The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-15

for the purpose of shielding them from prose-
cltion and punshmentY None whatever II,
then. II be proper for the Legislature TO in
terfere In this case or to take any notice OF
these trials with as much deceney may every
thief petjurer and murderer in the land
claim hearing in that body and It's interposi-
ton for his protection from Justice
The joint resolution passed in the spring Of
1877. at the close Of our political troubles, and
On which Mr.. Warnuth based his resolution
to Interfere In the trial OF the Returning
Board, has no relevancy whatever to the case.
The scope and meaning Of that resolution
was ably and fully shown in the debate yes
tertlay by Messts Jonas and Mrtiehee, the
latter representative Of the most c0nserva
tive and moderate element Of the Democratic
party. These gentlemen were both members
of the caucus which agreed upon the resou-
ton. and they both understand ii thoroughly.
Their explanation Of Its scope therefore. Is
Of Messrs. Sherman. Warmoth and the whole
Republican party.
Packard and his allies had been for months
In open rebellion against the Legitimate gov
eminent; they had kept the State on the
verge Of revolution; business and industry In
tile city were suspended and panic petvaded
all classes Of the community; the State
House was barricaded and defended against
the people by an army Of desperadoes. These
men, from Packard down 10 the lo,,siest Me-
tropolitan of his tiif-raff, were revoutionists
Of the most malignant glass. II was great
act Of magnan,nity too grant them
immunity. az was done by this
resolution And he magnanimity # our gov
eminent did not stop with granting them
immunity from prosecution A large sum Of
money was appropriated 10 pay Off the instlf.-
rectionary0 police who marched out Of their
fastness with their pockets lined with the peo-
pies money, In the face Of hundreds Of penn-
less men who for days and nights had stood
by the legitimate government. Aud yet we
are told In Washington and In our own House
Of Representatives. thatowe are prosecuting
our political opponents.
The resolution referred to Packard and the
attaches of his usurgation, and they have had
the full benefit Of 1t. But II had wider scope
still. For years the Democrats Of Louisiana
had been charged with prescribing Republi-
cans with maltreating and numbering their
man. white or black, who would not declare
himself Democrat The resolution was an
authentic declaration against any such pol
10y; It was a declaration Unnecessary. 1t is
true, but still full. earnest and sincere de-
claration Of tolerance to the catpet4baggera
and scalawags who had 50 long oppressed our
,people, %
Beyond this the RESOLUTION did not 20. Be
yonh this ii could not have gonsewithout as
Stunning the charactep Of a gross crime. As
a matter OF policy 1t was right for the Legis-
lature to grant immunity to the insurrection-
lists. but the General Assembly had no power
to grant, and 1t never attempted to exercise
the power to grant, immunity to the per-
petrators OF specific crimes defined in the
statutes. If 1t had attempted to do
such thing 1t would have committed
al act more Rcandalous than any Of those
which disgraced the legislatures under War
moth and Kellogg. oThose corrupt bodies
passed wicked and nrotligate laws -detriment-
al to the public good-but we believe they never
rose to 81 audacious n height Of shame and
reeslessness as to declare that any class or
complexion OF mon should enjoy immunity for
the crimes they might lSve committed
They onever, wa are sure. by one
sweeping resolution, declared that periurers
and forgers Of any party, or under any cir
cumstances, should be exempt from prosecu-
ton, and that el,e regular and systematic
trial Of such criminals was persecution "
We protest that the present Legislature
never committed SO Infamous an act as this :.
we hold that Messrs. Jonas and Nc
Gehee have explained the full scope
and meaning of the resolution of 1877. and Il
any member voted for 1t, designing to give to
It the scope that the President the Secretary
of the Treasury and Mr.. Warmoth claim 1t
possesses, he was guilty Of gross violation
Of the laws of his country and OF tiagrant
BETRAYAL of tho rights Of his fellow -ctizets.