New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-20

ACTIVE STEPS TAKEN BY THE ADMINISTRATIONS IL
ANDERsON's DEHALF-THE PROMISE or PAR
DON, If ONE SHOULD BE NECESSARY, OBJ
TANNED
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, March 19.-The final settlement of
the case of General Anderson and indeed OF those OF
all of the members of the Louisiana Returning
Board by the decision of the Supreme Court OF the
State Yesterday, makes it proper to say that from
the day when the indictments against those gentle
men were found, the President and his entire Cabi-
net have done everything in their power TO prevent
what they regarded rs an unjust and purely politi-
cal prosecution from being successfully carried cut.
The President has always openly insisted that
the arrest and trial of the members Of the Return
ing Board were in plain violation of The spirit OF the
agreement entered into by the representatives Of
Ire Nichols Government at the time of the Lousi-
ana settlement a year ago. During the very first
stages Of the prosecution Mr.. Hayes sent contdeu
t.al friends to Louisiana to consult with Gov
crnor Nichols and tn ascertain from General An
defson what steps lac desired the ADMINISTRATION 10
take ia regard TO his case, and IN what legal and
prpuer way the Government at Washington coaid
use It's power most effectively in his behalf. The
President and all the members of his Cabinet also
ma,le known their views in the most pointed terms
in regard to the question of honor involved on the
and through those who visited the officials Of that
state for the purpose, II very strong influence was
excricd i'm favor of arrosiing the prosecution.
The result of these consultations WIS Il discovery
that il was impossible TO interfere with the proceed
inrs in the lower court. Many of the prominent
officers of the state Government were brought to
see and acknowledge that the trial of the Return
ing Board as instituted and conducted (aad taking
into consideration the nature of the offence alleged
was i'm plain violation of the whole spirit Of the
agreement made with the Louisiana Commission
So active and persistent the President and his
advisers in this matter that soon after General An
dcrson's conviction understanding was reached
that Governor Nichols should pardon him II it WAS
then desired
General Anderson himself, however, objected to
the intcrpositon Of the pardon before the final &C.
ton by the Supreme Court. His confidence that the
decision of that body woald be in lis favor was 50
great that hc preferred to suffer temporarily,
and have his case settled by the Court ratlcc
than by Executive interference before hndl adJudi-
cation.
IL viii he seen from this brief statement that in
stead Of feeling the apathy of which he has been
accused toward this case, the President has from
the first taken as deep an interest ana as active
u part in 1t ~ 1t was possible Tor tne
AT any time to interfere with the aid OF the military
power the United States, as he believed that would
be unconstitutional. lie did order an investigation
by the Attorney General of the power ana luIsdlc-
ton of the United States courts. by which II WAS
found that no steps could be taken III those courtS
umtil the case had been disposed of by the local
tribunals.
satisfied with what done by the Administration.
and with the disposition manifested by the
President TO assist him.