The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-02-03
The Bay0net in the Courts.

1t is evident that the fight now fairly
begun between General Grant on the
one side, and the people who believe in
law on the other, is to be an obstinate
one. 1t was thought that a strong ex-
preston of public opinion would be
sufficient to show the President and his
immediate followers the danger and the
crIminality of their lawless COURSE
But it has not yet had the desired effect.
The President only grows ugly under
criticism and reproof, and his depend
ents evidently feel that they will risk
more in displeasing him than in defy
ing the sentiment of the law-abiding
people of the country. New1 York, for
instance, is nearly unanimous in re-
gard to the recent outrageous proceed
ings in New Orleans. Our best citizens,
without distinction of party, have join
ed in condemnation of them. Even the
Republicans in the State Senate have
concurred in timid resolution dcprcca-
ting them. But Mr.. Roscoe Conklng
was the first Senator to stand forward
as the defender of the President in his
violation of the law, and the indignant
protest of this State has not yet been al
lowed a voice in Washington. The
President seems sure of seryile acquies-
cence in both Houses of Congress among
the greater portion of the Administra-
ton majority. The sordid fear of los
ing their district patronage is stronger
upon the members than their sympathy
with that universal and dangerous an
ger felt all over the Union, at the I'M
just, arbitrary and illegal behavior Of
the Administration.
The President has waited just long
enough to be sure of his adherents. The
manner in which they have received the
report of tho Congressional Committee
appointed to investigate the state of
things in Louisiana seems, naturally
enough, to have convinced him that he
may rely upon their support to any ex-
tremity of violence and illegality. This
committee, a majority of them being Re-
pub.icans, have made a report which no
candid person can controvert, showing
that the Conservative Legislature broken
up by Grant and Kellogg was fairly and
legally elected. If there were enough re-
gard for law or honesty or fair dealing left
among the Administration majority at
| Washington to resist the imperious and
sullen demands of the President, this re-
port would be accepted as final and con-
elusive. The men who make it are
among the most able and high-minded in
public life. Two of them are Administra-
ton Republicans and one is Il Democrat,
! but the facts were so plain and their in
tentions were so honest, that they were
able to present full and unanimous re-
port. There is no decent preteXt for not
accepting it. But the Administration ma
jOrity, unable to free themselves from the
fatal influence of the President, have re-
solved to send partisan Committee to
Louisiana to collect facts and rumors
enough to break down the report of
Messrs. Foster, Phelps, and Potter. How
can you expect the President to retain any
respect for law when he sees the law
makers the craven instruments of his
villa
He has not hesitated to show just how
much he cares for it, and how determined
he is to have his own way in every South
ern State. He has seen his party APPROX
ing or dumb while he organized a Legisla-
ture with the bayonet, and he has there
fore been encouraged to use the same wea-
pom on the courte of justice. On Monday
Gen. Sheridan, acting under orders
from Washington. sent Major Head with a
squad of soldiers, with fixed bayOnets, in
to the Sheriff's office at Vicksburg, and
forcibly elected the acting Sheriff, A. J.
Flanagan. There is a question as to the
validity of his election, which took place
some three weeks ago, tho act allowing a
special election in certain cases having
been repealed at the late called session OF
the Legislature. But this was of course a
question to lie decided 10y law, and not by
the bayonet. The Supervisor had accepted
Flanagan's bond, and issued to him Ger.
tifcate of his election. The army came in
simply as partisan Of the negro Crosby
who has never yet filed a sufficient bond
and whose failure to do so brought OH the
recent riots. 1t is probable indeed, that
CrOsby's resignation, made on the Sth day
of December, has been considered valid, fol
when Flanagan was elected, not Crosby
but one of his deputies named Mc(ihee
was appointed by Chancellor Hill, whose
court was then in session.
OF course, the fact that Judge Hill coun
tenanced and participated in this outrage
does rot in the least alter its character
We have grown too, familiar with the
manner in which Southern Judges accept
the degrading assistance of the military In
illegal acts to feel any surprise at it. Tht
arbitrary character of the present perform
ance is only made more manifest by thu
fact that the Judge seemed ready for any
thing which the Administration might
ask him to do. Yet no legal measures hat
been taken to ascertain the right of Elan
agan to his office. The same vicious circl,
of illegality which we saw at New Orlesns
repeats itself at Vicksburg. Ames, wht
has no authority in the matter, telegrapb
to Grant, who has none, to order Sheridan
who has none, to put Flanagan out, ant
it is done.
We suppose there is point somewher,
at which the patience even of the Presi
dents beasts ofburden at Washington viii
give way. We do not greatly fear the eff
feet of those repeated Outrages upon tn
public character of Americans. The res
ponse from the country is sufficiently
quick and emphatic. The result will b,
the utter ruin of the political party which
: sanctions these stupid crimes. We should
be glad to see. however, some symptoms
of ordinary common sense among the lead
ing men of the Administration party
which might induce them to persuade tn
President that he has already done enough
to kill the party, and that be need not g
on diSfguring the corpse.-[N. Y. Tribune
MEN WE DON'T WANT TO MEET-Th'
70 nd ha II