Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-02-08
The Louisiana Returning Board Suit.

THE bulldozers of Louisiana are de-
termined to keep that unfortunate State
in political confusion, and, nOtwith-
standing that they have regained con-
troll of the offices and have put the ne
groes out of sight, are still bent upon
wreaking vengeance upon all those who
were instrumental in declaring the
electoral vote of the State for Mr..
Hayes. The latest development of
their conspiracies is shown in the arrest
of j. M. Wells, L. G. Anderson, l.. NJ.
Kenner and G. Casanave, members OF
the Returning Board, upon the charge
of forgery in altering the returns. These
gentlemen were arraigned upon this
charge on information filed by the Dis
trict-Attorney by direction of the Grand
jury. When brought before the Supe-
rior Criminal Court they made an eff
fort through their counsel to have the
case transferred to the Federal courts.
Failing in their application, they took
refuge, with the exception of Mr.. Wells,
who forfeited his bonds and took leg
bail, in the Custom-House, and placed
themselves under the protection of the
Collector, who summoned marines from
the United States revenue vessels to de-
fend them. The Sheriff of the county
thereupon attempted to arrest them and
was himself arrested by deputy of the
United States Marshal, under the ad-
vice of the United States District-Attor
ney, upon a warrant issued by the
United States Commissioner charging
the Sheriff with interfering with the
Collector in the performance of his
duties. The Sheriff was subsequently
released upon his own recognizance
The Attorney-General of the State
thereupon telegraphed to the Attorney
General of the United States, asking
whether the General Government sane
toned the conduct of the United States
officials. After consultation with the
President reply was sent in the form
of a notification to the United States
Marshal not to interfere with the rights
of the State courts, upon receipt of
which the prisoners were remandcd to
the State authorities and one of them is
now on trial before the State court.
Such is the status quo of the compli-
cation. So far as the arrest of the mem
bers of the Returning Board is con-
cerned, it was made under due forms
of law, upon a specific charge made
against them by the proper law officer
acting upon the direction of the Grand
Jury. 1t is also equally clear that the
President and Cabinet are sound in their
declaration that the Federal Govern
ment has no right to interfere in their
behalf with the operations of the State
court in which they were indicted, and
that the United States District t-Attorney,
Marshal and Collector exceeded their
functions in harboring them within the
Custom-H House, under the protection of
the United States sailors, thus obstruct-
ing the natural action of the State laws.
There is, however, another side to the
picture. Immediately upon the escape
of the prisoners TO the Custom-House,
the New Orleans Democrat, which is the
official organ of that city and of the
State, and has been the official organ,
advocate and defender of the bulldozers
ever since the Louisiana troubles COM
menced, filled its columns with the most
malicious vituperations of the President
and the General Government, without
learning what action the President
would take in the premises. Ii repre-
sented the action of the CustOm-House
officials as the fruit of the Presidents
eivil-service policy, and called upon
him "to blush at the shameful and dis
gusting spectacle" presented "by his
own tools" The malice of the attack
upon the President reflects the malicious
animus of the whole prosecution.
1t will be difficult to convince reason
able people that this suit is not part
and parcel of that same bitter and vim
dictive hatred of Republicans that dur
ing the campaign manifested itself in
the persecution, massacre and torture