The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-12

ding, promises to advance his ambi-

Ogden and the Grand Jury, because ne
thinks the effect will be to split the
Democratic party In that State.
Packard's friends are quite posltlye
that that gentleman could not possibly
have connived at any plot like this for
the satisfaction of his private grudge.
Tn this connection, the story that
Packard will bring forth some evidence
hitherto suppressed and particularly
damaging to the Republicans. Is re-
vived. as Is perfectly natural under the
circumstances.
National Republican,
The principles Of law applicable to
the prosecution which has been insti.
tuted against the Louisiana Returning
Board are very few and simple. The
grand jury had a perfect right to find
bills against the members OF that body,
charging them with having Violated the
laws OF that State. That right could
not be interfered with by any agree
ment made by the Executive of that
State. Such dispensing power Is not
recognized In any free country. 1t Is
especially odious to Anglo-Saxons, be-
cause Of the manner in which the mon
archs Of England abused that power
when they were attempting to take
away the liberties of the people.
The privileges, too, OF q grand jury
are Of very high and sacred character.
No earthly power ought to be permitted
to control their action. They are in
duty bound by their oaths to present all
violators of the law without respect to
rank, wealth or social position, and this
without any regard to the fact that i'm
munity may have been promised ex-
presslY or implicitly to the offenders by
the executive or any other authority.
fyr nd hnUn
the laws been violated and If 30 In
what way and by whom Upon Salts
factory proof that the law has been vio-
lated they can do nothing else than in
dict the offenders.
Those journals, therefore, which at
tack the grand jury because 1t indicted
the members OF the Returning Board
commit grave error. The step was
strictly legal. Northern people have
been complaining because the laws have
not been enforced In the South. Let
them, therefore, be careful not to find
fault with q proceeding which Is in
strict conformity to the law.
Let 1t be remembered, moreover, that
indicting these gentlemen by no means
proves them guilty OF the crimes with
which they are charged. They are en-
titled to q trial by jury. II they are
allowed the full benefit of that great
right and privilege of American free
men no one can properly make COM
plant as to the administration of the
law. IL they are denied q fair trial by
jury then the fiercest denunciations will
be In order, for to deny that right is
to outrage all law and justice.
Thus far this matter Is in the courts.
While there 1t cannot be reached by any
authority whatever. or course Presi-
In n n
body pretends that he can. Gov. Mich
oils can do nothing. Even IL he should
interfere by force with the regular pro-
ceedings Of court OF justice, he would
only render himself liable to be i'm
peached.
There. however, is a point further
along In this case where public senti-
ment can properly manifest itself. II
these parties should be legally convict
ed 1t would be very proper to urge in
the strongest terms upon Gov. Nichols
the propriety Of exercising on their be-
half whatever pardoning power he may
reasons OF political expediency growing
out OF the settlement of Louisiana
affairs could have, and ought to have,
the fullest weight.
We confess that this Ia q matter about
which It Is difficult to preserve that
calmness and moderation which alb
gtract justice demands. Let us, how
ever, remember that outside fnterfer-
ence at an improper time will only ag-
gravate an evil which 1t cannot control.
We trust that the people OF Louisiana,
when they come to soberly reflect upon
the danger OF these political trials, will
hesitate to pursue course which might
ultimately precipitate the State into
nd
North be patient. Let It trust the honor
and sense OF justice of the people OF
who are interested In not
having the expiring embers of civil dis
cord famed into new life by injudicious
political prosecutions.
New York News.l
1t may be difficult to separate the idea
Of politics and partisanship from the
legal proceedings instituted against the
gentlemen who composed the Return
ing Board of Louisiana that played 30
prominent a part in the practical deter
mination Of the result of the late presi- |
Dental election. In the minds OF many
partisans, prosecution, in this instance, |
will be deemed and denounced as per-
secution, and the parties indicted will, |
no doubt, claim to be considered |
the martyrs OF q political cause. |
IL 10 hlso pIoDdDle LnaC Inc Hd-
herents OF the party defeated by
The action Of the Returning Board will |
entertain and express in the premises |
distinctly hostile to the ac-
cused, and that with an emphasis and |
bitterness beyond what is generally in
spired by the course of judicial proce-
lure. And yet, there is no reason why |
the law should not take cognizance Of |
The offenses alleged against Mr.. J. |
Madison Wells and his co-defendants Ia |
his very remarkable action. It is |
very certain that majority Of the people |
of the United States are under the I'm
preston that a crime, very serious in |
IN Its consequences, has been committed |
by the persons indicted, and the
charges, as set forth in the indictments,
are popularity regarded as fairly stated
and as already virtually proven by the
evidence before the people. Under the
circumstances. 1t Is due to the accused,
Y innocent, to the people, If the charges
are true, that the matter undergo a
thorough judicial investigation, such as
will display the facts under the precise