Richland beacon., 1878-03-02

vict them by force of her laws and TO
imprison them as her Laws direct
Against such a procedure what can
the president or any member OF the
cabinet do! State courts are doing the
same thing every day in other States.
Citizens of New York and Massachu-
setts are daily before their criminal
courts and sentenced to penitentiaries
Men are tried, too, for murder, con-
vicied and sentenced TO be hanged
Executions are not unfrequent in all
parts Of the country. But what argu-
ment does that furnish Tor federal in-
reference? People may cry out, pro-
test and denounce the proceedings,
but that is the end Of tho dissatisfac-
tion. Such. too, be thought, would
be the result in Louisiana.
TIE GUILTY MUST SUFFER.
Irregular aud lawful trial shows
that Wells and Anderson were guilty
of fraud. that they violated the State
law. then for their crime they must
snlier. Suppose the people Of other
parts of The country cry cat that this
is political persecution they may do
so that is a privilege accorded the
| free American citizen but don't you
see, said Judge Leonard, the qucs.
tion will always recure, what are you
going to do about it? And is not the
answer a plain one? Attend to your
own business. Louisiana is capable
of taking care Of all the criminals
within her border.
sUPPOsISG SHERMAN poss.
But some people up here say they
are not guilty. For instance, Secre-
tary Sherman thinks so, writes so,
talks so. What if he does That
will not change the opinion of
Louisiana jury. And supposing lha,
John Sherman should he indicted,
tried and convicted. Why, they
would just as soon send him TO the
penitentiary as Anderson or Wells.
You see; or perhaps it may not be
quite 80 plain TO you as it really is,
the administration of President
Hayes. of which Mr.. Sherman ia
member has recognized the Nichols
government as the only State govern
ment in Louisiana-tbe government
which the people of the United States
wanted recognized because it was the
government Of the people What
then? Shall il he said that her judi
ciary is not to be allowed tn exercise
it's prerogatives What the judiciary
of State not fit to try its own ci,i-
zens?
THE CHANGE OF VENUE.
In regard to the proposed change
of venue, that is a mistake it cannot
be done. An appeal might be asked
aud docketed, and no one knows when
it could bc.reached aud when reached
the supreme court of the United
States would have to dismiss it for
want of jurisdiction. In the mean-
time weeks, months would have
elapsed and the convicted parties
would remain in Jail. Again. you
must admit that federal interference
in State matters is repugnant to our
ideas OF a republican form of govern
ment. and you know how very broad
ly that principle has been enuncated
by this administration. Who. then,
can reasonable find fault if in the ex-
ercise of all ber States rights, the
grand jury at New Orleans should in.
dict John Sherman, Eugene Hale,
James A. Garfield, Il. W. Stoughton
and Stanley Matthews for interfering
with or over persuading the members
of the returning board or tampering
with the election returns.
EVIDENCE OF BEING DEFRAUDED.
One thing you must see the exis-
tence of the Nichols State govern.
ment persuades the Democracy of
Louisiana that they were defrsuded,
were cheated out of their eight elec-
toral votes for Tilden and Hendricks.
Do you doubt that they are sincere
that they are honest in that belief?
If they are, then they reach the con-
clusion that some one is guilty of aid
lug and abetting that fraud. The &C.
tive agents were, in their opinion,
Anderson and Wells. The hackers
were the visiting statesmen, begin
ming with Mr.. John Sherman and
ending with G. Irving Ditty.. TIE
Louisiana Democrats are just as non.
est in their convictions that the whole
crowd is guilty and ought 20 20 to
the penitentiary as the accused are
positive Of their innocence snd that
such proceeding would be down.
right persecution.
THE POWER TO PARDON.
One other remark and | am done.
Governor Nichols has rot the power
of pardon. That is the prerogative
Of the State senate of Louisiana.
That Senate, you know, has been rec
ognized by the administration as the
only senate fit to make laws for the
people Of Louisiana Therefore, it is