The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-07-08
HINGE BRADLEY'S DECISION.

tunity to peruse the opinion OF Mr.
Justice Bradley in the Coifax case'
Int the New Orleans papers, with
their proverbial lack Of enterprise
have not yet published it in full
They have contented themselves
with a meagre abstract, from which
one can get but an imperfect idea of
the points it covers.
Judge Bradley avoids deciding that
the enforcement act is unconstltu-
tional. AS the Constitution, by its
amendments, confers certain rights
on certain persons, and makes pro-
vision for their security, it is obvious
that Congress can pass certain laws
having that object in view. But the
main point which Judge Bradley de-
cides is, that under .pretence of en-
forcing these rights, the Federal
Courts cannot usurp general criminal
jurisdiction. So far from the usual
powers of State Courts being abro-
gated by the act Of Congress, Judge
Bradley holds that they still main
tain their jurisdiction in its entirety,
and that only in rare and exception
al cases have the y. S. Courts crimi-
nal jurisdiction. In other words, to
apply the decision to the case under
consideration, the State Courts, and
they alone, have Jurisdiction of cases
of murder and conspiracy which the
Indictment charged these prisoners
as being guilty of.
1t is difficult to see how any one
could ever have entertained any other
opinion on the subject. And yet the
Radical officials in Louisiana for three
or four years past, have made the
Federal Court, with it's informers,
Judge and equally Infamous District
Attorney and Marshal, an engine OF
an intolerable oppression of our peo-
pie and neighbors. For every little
ofense they have been arrested, taken
| to New Orleans, and subjected to
cruelty and expense that the Radi-
cal party might thrive and Radical
officers fill their pockets with ill-got,
ten gains. Three or four years age
Nash, Shelby and other citizens Of
Grant were taken to New Orleans
! imprisoned and tried on a charge Of
murder and arson. A short time
afterwards r. B. Helm, George w
Stafford and ten other respectable
citizens of Rapides were arrested
charged with simple assault and bat
terry, taken to New Orleans, and put
under bonds by a u. S. Commission.
or to appear before the Grand Jury oil
the Federal Court. In the estima.
ton of these Radicals the Federal
Courts have unlimited jurisdiction
and they have, therefore, carried
things with a high hand in Louisi
ana since the passage of the enforce
ment act. Judge Bradley has put
stop to all this. He has drawn the
line between the respective jurisdic
tons of the State and Federal Courts
If this decision is respected, the Fed
eral dragon in Louisiana is as harm
less as if all his fangs were pulled
out by the roots.
1t is understood that this decision
reflects the opinion Of the Supreme
Court, Judge Bradley having had {
consultation with his associates be
fore coming to New Orleans. We dc
not believe that Beckwith will ever
take the case up, but his recent treat
ment of Mr.. Pemberton, of which We
give an account elsewhere, shows that
not even Judge Bradley's decision
will arrest him in his tyrannic:;1
course. The people will take care Of
this demon before he is much older
We hope that the Attorneys for the
defense will see that the case is taken
up, and that we may soon get final
decision on the points at issue.
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