New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-28
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY g. 1875

and more prisoners were secured. As 8
consequence of this fact the names of some
army officers have appeared in the papers Of
Louisiana, and have been spoken Of in q
manner which is any way but agreeable
and which is equally unjust.
Thus, for obedience to the laws Of the
United States. and for q prompt execution
of the duties imposed upon an army officer
by these laws, and by the orders of his gu
people that he has disgraced himself. Such
a denunciation will, as a result, cast dis
credit not only upon those whose unfortu-
nate lot it is to have to serve in the disturb
ed sections Of the country, but upon those
more fortunate who are away from the
scenes of strife and turmoil. The army has
Its courts to try those who have disgreced
their uniform. 1t is necessary simply to
make the official complaint, in the form of
specific charges against any one who has
has violated the military code. If the vio-
lation be of the civil or criminal law, suits
at law or indictments of grand jury will
reach the Otfenses alleged. But against gen
eral allegation, such as that to which refer.
ence is made at the beginning of this letter,
it is almost impossible for the officers of the
army to defend themselves against journal
of the standing and influence of the Tribune.
1t is felt that to encourage q sentiment that
to execute the laws Of the land upon the
part Of the army is a disgrace to their uni
form. because those laws bear more severely
perhaps upon some people than others, will
forever ruin the esprit and morale of our
troops. The people Of New York State
frequently witness the use of United States
forces in Brooklyn and vicinity to enforce
the law and no Outcries are heard from the
press Why is this! It is because it is q
revenue law they are called upon to en-
force. A soldier knows no difference be-
tween serving as an escort to United
States marshal to enable him to arrest those
who violate other laws. To him it is simply
a duty to protect the marshal, whether he
be in Massachusetts, New York or Louisi-
ana. 1t is unfortunate that the people
Of the latter State will violate laws, and
that indictments have been found against
them and warrants Issued for their ar
rest. But New Workers are more for
runate. Wherein lies the great difference!
In the one State ready and willing obe-
dience to law and respect for the rights
OF all has grown strong and been for long
years impressed on the minds of all its
people. Ia the other States lax enforce
ment Of the law and restless spirit of dis.
obedience amounting in some &c ses to an
open defiance of law, exists, without any
great love for the united country. Thus, in
New York, the courts punish Tweed; IN
Louisiana mob overthr0ws State govern
ment. The difference is seen at glance.
Where crime abourds, which the laws of
the State Go not reach, and the laws of the
United States do reach, if the respect for
the government aud its power was as great
as has been represented, no need Of an
armed posse would exist to execute the
mandates of the cor-ts. II is hoped that
the object Of this latter may have been at
tanned and il surely has if il has nointed
out to the readers OF the Tribune that the
sentence, which has been thu cause which
impelled me to write it, is calculated to do
great injustice to the army of the United
States, and that there is nothing which it
has done which can for moment Justify
such sweeping assertion.
ARTHUR w. ALLYN,
Captain Sixteenth Infantry.
jackson, Miss, January 4, 1875.