The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1877-07-13
RETURNING BOARD INDICTMENTS.
NEWS, VIEWS AND COMMENTS OF THE
PRESS ON THE AFFAIR.

PRESS ON THE AFFAIR.
various standpoints, Rational. sensa-
tiOnaI Or IdiotIc.
[Phlladelphia Times.1
The indictment of the members OF the
Returning Board creates good deal of
CONSERVATION at Washington as we'll as
in New Orleans. and there Is formida-
BILE movement to prevent these notorious
knaves from receiving the punishment
they richly merit and which will assu-
redly follow their conviction. That
Wells and his associates are guilty OF
perjury and forgery no sane observer of
the events of the last six months has q
reasonable doubt, and it is mortifying to
read that men high in authority are
uniting In an effort to stifie investiga-
penalty Of their crimes.
Ii the recognition of Gov. Nichols
was pTedicated upon the understanding
that the crime Of Wells and his fellows
should be condoned, the people cannot
too soon know how, when and by whom
such an Infamous agreement was made.
Who exacted the pledge? Who gave it?
Who has profited by it? All concerned
therein are as guilty as the perjurers
and forgers who robbed Louisiana Of
her electoral vote. We cannot believe
that such an agreement was made, but
IL made 1t will never be carried out.
But whether the accused are guilty or
not, the notoriety Of the offense and the
prevailing belief in their guilt made O.
presentment by the grand jury an i'm
perative necessity. Failing to make
that presentment would have been
criminal neglect Of duty, whatever the
political considerations involved. The
wishes Of President Hayes and the
pledges Of Gov. Nichols in reference
to the matter are entitled to no consid.
GRAFTON. The law has been violated
let the facts be fully ascertained and
the guilty be brought to punish
ment.
1t is to be hoped that the Louisiana
court will do It's duty fearlessly, let the
consequences be what they may. It is
OF the first Importance that the true in
wardness OF the transactions of that
Returning Board shall be brought to
light for the vindication of the truth of
history and for the protection of our
free institutions.
tOhicago Times.1
Ia the next place, that the criminal
indictment Of the four rascals in Lou
isiana should produce q panic at the
White House, or cause any member Of
the government to be Exercised" by it,
is perfectly absurd. Why should Mr..
Hayes be Exercised ?" No unbiased
person supposes he has any doubt that
the four lrascals in Louisiana were
guilty Of the grossest frauds and viii
lainies in their count OF the votes in
that commonwealth. The evidence
found against them by the different
committees OF inquiry was enough to
have convicted them before any impair
tial jury, and to have sent them from
any court OF Justice to dungeon. But
what OF that? In spite of the over
whelming proofs Of their guilt, and in
the face OF evidence that would
have convicted any horse thief, showing
that their decision was utterly false and
the National Legislature de-
cided to receive it as @ valid decision.
and upon that decision declared Mr..
Hayes to be lawfully chosen President.
What power in or out OF the constitu-
tion Is going to overrule that decision OF
the supreme Legislature? Are the
American people going to set aside the
decision OF their representatives and de-
pose the President? Are the grand
jurors at New Orleans going to repeal
the action of the two houses at Wash
ington Is the criminal court at New
Orleans going to overrule the DO
litical decision of the American Con-
gress? Are the four rascals in
by confessing the crimes
which all men are m orally con-
scious they committed, or by implicat-
ing other rascals in their villainy, going
to upheaye the settled foundation OF
Hayes government It is perfectly alb
surd to think that any Of these persons
lHnr 70 -
ton are going to do anything of the
kind. Why, then, should Mr.. Hayes, or
but the four rascals and their |
confreres in villainy be "ex-
by q movement to punish the |
villains as their villainy deserves? II |
any other persons should be "exer- |
cised," or be thrown into q "panic,"
plainly they are those who composed |
The Congress that decided to accept the |
returns as valid returns, and |
upon that decision made Mr.. Hayes the |
President in law as we'll as In fact.
Whether the motive of those who are
criminal proceedings |
against the four rascals In Louisiana |
be virtuous or vicious whether the pro-
oeedings have been instigated by car
pet bagger irreconcilables or by Tam
many irreconcilables.' by Packard or by |
Iilden-is matter Of no relevancy. The |
crime was committed. The criminals
deserve punishment. The punishment |
should be Inflicted. IT anybody has
,orruptly .bargained to shield them |
rom punishment, the country should |
know who has done 80, in order that ali |
such partners in the crimes of the four
'ascals may also be awarded their de-
'erts. II anybody should presume to in
,erfere between the arm of jugtice and |
he four rascals, whether it be Nichols
or Hayes or Gordon or Lamar or Gov.
Brown or Joe Hawley, the person 80 at
empting to obstruct the course Of JUS
ice should be made to realize that his
tction is crime against society no less
Infamous, no less wicked, than the crime
II the four rascals. AS yet, since his
accession to the Presidency, Mr.. Hayes
las not done any wicked thing, and not
many foolish things. But il Mr.. Hayes
y Mr.. Nichols, in any possible way.
should attempt to defeat justice by
screening the four rascaIs in Louisiana