business, and sending the proprlciors
who refuse to pay, to prison. Judge Durell
suppressed the New Orleans Times because Of
its structures on bis action, and now the Kellogg
tax collector threatens to suppress the New
Orleans Picayune if it does not pay license
tax levied upon it Of over $1,000 within ten
days.
JOHN HOWARD. 1T is not generally re-
mcnmbered slSs the London Times, that
one hundred years have passed since John
Howard, than High Sheriff Of Beifordshire,
first made his name known to the world as a
practical philanthropist. That fatal malady,
long known as the Gaol Distempor, was still
at home in the prisons Of Eagland IN l1I3:
when Howard took official cognzance OF 1t, and
obtained statistics of the disease. These he
brought under the notice of the House of Com-
nous. He had seen the interior of more THAI
one prison on the Continent, and finding that
it was part of his duty as High Sheriff to in
spect the prisons and bridewes, he resolved
that he would do his work thoroughly. The
result was that at the close of his shrievalty he
had brought together such mass Of materials
10 illustration of abuses connected with prison
management that, on presenting them to the
House of Commons, he received public vote
of thanks, aud had the satisfaction of seeing
two acts of Parliament promptly passed-th
one for the relief of prisoners who should be
acquitted 10 respect Of their fees and the other
for the preservation Of the health of prisoners
and the suppression of the 'gaol distcmper.
John Howard visited in later life, most of the
prisons and lazarettos on the Continent; and
monument 10 St. Paurs Cathedral records his
death in Southern Russia, while engaged in
the same good work, towards the close of the
last century. 1t is in contemplation to COM
memorate 10 still more public manner the
hundredth anniversary OF that shrievalty which
proved such turning point in our prison sys-
tenn; and DR.. Guy, F. r. S., has put forth a
proposal to erect statue in John Howard S
honor on the Thames Embankment, or in some
other open and frequented spot in the metrop-
oils -.
I'LL no,,,t oP A,ro,lo mill a1;onrn to-dav