New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-26
WEAK VENOM.

The Shreveport Times is wroth at United
States Circuit Judge Woods, because his
charge to the jury in the case Of the
Grant parish prisoners was not formal
apology for the oAenses charged. Such an
eccentric view might prevail in the minds
Of some of the local judges in or around
Shreveport, whose tenure may be contin-
gent on their servility to popular prejudice.
Where bench is useful at times as an
ambuscade from pistol shot, where opin-
ions are carried in the belt at half-cock,
where cunning after 'niggers" is gentle
mans diversion, we can readily imagine
that the severely impartial charge Of
Judge Woods may be construed an afront.
He is Judge, not partisan. He doffs
no hat to the criminals box, nor begs par
don for inconveniencing its sullen inmates
Had he done these things, and frowned
upon the prosecution for interrupting
Democratic sportsmen in their somewhat
wanton social gaming, he would have sat-
isfed the Tines exalted ideal of scrupu-
lous judicial officer as an auxiliary Of the
jury. If the Times would employ 1.-THE
of the vigor exhibited in the article be-
fore US in the effort to promote de-
cent political morality in its party in
the upper parishes, there might pre-
vail something like tranquility for COL
ored men outside of the cemeteries.
A most damnable crime was perpetrated
at Colfax, and while most of the wretches |
accessory thereto are tugitives from JUS
tice, the equivocal honor belongs to the
Times of covering their retreat with sancti-
pleas for justice. II the nomads,
confessing their turpitude by remaining
in remote covert, will return within reach
Of process, they will be assured justice
without stint But it happens that the
Times hypocritically clamors in their be-
lalf for just what they dare not hazard.
Never was trial more equitably conduct
ID than was that of the nine men now in
lurance. The defense was accorded
very license and submitted multi
ude of witnesses, to all of whom an
Exhaustive hearing was permitted.
Dur readers are too familiar with
he Colfax outrage to need a prolix
ecital of its circumstances here; it must
ufice to say that be the nine men at bar
ulpable or inculpable, deeds were shown
, have been committed which must
1antle with shame the cheeks of every {
merican not participant in them, or,
Ike the Times, an accessory after the fact. 6
n his rehearsal of the evidence and the {
atutory provisions opposite thereto, {
Judge Woods maintained most circum-
oect impartiality as to the question of
lie completely of the accused, and only
lch as fear each bush an officer could a
uicken with alarm at hearing him pro- e
ounce the law as the arbitrary terms of t
5 text constrained him in anticipation of d
e several possible findings Of the jury. b
e can conceive, however, no better t
ibute that could be paid Judge Woods
an abuse from the moral abettor 1
the Colfax assassins. The Times prac-
ally harbors them, and is therefore, a a
rry champion Of judicial integrity or of Is
lblic order. Its patriotism is hatred of P
e negro, and if it elects such a moral G.
llory for its platform, so much the Il
'rse for itself. Judge Woods has W
spired profound respect alike for his p
rsonal and official probity ever since be le
came known to the people within this W
cult Of quick apprehension, of ma p
re learning, of marvellous industry and NJ
void OF bias, his conduct Of the United Ell
ates Circuit Court and his numerous de- IL
ions have elected the heartiest terms of tV
eem and admiration. In these terms P1
, leading Democratic lawyers of the cir in
it have unanimously shared. by
It remains to be seen whether an oracu- &c
penny trumpet at Shreveport, whose Sc
tors expect remission for all Demo.
tic sins, and resent all inhiJitions upon til
lite assassins, can squeak loud enough WI
drown the encomia which the bar of m
whole circuit pronounce upon its pre- pr
ing judge. The editors evidently dis tn
, not only to forego negro poaching, tn
to arrest his judicial eye. u