Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-06-09
RAYVIILE LA, SATURDAY, JUNE {, 1871 WHOLE
From the New Orleans Democrat.
D.dST.dRDLY CONSPIRACY.

a U.dSIdkULX CONSfAAAC1.
The decision of our Supreme Court in the
case of Jumel vs. johnson, though doubtless
in strict accord with the technical require,
ments of law, involves a vexacious inter-
ference with the administration Of the govern.
menf of this State.
johnson was the Auditor under the late
administration, to whom Mr.. Jumel secceeds
by the same title by which all the other offices
Of the State are held.
The Auditor of the State is the custodian of
all the financial archives of the State. He
keeps the tax and assessment rolls, the &C.
counts of all the tax collectors and of all the
financial and disbursing officers, The lists of
all the delinquent taxes and the records Of all
the bonds and liabilities of the State; in fact
he is charged with the preservation of the
evidence Of every payment and settlement
with the creditors or debtors Of the State.
In order to obstruct the administration of
the States finances, and doubtless to prevent
the exposure and prosecution of the number
less frauds which have been covered up in
that department johnson, no doubt instigated
thereto by Kellogg, Of whom it has already
been proved by the investigating committee
that johnson was the supple tool and instru-
ment, refused to deliver the archives and
records of his office to his successor. All the
other State officers had surrendered their
archives.
Mr.. Jumel took possession of the Office of
the Auditor and was compelled TO employ
mechanics To force open the iron safe, which,
however, was found empty. All the im>
portant and valuable books Of the Office had
been removed and secreted, and, to give q
still darker hue to the transaction, the chief
deputy of the Auditor, whose testimony might
aid in recovering the records or supplying the
evidence which they contain, had mysterious.
ly disappeared from the city--gone on a
European touri
In this condition of his Office Mr.. Jumel
finds himself stopped from the performance
of some of the most important duties of bis
position, and the administration Of the
financial affairs Of the State is considerably
embarrassed.
Proceedings were promptly taken by the
Attorney General to compel the delivery and
return of its archives to the Office Of the
Auditor. A mandamus was issued by one of
our District Courts against johnson; but. as
soon as he was served herewith, his attorneys
John Ray and Hugh J. Campbell, filed q sui,
in the United States Circuit Court, setting up
title to the Office Of Auditor and claiming
jurisdiction for the United States o. the
ground Of the exclusion Of votes BY reason of
race, color or previous condition, in violation
of the constitutional amendment and of the
act Of Congress passed hereunder.
And ther, on return to The mandamus from
the State court, he claimed . transfer and
removal of the case to the United States Court,
which demand was rejected and the manda.
mus made perempsory. johnson appealed
to our Supreme Court. This court recently
confirmed the first judgment, but q writ Of
having issued on said judgment, an unavaling
motion was made by the Attorney General to
have the mandamus enforced without regard
to the writ Of error, which only related to the
application of johnson for a transfer of his
claim to the Office.
Our Supreme Court, however, could not
grant this motion, and the case has passed
beyond the control of the State court and must
abide The decision of the Supreme Court Of
the United States, where il cannot be reached
for perhaps several months or years. Thus,
by the criminal and revolutionary conduct and
conspiracy of former State officer, and
through purely technical device and trick,
one Of our constitutional officers become
seriously hampered in the discharge Of the
duties Of his Office.
Can it be possible that the legal remedies |
for this great wrong 70 the State are exhausted |
by these proceedings, and that an individual |
can Get at defence the whole authority Of the |
State and people upon % flmsy and fasrantly |
dishonest plea and dodge? 10 there no |
process Of the criminal law which can reach |
The perpetratos Of such . wrong-and not |
only him, but Others whose names have been |
brought out BY the investigations Of the CON.
mittee Of the Legislature, now in session. -
implicated in gross irregularities end illegal |
lies in the administration Of the Office whose |
archives have been seeresed and are withheld |
iom examinaaionf