New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-04

oeoaus9 ws pever weaken our argument
b disDsaeing our oppoasss'a and some
what, perhaps, bscsuss The P;cayune pro-
psieton right engage some less sfnde-
pendent" and moro toenidable opponents
Of it, position. ~ arsbie " a.isG}
ea -. - $3.50. -. 10 RINK
SOUTHERN DKFEDDA1Ts PLEAD O0N-
PEuRRATE DISQUALIFICATION.
With theprafatory commsndaNon which
the Democratic journals have bestowed
upon the citizens Of New Orleans indicted
for pAs6cipating in ths whisky frauds, We
were prepared to regard these charges Is
frivolous. and even. according to ono au-
thority, simply pushed forward With the
design Of casting reproach upon some Of
the most reputable members Of society,""
We have even had n expeession Of inpa-
tience that these trials should begin i'm
mediately. From an this We might have
inferred that the indicted parties demand
ed trial on the merits Of their cases, not
only that they might prove their limo
cence. but that they might overvhelm
their accuseEs with confusion Of facts,
even, perhaps, institute an action Of
damages, for defamation Of chaactsr, and
demand swinging damagesat the hands Of
. sympathetic jury. We stand amazed 1t |
the position taken by the counsel Of some
Of the whisky defendants. This counsel
has actually fled . plea in demurrer to
the indictment which plea would, II sus.
tanned. postpone If it did not defeat
that vindication on the merits which the
independent" press has insisted the de- !
PENDANTS 80 assuredly demand. When. |
however, the Southern public shall learn |
the ground upon which this plea in de-
murrer was fled, it will create astonish-
ment, If not indignation. Here is the
plea quoted in substance: 49, |
AsPecial plea against the VALIDITY of tho
grand jury that found tho indictments in
the above caDe, on the ground that too Of
'ts xneos0ersl acere disqualified by virtue of
section e2O. Reuiaad Statutes. Aaving Joined in |
IN 'nsv,rcctioa Or rebellion a9ainst Me |
Had the government Of the United States
made such an exception to the legal quail
foation of . Southern man, We might
have expected surprise among
hose Southern men who rely upon the
ustice Of amnesty, and sorrow among
hose friends Of the Union who wish the
'mnesty maintained ID spirit and in fact
The members of the jury excepted to are
dessrs. H. B. Stevens and A. w. Roun-
rec, both well known as peaceful and es-
Unable citizens. We may assume that
7hatever their connection with the civil
'ar, they were sincerein their convictions,
nd honest in accepting the amnesty ac-
orded them. MI. Rountree is reputed as
aving facetiously said that he had cult
ated loyalty in the best way he knew
ow, even to having made q pill
rimage to New Hampshire, where he
,stifed . renewed allegiance BY as I
sting at . clam bake. These .testi- a
'onials Of an honest and peaceful main .
'nance Of his sacramental pledge with
10 supplementary guarantee of diet ON
odfish, and the celebration Of the CLANS, Q
,ems to haze satisfied the United States: q
District Attorney Bsckwith appeared for Y
10 government, and argured ct length that O
% form Of tho Pleas was DIGESTIVE Il macy :,
'spects, and held, to the opinion that it y
~ optional with the officer representing
70 government to exercise the prerOgative n
N NJ v1n. fspen Env "a, /
the stat1te.. - 81
Major New said on behalf Of the gov Il
nment that there was no obligation to d
nder the oath, and further-f .1..i Il
That tho ststute did not absolutely pro- o.
bit any man from being . juror because ia
participated in the late rebellion. 1t
- cause Of ekauenGe, but If the preroqa. 81
y pos not erereised it would not invali- b,
.te the finding Of the jury, which would :.
~ be the case whore the Jurors were ab VI
lately disqualified. rla.ao1~, = re
Here, then, we find the federal govern hi
ent not disposed t. deprive these men te
their rights as jurors, while some of til
ose who profess to be the friends and
low-citizens Of these ex-Confederates wi
Ike the defense Of the Confederate to
use ground for such deprivation. Gu
ON this extraordinary political plea We vi
that the federal government is dis no
sed to waive any objection to. the 10y =
y Of Messrs. Stevens and Rountree,
lie their own fellow-ciizens demanded n,
It they should be DISTINGUISHED as
'els. Well may Mr.. Rountree despair
ever concentrating his restoration to
unqualified citizenship. When the
eral government is perfectly satisfied -
b his fidelity, his own fellcw-citizens for
it in question. Such an extraordinary fire
ungracious plea could only have been Of
orted to under great stress of evidence, p
would not seem to evince on the part
the defendants such rabid anxiety to q
d an immediate trial on the merits as
'fndependent'' press has heralded
AOOn MEN rnR nrrrrr