The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-02-14

General " i0quiTe into the trial Of Gen.
Anderson 10 see If the Constitution and
laws Of the United States have been
complied with. IL IL quite certain that
the president aud cabinet are quite
stirred bp by this trial The following
report Of IA interview with Secretary
Sherman gives the reasons Of this IN
feeling.
Mr. sherman stated that be re.
gArded The arrest, trial and conviction
d Anderson as a great outrage under
color OF law. Anderson was not in.
dicted--tbe grand jury bad refused TO
iodict bin the proceeding against
bin 10 called an information and 10
expressly prohibited, in eases Of
felony. by the Constitution Of the
United States and Of most OF the states;
but II is provided for by the Law Of
Louisiana. The information was
signed aud 6led by = man who was Al
officer Of the White League, aud iden.
tilted with oil the numerous crimes Of
that organization. The Judge who tried
the case is public defaulter for over
5000 900. When Anderson was arrest.
ed be was acting as Collector Of the
Port Of New Orleans, and the arrest
was made while he was in the die
charge Of bis duties at the Custom
House, which stands. rs Mr. Sherman
thinks, on ground under sole jurisdic.
ton OF the United Stated by cession
from Louisians. He WAS buried 70
prison. required to give excessive bail.
and falling to do 30, was kept in Gus.
tody, denied all postponemeDt. forced
to trial, convicted. and is now held for
sentence without benefit of bail. The
jury was packed TO convict, aud the
PANEL had been ctrefully selected,
almost exclusively of one political party
and one race. Their examination as
called. showed the deepest and strong.
est prejudice against the defendant.
and. in any tribunal, he Mr.. Sherman)
ksew nearly every one would have
been rejected on his oath, and yet,
they were sworn in. with such a
jury" he said. +" am prepared to be.
lieve the story telegraphed that the
two colored jurors were tricked into
agreeing TO this verdict by an empty
appeal to the mercy OF the court.
The cause of this excitement against
Anderson aud his associates is that in
the performance of public duty, in the
plain pursuance Of law and upon ample
testimony, they eliminated from the
election returns 10 Louisiana the re-
suit of violence aud intimidation. But
this was not alledged in the informa.
ton, yet everybody knew that this
was the gravamen of their offence, aud
without It no man on this jury would
have convicted Anderson II is this
that excited this populace, heated with
passion TO the highest state OF resent
ment The pretence set up for the
prosecution was that Anderson had
participated in forgery in the altera-
ton OF the Vernon parish returns, but
there is not one particle Of evidence to
convict him with this act. The whole
had been thoroughly examined here by
committees Of Congress and all records
ADD returns have been spread before
them. aud even Little6eld, who made
the alteration, bad exculpated Ander-
son from the knowledge OF it The
truth is. the Vernon returns were
opened by the Returning Board before
hosts Of witnesses on the ninth day oil
the examination. were printed precisely
as they were 10 tue daily papers and
10 both houses OF Congress. and the
subsequent alteration by Littlefield Of
one copy Of these returns. was done
either as put up job, by him, or 10
the interest Of local candidates, having
no effect upon the general result. and
there does not appear TO be single
scrap OF testimony showing that An
derson participated in il 10 The slight
Get degree There was no motiEe fol
such an alteration by Anderson. The
true return being printed in so many
forms, It was absurd 10 think be would
alter Il. aud YET upon this iasle preteII
be was convicted. | still hope thai
this convicti,n will not be carried int
execution. but il II is. ~ 4 matter o
course the deepest feeling Of resent
meut and hostility will exist 10 th'
minds Of the great mass 81 our people
who believe that these returning Of
Gcers did bat their simple daty Moth
ing has been done pending The trial Il
interfere 10 any way with the course 0
/ Judicial proceedings. but il Anderson j
I in prisoned under this sentence II viii
be a mockery Of public justice aud vii
bring into contempt al efforts al peac'
aud reconciliation 1t is M unlooke,
sor and terrible commentary upon thl
efforts OF The President to quiet the TUT
bulance aud violence Of Louisiana pol