Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-02-25
AcQrIrrAL OF GENERAL BsBcocK.

aILD MI. 800 FRIDAY. FEB. IS. 1870
ACQrIrrAL OF GENERAL BsBcock.
Tho Babcock trial. which has for
nearly three weeks been progressing In
81. Louis, Missouri. was concluded yes
tsriay by the acquittal OF defendant.
Il il needless to deny that we are heart
lily glad OF this result. In u Judgment
there never was q moro wanton or ma
levolent attempt to ruin IN honorable
gentleman than has been made by the
enemies Of the Administration to con-
sign to in'amy the defendant in this
trial. From the time when the exist
ence Of a conspiracy to defraud the rev.
enus by Q Of frauds in whisky man.
uiacture was first exposed. the officers OF
the GovernmenR have been unremitting
in their efforts to bring the thieves to
justice. The whole history OF the
Efforts Of the President. the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. and the Attorney
General in this matter is replete with
honor to tho country and themselves.
There has been no impsdiment placed in
the way Of the law officers Of the Govern
msnt; no bar interposed TO the indict-
ment and trial Of any suspected person;
no obstacle placed in the way Of the con-
viction Of accused parties. Many men
in favor OF tho administration. holding
office by virtue OF its appointment, and
prominent in social and political circles,
have been arrested. indicted. tried. con.
victed and sentenced TO the Penitentiary.
The wheels OF justice have never been
clogsed by ~partisanship nor irisndship
during oil these trials.
This last case-that OF the Presidents
Sscretary-has been y Of more than
usual interest. From the first whisper
Of suspicion against the gentleman who
was yesterday acquitted after a thorough
and impartial trial by jury. tho oppon'
snts Of the administration have sought
by every means possible to prejudice the
public mind against him in prejudsins
the case. This course has been persis'
tent and characterized by an most 70
markabls exhibition Of hatred and ma
lignity. Il has been in the highest do
gree uncharitable and unjust. Ever,
atom Of evidence direct or indirect,
which could be CLEANED from the lyins
statements Of INSCRIPTIONS correspon'
dents. tending to implicais the private
Secretary Of the President. and through
him to cast imputations upon tho homes
~ Of the Chief Magistrate Of the Nation,
has been hell up to tho public view n
iucfutablc proof Of the guilt Of Babcoel
and accompanied with insulting innuen'
does concerning those still higher in Ma
uonai authority.
At last. after a trial in which the Gov
eminent was represented by talentet
counsel: In which every title Of evidenc,
attainabls was brought forward AM
urged against tho innocence Of defend
ant ; during which the opposition pres
OF tho whole country continued thsiI
vile assaults. and again and again decid'
cd . case which belonged solely to a jur,
Of free citizens. the defendant is aequit'
ted. For q week past-ia short, since
the prosecution. having exhausted it,
evidence against defendant. closed the
case on the part Of the Government
IL has been evident to those who have
carefully read and weighed the testimo.
ny that there was nc evidence sufficient
to justify conviction. SO plainly was
this manifested. that a week ago tho cor.
respondent Of q journal hostile to the
Administration, yet withal fair-nindsd.
suggested that the case should be aban-
donsd-be thrown out Of court. Counsel
for defendant. holding similar views,
moved the court to direct q verdict OF
acquittal. This the court, and wisely.
M We think. refused to DO. II preferred
to throw the weight OF the responsibility
upon tho Judgment Of twelve citirens.
In so doing. all possibility Of collision.
unfairness or prejudice was negstived.
and the opportunity for carping criticism
by . prejudiced press denied. Thss the
case was continued to tho end and sub
mitted to the jury.
The acquittal Of Gen. Babcock should
silence his accusers. When q man has
leon accused Of crime. indicted and
tried before . jury Of his peers. and
acquitted. there thenceforth remains no
excuse for accusation or misrspresenta-
ton. II must not. moreover. DO forgot
ten that the action Of this defendant has
been characterized by circumstances
which. in the minds Of fair.minded men.
add to the force Of this acquitta. Al
the first whisper Of suspicion. before he
was indicted. when il was thought an
indictment was improbable. be Of his
ewn motion sought Investigation. and
demanded In the p~lsinest manner possi-
bic to him. a full inquiry into the
rumors against his honesty. Hc applied
to the President to be court-martialed.
As an officer Of the army. this was his
only recourse. and but for the fact that
he was aiterward indicted. he would
in that way have established his limo
cence long since.
There arc persons psrsistently preju-
iieed. utterly incapable Of fair judy
ment and unbiased conclusions. These
will doubtless follow ny their insulting
innuendoes and baseless charges against
General Babcock by equally unmanly
and dishonest accusations against the
juises and the Jury who tried him. But
In the Judgment OF fair minded men the