The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-09
LANDAULET WILLIAMS.

LANDAULET WILLIAMS.
We are glad to see that the entire independ-
ent press, and not few Of the better class OF
Republican journals at the North are "going
for the unprincipled demagogue who now
disgraces the Office once filled by William
Writ, Hugh s. Legare and John J. Critten-
den:
when the Attorney Generals office was
first created by Congress in 1871, says the New
York Nation, it was simply provided that the
incumbent should be q meet person, learned
in the law, whose duty it should be to con-
duct such suits in the Supreme Court as con-
cerned the United States, and give legal ad-
vice to the President and heads OF depart
ments whe n he should be asked for it. This
modest position he occupied down to 1861,
when, in view of the complications occurring
in different parts Of the country, he was
charged with the superintendent OF the
United States marshals and district attorneys
in the discharge of their duties and they were
ordered to report to him. This was a very
natural and proper arrangement, and when 1t
was made probably no one had the least idea
of what would grow out of it,
"What has grown out of it is this: as
result Of the reconstruction acts and the con-
stitutional amendments, large number OF
Southern States have been divided between,
| not two political parties, but two bitterly hos
tile factions which are only prevented from
| tlying at each others Threats by the armed
force of the United States, and one OF which
! is led by Adventures from the North, who
act under the superintence or advice OF the
United States Marshals who have the control
of the soldiers. The Marshals are, in truth,
everywhere political Chiefs who derive their
strength from the fact that if the worst comes
to the worst-that is, if their opponents lose
all patience-they can bring up the troops.
| The importance of such an officer in States
which are liable after any election to. have
two Governors and Legislatures disputing
each others claims to power, may be readily
imagined. The control of the troops in the
Southern States has, therefore, been t1ans-
ferred to the Attorney General, who moves
them on the Marshals report; for the claim
ants who demand Federal protection, OF
course, act under the Marshals direction
Indeed, the history of Louisiana since 1872,
which has been SO often told, fully illustrates
the whole matter.
Nov, the result is that the Attorney Gen
erals Office has become a kind OF political
bureau, to which competitors for the govern
ment Of sovereign States carry their petitions
and proofs Southern Governors now report
to him on the State elections, on the general
condition of the State, on its finances and tax
alton, its criminal Justice. and takes his ad-
vice as to internal legislation. Political parties
send IN to him statements OF their grievances,
and ask him for redress against the tyranny OF
exactions of the local rulers, and he accepts
all the power and influence which the posi-
ton brings him with great equanimlty LIE
snubs the proud, warns the unruly, dis
courages the wicked and cheers on the
faithful supporters OF the Administration.
His functions, indeed are combination OF
those of the French Minister OF Justice and
Minister of the Interior and Governor-Gen-
eral of British India That is, he has the
supervision of the officers of the law courts
in the discharge of their ordinary duties; he
has the direction, also, Of kind of projects Of
. departments in the United States Marshals,
whose functions are semi-political and his
relations to the Southern governors are very
like those of the Governor General to the ma
tive princes who are still allowed to hold theil
territory He admonishes them if they ad
minister badly, upholds them by force if hi
approves Of them, and, as in Kelloggs case
calls on them to resign if he thinks the public
interest requires it.
at must be admitted that this is a remark
able kind of officer to be evolved in dozer
years out of meet person, learned IN The
law charged with giving his opinion whe1
, he was asked for it. Moreover, unless some
great change comes over the South, OF which
as yet there is little sign, his functions are
likely to be still further enlarged. 1t must no
be supposed that even now they are limited tt
cases in which the interference OF the Execu
tive is permitted by the Constitution In Ar
| kansas, the troops were employed under hl
orders for six weeks, not in defending the
State government against lnsurrectlonary Vlo
lence, but in preventing the de tdcto, and, as l
was afterwards decided, the de JTe Governo
from using the State forces to expel a usurper
who had seized the State blouse, and held pos
session of it with an armed mob For this
the Acknowledgement did not take the trouble
to offer the slightest excuse. Finally, tn
officer now exercising these extraordinar.
powers is one in whose selection the peopl
have no voice, and who has not displayed an.
talent either legal or political When he wa
! nominated for the Chief Justiceship. tn
country was thoroughly indignant. he Is
moreover acting as the servant OF Preslden
who treats his ministers as members OF III
staff, and all criticism Of them by the publ
as an impertinence unworthy of notice. w
draw no conclusions from these facts. W
simply offer them as food for reflection"
a The above truthful comments on the extra
ordinary course of the American Jefreys, de
rive additional weight from the fact that the
appear in q journal which is by no means ider
9 tilted with the Democratic party, and which
! generally very severe upon what it calls tn
: "rebel element in the Southern States.
), Shepard's patent Starch Gloss Use it.
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