The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-05
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY,, ApR1L.5, 1876. !.
4 Ga, Point Gained.

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House Of Representatives aare to be
congratulated that the determined
stand which they took in the, defense
of witnesses giving evidence against
official thieves has. so seono brought
about It's natural RESULT The very
day after the discovery and impeach
ment of Belknap the Cabinet met
and adopted a resolution declaring
boldly the policy only limited at in
Pierrepont's letter. sent to his snbor-
d;nates previous to the Babcuck trial.
The Administration declared wal,
upon all those who Should reveal the
dishonesty Of its servants and mark
ed out Marsh by name Cor vengeance,
Nearly two weeks ago the majority
in the House took up the challenge
and passed its bills for the immunity
Of witnesses, and maintained its ju-
risdiction against the Criminal Court
of the District of Columbia, after one
Of the fiereest debates that has taken
place in Congress for years. The
stamp of infamy was that, day set
upon the effort of the Republican
press to suppress investigation by
threatening all who should give tesl
timony with the extreme penalty of
the law. The, Interpretation given
to the meaning of.the attitude of The
party in power in the speeches of
Cox, Blackburn and LAMAR empha!
sized with all the bitter denunciation
which eloquence .kindled by just in
dignation can supply, stattled the
country, and the scheme forpreyent-
ing all further revelations was aban-
donsd.s 0 Terrified at the exposure
and its results the, Administration
aud it's organs not only changed
front, but endeayored by steady ~
ing to blot their whole record on the
Bclknap business, and to isAift the
responsibility for Marsh'sp fight, in
which they gloried at first to the
shoulders Of Clymer and ahis ascot
'ates. This change Of base was an
open confession of the weakness Of
the position. assumed by the Cabinet
and the Cabinet Journals when Bel
KNAPP was impeached, and, in tismay
at the attack Of the opposition, with
the force of public opinion behind it,
the men who had frightened 4 away
Marsh bent every energyzto get him
back. They kept upoa bold face, and
invented and circulated spumberless
| falsehoods about the collision, of the
committee in his flight, but they
knew in their souls that their. only
chance for pardon from the people
lay in securing his return.iit When
Mr.. Blaine, during the immunity de-
bate, was suggesting all sorts Of non
sensical devices for getting Marsh
back under the extra,ditionl treaty,
he was told that nothing was needed
but the assurance Of the. Executive
that the. fugitive wouldlreceive par
don. Once that assurauceswas given
he would have no reason fos remain
ing exile. The hint was taken; and
when it was given in q much broader
fashion in a letter from Proctor
Knott, Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee of the House, Mr.. Grant
could answer that be was already ne,
Fgotiating with Mr.. Marsh,for his re-
turn, and now it is said that that
gentlemen and his wife. with humble
retractions Of the fierce threats made
in the Cabinet meeting lleldaaftcl
Belknap's impeachment q in their
pockets, will be. back on Thursday
next. No clearer explanation of the
real secretof their fight could be
given than that contained in the
conditions on which they consent to
return. su
Again we say that the Democracy
may well be proud of the victory
which it has won in defense of thu
security Of witnesses giving EVIDENCE
of crimes in the national, service. II
such cases it is often necessary, III
the interest OF good craftsmanship
and public morality, that the inform
er should have immunity. Hat
1 Marsh been arrested at Washington
indicted by the Grand Jury Of th'
District, and throwssinto prison t.
await trial-and the first fury of hi!
enemies had marked him out fo
such fate-the usefulness. of til,
House Of Representatives in its worl
Of investigation and reform woul,
have been broken. In the first on
lslaught its prerogatiye would hay
been infringed, and its ability to Pre-
tect the witnesses who rested IN til
shadow of its authority woula tlay
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