The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-01
Tte 99aitg Arsas.
Rock rsLArD...rrEr
Concluded from second page.

Concluded from second page
fectly self-contradictory positions. They
asseverate their innocence in one breath
and declare that their attempts to escape
trial proceed from their dread of Jury
dishonesty packed to convict them, and in
the next breath they intimate willingness
to tell all they know and disgrace their
former patrons if they can be assured of
immunity. This prefer of damaging dis
closures is an implied confession of guilt.
Why should they demand immunity as the
price of what they can diyulge If their
statements would not convict themselves i?
The pretence that they fear a packed
jury does not help them. Be the Jury
what 1t may, their trial will be public.
They will be defended by able counsel and
Will possess the right Of challenge which
belongs to all persons arraigned on
criminal charges. Their cases excite such
general interest that the trial will be
closely watched by the whole country and
every scrap of evidence will be reported
for publication. If injustice is done them
1t will be at once perceived and Denounced
1t they are convicted against evidence or
on insufficient evidence, Governor Nichols,
who is averse to raking open old contro-
VERSES, possesses the pardoning power,
and will not hesitate to exercise it. They
have nothing to fear unless their guilt is
established by proofs which convince the
great body of impartial men who will
watch the trial and weigh the evidence.
Their protfered confessions must not un-
der any circumstances be accepted by the
authorities of Louisiana If they are such
rsscals as their offer implies they would
not scruple Ito tell any story which would
secure their escape. The prosecuting
officers have no moral right to expose the
reputation of respectable citizens to the
aspersions and inventions of a set of knayes
who have the double motive of revenge
and safety to tell such string of lies as
they think would please the political party
whose protection they invoke. Let nothing
be spread before the public in this matter
except the sworn testimony of witnesses
who are subjected to cross examination
and to the customary legal tests of credi.
bility.
The prompt refusal of Attorney General
Devens to sanction the attempt of the
federal marines to shelter these fugitives
in the Custom House is precisely what
might have been expected. They could
not have been harbored there without
fragrant violation of law. The case was SO
plain that the Attorney General did not
think it necessary to consult the president
before communicating his decision. AS
this is the only, it will doubtless be the
last, attempt made by federal marines or
federal soldiers to interfere with the iuris-
diction of a state under Mr.. Hayes ad-
ministratlon. Happily all that sort of
thing has become obsolete. 1t is alleged
that when the troops were Withdrawn last
Spring there was some sort of an under
standing or bargain for the oblivion of all
former offences. If there was anything
Of the kind it could have related only to
offences merely political Assuredly it
could not have included crimes against the
law, for that would have been the com
pounding of felony, which would have dis
graced all the parties to it. Even if such
compact had been made it ought not to
be kept. Being contrary to law, nobody
could be bound by it. Let justice have its
regular counsel"