Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-25
The Louisiana Returning Board.

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picious look to the late attempt to indici
this somewhat noted trio of men. 1t turns
out that the reported indictment was no reg
ular indictment at all. Instead of the act
of grand jury. as previously reported, what
was done was simply that of the district
attorney in filing an information" against
the members of the board, charging them
with "utterng and publishing as true o
certain altered false paper and counterfeited
public record, the returns of the parish Of
Vernon, of an election held for Presidential
electors, knowing the same to be false, al.
tered, forged and counterfeited' This in
formation was filed June 10th, and the grand
Jury continued in session until June Both.
and adjourned after having rejected the
charge of the district attorney. Why ii
was then made to rely solely on the present
ment of the district attorney, can well be
conjectured. The whole proceeding evil
IDENTIFY had but one object, and that was po-
ltical The district attorney well knew
that no indictment could be had hence
his action in withholding the matter from
the grand jury.
Another feature of the case consists in the
fact that while this information was filed
during the session of the grand jury, and
two weeks previous to its adjournment, the
action was kept on the secret files OF the
court, and capases did not issue until about
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bail. Again, it is significant fact that be-
fore the disclosure Of the matter, it became
known that the court would adjourn July
eth for three months, thus putting it out of
the power of the defendants to obtain trial
during that period, they the meantime being
compelled to rest under whatever of injury
in reputation might arise from such accusa-
ton. Had the attorney been actuated by
desire to have the parties brought to trial,
he would have filed his information in time
for such proceedings, instead OF holding the
matter back until the neel of the term.
Another point in this is the fact that the
charge of false returns does not apply TO
state or local officers, but Presidential cleo
tors, thus indicating purpose to cast sus-
picion upon the choice of President. Why
no reference was made to the other candi-
dates involved, remains to be explained
The prevailing sentiment among the
democrats OF New Orleans is against this
proceeding, as untmely and ill-advised.
Governor Nichols is reported as saying that
he did not wish to reopen the subject, but
iutimated that he would act without regard
to political considerations, and that he would
adhere to his original determination, which
was to pardon them if they should be con-
victed. Lieutenant-Governor Penn said he
thought the mere indictment of the men
themselves was of no Importance, but that
it was grave mistake as it stood. The state
was now at peace, and could not afford to
open any old sores; and that this would
tend to create dissatisfaction, and he was
therefore sorry it had been done.
Under the present aspect of affairs this
movement has more decidedly the APP
pearance of political persecution than at
first. With straightforward prosecution
of the members of the returning board
for alleged perjury and forgery Northern
Republicans have no.concern. Such crimes,
il they have been committed are not polt-
ical offences in any legitimate sense, and
they are certainly not proper subjects of
agreement between the President and any
Southern politicians. Nor do we believe it
possible that President Hayes has been a
party to any such understanding. If the
bull-dozers who slaughtered Louisiana Re
publcans could be prosecuted with effect for
those murders, we should not think they
ought to escape on the pretext that theirs
were political offences, nor do we think that
perjury or forgery should go unpublished for
similar reason. 1t would be an excellent
thing if persons suspected of crime on both
sides could have fair and impartial trials,
and, if guilty, be punished according to their
deserts. Yet, unfortunately, such is the
rancor of party feeling, the bitterness of
prejudice and the contempt for Justice that
prevail in Louisiana, that neither Wells and
Anderson on the one side, nor the white
league murderers on the other would stand
the slightest chance of getting impartial JUS
tice in that state.