The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-07-18
Rillsbnruugb Rsrarnsr.
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wEpNEsDAY.....JUI.Y is. 1877.
THE INDICTMENT OF TIE LOU
ISIANA RETURNING BOARD.

Our readers are aware that true bills
have been found by the Grand Jury Of New
Orleans against the members II .he Lou
isiana Returning Board. on charges Of for
gerry. perjury and Justification cfthe returns
from Vernon Parish, in which Nh addition
Of ls5votes was made 70 the total vote cast
for the Hayes Electors, and 800 votes de-
Quoted from each Of the Tilden Electors.
Tnis isintended to open up the case the
other parishes Of the State being taken up
in succession if this indictment is sustain
ed. and then it will be conclusiycly shown
howthe majority Of eight thousand votes
for the Iilden electors was 50 Miongfu.ly
set aside. ..
Il was not 70 be expected tba. the Demos
cratsDf Louisiana, knowing how unscrcpu-
lously they had been defrarded Of the fruits
Of hardly contested victory. would patiently
witSess the trinuph ofthat fraud. or per-
nit It's instruments quietly to enjoy the
fruits OF their crime. Nor was it 10 beex>
pected. that justice, turned into purer chan
Dels. should forget its duties and leave un-
punished offences that strike so fatally at
the very roots Of society and thus between
party watchfulness. and fidelity 70 the re-
quireuients Of purified law, the great sin
through which mcnstrous fraud bas raised
its brazen front seems about to be exposed.
No wonder there is conm9tion in admin
istration circles. The de jure title to the
Presidency is shaken TO It's base, and it is
not certain that De tdcio vii. be Of long du-
ration. Aud therefore we hear Of move
ments, Of remOnstrances, Of protestations.
against measure which threaten 10 bring
down the hollow fabric Of the new admins
tra.ion- about the beads Of the guilty incunl,
beuts. But the very first hope uppermost
in the minds Of the terrified guilty. the ye-
ry FIRST steps taken BY them. are in them
selves proof positive that the tenure by
which Mr.. Hayes holds bis ofice will bear
neither, the scrutiay Of legal investigation
nor the impartial Judgment Of history. A
demand i made upon. the, LouisiauL Demo
erats to nold to pretended bargain. b.
which Nicl,pls was recognized as Governor,
that there sbonld'be no attempted prosecu-
tioB. from asy quarter, Of individuals fOr
past political conduct. ofwhat account il
such pledge as this against erimes Forge.
~. perjury. ialsifcailon, are ip themselves
crimes per Sc. they are offences sgains,
the moral Law, branded by . condemnation
old as the decaIogue. implanted in the in
most lccnsciences of mankind. made ihfa'
nous By the statute law Of every civilized
people. impossible Of condonatiOn whenever
they are committed. Itis'a euphemisnl
worthy. Of the latter day morality Of Re
publirauism to call them political offences,
They stand ms broadly branded as crimes
when committed against the political inieg-
rity Of society as when aimed at the rights
Or the character Of individuals.
If rSers was bargain or understanding
between Hayes and Nichols. what binding
effect has il upon the operations Of the laws
Are states and republics paWns 10 th'
hands Of ambitious men 70 be played fl
their individual sggrandizsment? Will th'
people Of Louisiana consent to abdicate
their rights. their liberty, aud their honor
that one. man may profit b. corrupt bar
gain? Or will the people Of the United
states agree 70 maintain as principle oi
honor, The right q individuals 70 enter int,
private agreements BY which their destinlei
are bargained away, ana all the costly, IN
tricaxe, but dearly priEod machinery aPper.
tanning to the exercise Of the rights Of sui.
frage, made not ouly useless. but frivolous
and eon,enpiiLloi We think not; aud i
Is time. and the etime nos is. 70 put an ef'
fectise brand upon this system Of private
bargains. BY which iDdeoa temporary p4ci-
hcati6n may be bad. but irTeparable injury
wropgb, On public and private conscience.
We baye heard too much d these bsrgaiDS,
and men admired. almost idOlizcd. FOR gran
dehr.of iuiellsct and briliiancy of service,
are furnished By suspicious they have been
in no haste 70 remove.
wbst may be The consequences Of The 10
dietmsnt Of he Louisiana Board. we vii
not stop 10 inquire. II may open up th'
WHOLE question " the title 70 The Presiden'
sy. Al least 4 will have a very imPor
tant bearing upon tho indispensable refor.
,..t.,,, - tha aieefaral evetetu IL uill