The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-12
Southern People Not Responsible for
The Acts of Extremists.
CONFIDENCE In ANDERSONS INNOCENCE.
Packard's Struggle for the New
Orleans Collectorship.
MORE DEBATE ON THE SILVER BILL.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Feb IL, 1878
THE PRESIDENT ON THE RETURNING BOARD
TRIALs-woRK OF HOT HEADS AND ExTnEM-
IsTs-soUrHERN PEOPLE NOT RESPONSIBLE
Tho visiting statesmen suddenly broke loose to-day,
and are this evening in highly infamed condition of
mind about the Returning Board trials in New Or
leans Why they should DO troubled furious is
puzzllng people who have heard them talk. Some OF
them seem TO think that Governor Nichols ought to
have gone down to Judge Whtaker's court New
Orleans, rescued Anderson aud VOLS by force OF
arms and kicked Judge and jury out OF the court
house. They appear 10 forget utterly that Governor
Nichols has no moro right power to inter-
fcre in the proceedings OF a court than
Governor Robinson would have in New York. In ono
important matter Mcssrs Sherman, Matthews and
White they reported In the interviews you
to night decidedly in error whom they repr esent
the President as surprised disappointed, shaken in
his faith in the Southern people and inclined to
change his course of policy toward the South. They
utterly In the wrong and speak In haste and with
out consultation with him knowledge OF his views
There Is the best authority for saying this Tho
President Is neither surprised has no lost his
temper.
He thinks, SO say those who have talked with him
this evening about It, that the trial OF Anderson ana
Wells mistake; that it has boen brought about BY
small but active faction OF mischievous men, such
as exists in every community, North as well as
South; that 1t has not the countenance OF the large
mass, tho orderly part Of society," which Is attending
to It's daily business, and which, In New Orleans as
we'll as in New York and other places, docs not
quickly mako itself heard. He thinks that
these trials mistake, because they
will mislead public sentiment In tho North,
make some mon angry and make others doubt the
wisdom Of leaving the South alone But no thinks 1t
men begin ut once to denounce the whole Southern
people. Partisan spirit extremes every
where, in tho North we'll as In the South.
The President Is represented having entire faith
In the innocence of Anderson, whose conviction was
brought about tech nicaty and without tho least
proof OF bad intentions or OF conscious wrong do
Ing. The men who are pushing these trials
are the Same men who tried their worst to
prevent tho success OF the Commission in Now
Orleans in settling the affairs Of the State, and while
there pledges II was felt by both sides when
this settlement made that all past matters
TO be regarded bygones and that for the good OF
e state aud of the general harmony there should be
attempts at prosecutions Tor Offences arising out
of the previous political events 1t was pity that
such things should now happen, but 1t foolish to
raise cry against the Southern people because
Of these trials. Tho Southern people arc just ike
any other people. They have good ana baa among
them, and while tho good predominats In numbers
and class often get headway
and, though small in number makes itself conspic.
and powerful for evil against tho community
for a time.
Such is represented to DO tho tenor oil tho Prcsi.
DENTS conversation this evening It is added that
when a gentleman who conversed with him
told him that II thought that tho
fact OF Anderson and Wells holding federal
onlces in New Orleans made them especially
odous aud strengthened tho hands Of the extremists
who are forcing these trials contrary the wishes OF
Governor Nichols and the solid people of the State
the President replied that he certainly would not
move them while they were subject to such persecu.
lions; that he meant TO stand by them while they
we're attacked He is understood expect confidently
that Governor Nichols will pardon Anderson, but to
have added that he had never seen Governor Nichols,
but II u were Hampton no would have doubt all
of what he would do.
THE NEW ORLEANS CoLLLcroRsHIP-RUMoR
FAVORABLE TO PACKARD.
In the middle OF the little storm raised by the visit
ing statesmen this afternoon fresh batch OF
rumors that the President would nominate Mr. Pack.
ard TO the collectorship OF Now Orleans II Williamson
is rejected There Is no truth In these reports Mr.
Packard, however, has very jealous friends.