The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-01-10
BandItn.'
DUKE OF PECAN.

We venture to say that no ruler ever be-
fore had two such handy tools, one in the
legal science and the other in that of arms,
as Attorney General Williams and Lieu
tenant General Sheridan. How can a man
help being great when he has a run of such
luck. Truly some men have greatness
thrust upon them. The whole history Of
England has produced bat one Jeffries
here one individual President rejoices in
the possession of two luminaries,> the full
equals, in all respects, of that great moral
phenomenon.
Grant, Williams and Sheridan will go
down to history, immortal. And not only
history, but the drama, the opera, poetry
and romance will revel in the possession
of this trio of worthless as perfectly mex
haustible mine of originality in both plot
and character.
One great popularity of the two Generals
attorney and Leutenant), is that they are,
as it were, convertible terms that is, each
is as wonderful in the others department
as in his OVID. Thus Williams has been
long welding the army in it's campaign
against the South, while now Sheridan
wiser to the Crown. He has hit upon the
shrewdest legal dodge-not to say, inven-
tion,-of the age.
Lieutenant Attorney General Sheridan
has triumphantly solved the legal problem
of how to get rid of Judge and Jury in
Criminal prosecutions of innocent men.
"Let the President proclaim them Ben
ditti," he says. If this be Philip, how great
will Alexander be when he comes
Even the SUMS light may be analysed {;
why may we not, therefore, dare to reduce
the brilliancy of this meteoric legal glory to
something like legal formulas Z "Let the
President proclaim the White Leaguers
Banditti, and I will fix the rest of the
programme" We will comment on this
text after the fashion of Blackstone, Story
and other standard authors.
1st. "Let the President proclaim" That
js, the President is vested with more alb
solute power than Gear Or Sultan. He has
only to proclaim his political opponents
Banditti, and forthwith they are beyond
the pale of civilization and humanity.
They may be shot down like dogs without
trial, or, like Captain Fry and his comrades,
after pro forma court martial. In other
words, the President is not only Judge
and Jury to cay who is guilty, but he is
also legislator to say what shall be crime
and what it's punishment. Not only SO, but
he can make er post tacto laws, to retroact
and catch men in o trap, by making that
q crime now, which was innocent when
done.
wholesome ignorant person may say
(that is, he may think, but he would better
not say it). thgt the Constitution does not
appear TO give the President such power
No; but Sheridan gives it to him and il
Durell, little District Judge, could bind
f the great man, against his will, to overturr
, a Sovereign State Govern ment, surely Sher
idan, a great Lieutenant land Attorney,
General, can invest him with these trifiue
prerogatives over individual rights, liberties
and lives
I'd. "The White Leaguers"-thatist to say
we commence with them we do not bind
ourselves to end with them. There are Ger.
tain old white Archbishops, bishops, bank
ers and others who may come next. IL
fact Bismarck four cousiD), has shown ue
that it is not wrong to make war on women
and when we say White Leaguers we only
give an example.
Sd. "Bauditti." In old aud stupid coun.
tries, (effete, etc.,, when they say bandit,
they mean man who lives apart from or.
ganzed society, who turks in inaccessible
Businesses, who makes war upon society like
q pirate, and who keeps carefully hey ond the
| reach of the notice and the courta Rnt we
extend the term. We mean every body who
carries arms and drills as a soldier without
being in the regular army. Henceforth no
volunteer companies; no drills and parades
by amateur soldiers. Men doing such
things must be proclaimed" by the Presi-
dent and-the rest left to Sheridan.
4th. No further action except what
would devolve on me-" Lod-a-massy
What does that meant Let's see. Is not