New-York tribune., 1874-11-13
A RILL OF PARTICULARS.

We have been asked to specify few OF
the aggravated cases" in which we advise
the Southern people to prosecute Federal
officials who have abused them so OutrageousIy
during the political campaign. We shall be
pleased to do SO from time to time, and we
begin with the detectives Beach and Hester in
Alabama. On the eve of the election these
officers arrested great number Of prominent
Conservative politicians in the district mis-
represented by the Hon. Charles Hays, and
instead of taking them before the Federal
Commissioner at the place Of their arrest and
of the alleged offense, sent them three hund-
red miles under guard, to submit to prelIml-
nary examination at Mobile. Some OF the
prisoners were speedily discharged, there
being no evidence whatever to Justify their
detention, and the others, released on their
own recognizances, will probably be dis
charged in due time. This outrage, COM
mitted purely for political effect, perhaps can
not readily be punished under the existing
laws. But there was one achievement by
which Hester seems to have fairly laid HIM
self open. Just as an important Democratic
meeting was about to take place at Livingston,
he arrested Col. Wetmore, Chairman OF the
Democratic Executive Committee of Sumter
County, and sent him to Mobile with three
other prisoners q charge of cOnsplrlng to
injure him. Last Tuesday the defendants
were discharged without argument, there
being no case against them. 1t now appears
that in order to compass this political arrest
Hester made use of papers issued two
weeks before the alleged Oifensc in connection
with a totally different affair. We hope that
in this and every other instance of lawless
interference with personal liberty the ag-
grieved persons will prosecute the criminal
officers with the utmost rigOr. The country
cannot afford that such transactions should be
forgiven.
In Louisiana it seems to be very well un-
derstood that Mr.. Kellogg's canvassers are
cooking returns for the purpose of defrauding
the people out of their votes cast at the recent
election. No sensible man doubts that the
Conservatives carried the State by a large
majority and unfortunately it is equally clear
that the Kellogg officials intend to make the
figures read the other way. If this fraud
should be carried out it will be the duty of
the Louisiana Conservatives to pursue it
through Congress and the courts, and exhaust
every means not merely to undo the wrong
but to punish the swindlers with the utmost
severity the law permits. They must never
rest until this crime is avenged, even if JUS
tice keeps them waiting for years.
Then there is the case of Major Merrill.
This officer requires very severe overhaul
ing, not only for the benefit of the State of
Louisiana, but for the credit of the army. He
can be reached through Congress, and though
he may be protected for while by the Ad-
ministration, it will be easy enough next year
to bring out the true story of his career. De-
failing military officers to regulate State poll
tics is an anachrOnism which the next Con-
gress will not fail to correct, if the South
only cultvates the virtues of patience, resolu
ton, and a long memory