The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-10-31

7
that in the execution of their design
the members Of these secret organiza-
tions have scommitted crimes without
numberof a nature calculated to in
rtimi date and terrify, and that they
are as free from fear Of punishment
or cause to fear, by the enforcement
of the laws of the States in which the
offenses were committed, as though
they were wholly guiltless. So preya-
lent and powerful is the sympathy
for those who commit these acts that
before it the law is insignificant and
pOWtrlcss. In the rarest instances has
Il grand jury preferred a bill ofindict-
ment against any of the perpetrators
OF these crimes, and in no instance
that has come to our knowledge has IL
petit jury been found to return a YER
dict of guilty against the perpetrator
of even the most unprovoked and
cruel murder, when committed upon
the person of a Republican for politi-
cal reasons. In this country the law
is sustained by public opinion, and
public opinion is stronger than the
law. Our fathers, in the foundation
of our system Of government, nevor
realized that the day would come
when the lives Of American citizens
could be taken unlawf,,Ily and in
great numbers. and no witness to such
deeds could be found to prefer COM
plant, no sheriff to execute q war
rant, and no sentiment in the com
n,J " rIytf
the condemnation of the otfense, or
the punishment of the offenders. Yet
this is the case in the Southern States
to day. A powerful press preserves
silence AS to the otfense. or persist
emily misreprcsents the circumstances
under which it was committed, or
where concealment is no longer pos
'sible, boldly defends the act OF the
criminal. The character Of the dead
victim is maligned, and deed of
blood, horrible in its details, is exalt-
ed into an act OF patriotism. Where,
under the laws of the General Gov
ernment, the United States courts
have jurisdiction of the offense and
succeed in arraiguing the criminal,
the more talented and influential
members of the legal profession has
ten to volunteer their services in his
defense, aud where bail is required
for the appearance of the offender,
the wealthy members Of the commun-
ity eagerly place their names upon
the bond. Upon the trial it is simply
impossible t" secure, fairly and IN the
manner prescribed by law, twolve
men who will decide impartially be-
tween the Government and the ac-
cused, and geHaer i verdict in accorsl-s
ance with The law and the evidence.
Those men who have sworn to mur-
der, whe'leommandcd by their secret
Organizations, and who were, per-
haps, accessory to the commission of
the otfense, readily appear upon the
witness stand to prove that the pris-
oner was engaged in innoceD occupa-
ton far from the place where e
crime was committed. All the infu-
ence and power Of the Democratic
party are excited in the defense of the |
accused, and he may well view with
the efforts of those whose
duty it is to secure the infiction Of the
penalty for the violation of the law.
The criminal otfeuses over which the
United States courts have jurisdiction
are limited III their number, and the
only restraint upon tire commission
Of crimes of the nature indicated, ex-
by the Federal courts, spring,
in most cases, from the annoyance
and expense of undergoing a form Of |
trial aud not from the fear of convic-
ton OF the results. If, in a rare .in-
stance, d conviction should be had,
the criminal however heinous might |
he his otfense, however much in vio-
lation of the laws of his country and |
of God, would find sympathy and |
comfort and support from the mem
bers Of that party in whose cause he I
was required to suffer. With no sense
of disgrace, no feeling of remorse, but
with IL mind imbued with the teach
lngs of his Democratic leaders, he
would endure the penalty for his Of
Eense with the pride Of a patriot and
The fortitude Of a martyr.
Allegiance and protection should go
together. If the paramount allegiance
Of the citizen is due to the General
Government, it should, in return for
this exaction, assume the burden of
his protection, Instead Of entrusting
the matter to another power, and to
whom a second allegiance is due, and
from whose neglect or persecution
there is no appeal. If the Constitution
warrants, it ought to be made just as
much a crime to murder citizen of t
the United States as it is to murder
citizen of a State. When public sent!
meut approves and indorses the as
of prominent Republicans,
AS is the case i'll most of the Southern
States to-day, the State courts have
no terrors to evil-doers, for men are
never convicted of crime when the
act OF ans assassin is appiauded aud
regarded as the performance of a
duty to the State. If. however, evil T
doers are given to understand that
the n1atter3 does not end with a sver-
diet OF aequittal in ? the State court,
npI thnf tboro ic q tribunal olnthA6