The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-09
THE COUNTRY PRESS.
VIEWS OF THE COUNTRY PRESS ON
LEADING TOPICS OF THE DAY.
The Decision of the Supreme Court.
East Feliciana Patriot Democrat

East EpIClauH 1htTlOb-DSluOCIau.
By the decision of the Supreme Court of
this State, rendered on Monday last, four
notorious criminaIs-Wells, Anderson, Cassa-
nave and Kenner-were turned loose upon
society.
The decision alluded to was rendered on an
application made by Attorney General ogden
for rehearing In the case OF Thomas u
Anderson Tht application was refused. The
opinion refusing tho application was read by
Chief Justice Manning, all his associates con-
curing.
posted In the intricacies Of legal lore to war
rant our raising our voice against the action
Of this high tribunal, nevertheless we are Tree
to admit that some OF the ablest legal minds
not only in our State but throughout the
Union, have been more than surprised with
the course pursued by the Supreme Court OF
Assumption Pioneerl
On Monday last this tribunal refused to
grant q rehearing in the case Of the State vs.
Thos G. Anderson, and took occasion not
also replied at length to the brief made by the
Attorney General in his application for re-
hearing. 1t is fortunate thing for the repu.
tation Of the court that the Attorney General
applied for @ rehearsal OF its decision, as it
gave them an opportunity to discuss several
points alluded to in Mr.. Ogden's brief and
to elucidate the law-points, and make them 50
clear that they can be fully compreheDded by
those who are not familiar with the necessari-
~ strict construction of the criminal statutes
Of the country essential to the protection of
persons accused of crime. We reterate that it
was fortunate for the court that they had
such an opportunity for placing themselves
right before the country in this interesting
case.
rOlachita Telegraph
The Supreme Court refused the State re-
hearing and ordered the accused to be dis
charged last Monday. Since the trial OF
Aaron Burr no case In the United States has
excited 50 much interest in the public mind or
given rise to SO much comment by the press.
That minds should differ on important and
difficult questions is natural and right, for the
clash brings out justice as that Of the flint
and steel brings out fire. But after final
judgment on the pros and cons, the case is
concluded, the finding becomes part OF the
should be the rule. And right here
we beg to say that while we honestly
differed from the Court In their
Interpretation of the law, we accept their
decree rs the result OF mature thought and
honest convictions, and do most earnestly
enter our protest against the criticism OF the
press as being unwise, impolitic and unjust.
Better Thousand Andersons should escape
the punishment Of their crimes than that the
judges should even be suspected of deviating
In the least from the paths of their duty.
Justice knows no man or place or public ex-
pectatiOn; she must deal with law as she
finds it, and dispense it without fear or favor.
Men may be treacherous III high and low
places, but all eyes turn to the judiciary as
incorruptible Virtue, learning and integrity
have qualified them to wear the ermine and
no thought of self or others should induce
them to bedraggle it in the slime OF State or
national politics.
Pure and disnterested men must have pure
and disinterested motives for their rule Of
conduct and are entitled to the best of con-
structions on all of their official acts. Had
Anderson been compelled to suffer we should
have rejoiced, but as it has been determined
otherwise we have not one word OF censure.
Judges are not infallble We expect them to
be learned; we require them to be honest
They have performed solemn duty, and we
hope correctly. Our opinion yields to the
court.
A Democratic Council.
West Felciana Democrat
Pursuant to the call of Gen. Patton, presi-
dent the State Central Committee Of the
Democratic party will meet in New Orleans
on the first day of May next. This will be
really the first step in the coming campaign,
and an important step it is, too, IL we consider
it in the full scope OF its bearing upon the
MON entous questions that will be involved in
for their consideration will be that OF the
calling of a convention OF the Democratic
party and If it were not for some intimations
of a disposition to ignore this question, too
plain to be miscOnstrued, we should certainly
deem it unnecessary to allude to the subject
| We take it as q conceded proposition, that
the Democracy have suffered sufficient hui
initiation at the hands of venal or cowardly
allies, in being saddled with the responsible
| ty Of the miserable and disgraceful failure of
ures of true reform to which the great Demo-
cratic party, with it's conservative" ally was
pledged in the late grand contest which re-
suited In the wrestling Of the State govern
| L.
and placing it in the keeping of our own peo-
All the odium Of these failures. though not
! in justice responsible for them, will be hurled
upon her with all the might Of partisan hate
| Injustice and rancor; she will be held account
with her, were not of her." and those who
SEEK her downfall will not fail to avail them
selves of the opportunity thus offered to &C.
complish her ruin.
blind as not to be able to clearly see where
the blame rests. This question we will not
here discuss. It's enough to know that the
Democratic party will be made to suffer from
the delinquencieS OF protested friends, or, to
express it perhaps more plainly, she is reap
ing now, the first fruits of that fatal step
when, to mollify miserable minority Of NAL.
contents whose generous and patriotic uiti-
n,atatm was, go with US, or 2re go with the
enemy" she allowed herself to be forced into
a political partnership that has thwarted
we'll nigh every measure she has proposed fol
the relief of the people, and has endeavored
even to compass her destruction.
In view of this state Of affairs, we demand
for the people that the convention be called
and at as early day as possible, that the
mocracy of the State may assemble in coun
ell, denounce and repudiate the failures and
follies of recent legislation, announce its plat
form OF principles and put men upon the plat
! l.Al y 4: L.