The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-22
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

We desire to call the special attention of
the CUSTOM House Radical National N We
American-Red Warrior Combination to the
following law, quoted in Attorney General
Devens' circular letter TO the United States
district attorneys in Alabama. South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, published in the DEMO
GRAFT of the ninth instant. of which issue we
have few copies left, which we will dispose
Of Oft five cents per copy to members of the
aforesaid combination in search Of accurate
information:
The statement of crimes against the elective
franchise Is condensed In chapter 7, title TO- of
the Revised Statutes, and your attention is es-
pecially called to section $500, which enacts III
two or more persons In any State or Territory
c,onsplre to prevent by force. intimidation or
vote from giving his support or advocacy In a
legal manner toward or In favor of the election
Of any lawfully qualified person as an elector
for President Or Vice President or member of
Congress of the United States to injure any
citizen In person Or property on account OF
such support or advocacy. each of such pe' sons
shall be punished and fined not less than $500
| nor more than $4,000, or by Imprisonment with
or without hard labor not less than six months
nor moro than six years. or by both such fine
and Imprisonment
Mr.. Devens has promised and supplement-
ed this statement of the law with some emil
nently appropriate and proper remarks
Indeed, his observations SO commend them
selves to OUR hearty, we may say enthusiast
tic approval, that we shall content ourselves
with merely paraphrasing them. Mr.. Devens
premises as follows:
It1fo1 HTS keeH si=eH ef certain
outrages alleged to have been committed and
threatened to be committed In the north and
middle districts of Alabama in connection with
the approaching congressional elections. This
Information is of such character that deem
i proper to eal yopr attention tt to the laws Of
purity of such elections. In order that proper
steps may be taken to bring to justice
to s " eizens wthou nu Of Z pry
while the election Ia pending. their just rights.
Like Mr.. Devens, we are also the proud pos
SCISSORS of information, and that of most
definite and comprehensive character. This
information is also in the possession Of GER
tain authorities who will most assuredly use
1t IL 1t ever becomes necessary to do so. It
does not relate, however, to the northern,
neither to the middle districts Of Alabama. It
is what we would classify in our Geographic
columns as domestic intelligence" It re-
lates solely to New Orleans and to the indvi-
duals belonging to the combination we have
mentioned, the name of every member Of
which in this State we have, together with all
the circumstances OF his initiation and mem
bership. We have, besides, positive and irref-
ragabe proof that these persons have con-
spired to prevent by force, intimidation and
threats lawful election in this State end
also to 'injure' In "person and property such
OF our Democratic w-citizens as might
happen to differ from the views or be hostile
to the purposes of the aforesaid Radical
National-Red Warrior combination.
As Mr.. Devens would observe-this inform
alton is of such character that we deem it
proper to call the attention of the members
of the aforesaid combination to the laws of
Congress intended to protect the freedom and
purity of elections, In order that they may
know that proper steps will be taken to bring
all of them to Justice who may offend against
these laws "witlsom distinction Of partly"
Mr.. Devens further observes-and we think,
even correcHy-in regard to the law he
quotes:
The enforcement Of this provision is essen,
tial to the proper discussion of the merits Of
citzens who come forward as candidates Tor
Congress- When, therefore it is invoked by COM
bnations or consplracies by force intimidation
or threats to prevent citizeus from giving their
support and adv .cncy to any lawfully qualified
person as q member of Congress of the United
States and sufficient evidence of this is brought
70 your attention. yon will act geographically in
to Justice by causing warrants to be- issued
against them by some firm and impartial
United Suites commissioner, and by having
such parties brought promptly before him. to
be dealt with according to law
With Mr.. Devens we agree that the enforce
ment of this provision is quite essential, and
we shall certainly take his advice to "act
in bringing to Justice all who
may enter into this conspiracy and combina-
ton, shy force, intimidation Or threats" to
prevent free and fair election In this city Or
State. We are, also, glad to say that there is
at least one firm and impartial United States
upon which we can confident
Iy rely to bring all guilty parties promptly
before him to be dealt with according to law"
Now, in sober seriousness, let the Radical
who are threatening the good
people OF Natchtoches and of other COM
munties in this State with arrest and out
rage, beware how they proceed. In the case
Of these people the proceeding is but q repe-
tition Of the old Sewing machine dodge
mere bluff and bravado. But in
their own case it Is entirely different
We have the facts on them: the proof is
complete and positive, and the penalty is
fine OF not less than $500, nor more than $4,000,
or imprisonment for not less than six months,
or more than six years. Mr.. Deyens con-
cludes his really admirable letter with the
directions to the United States
attorneys:
deem proper also to add that in such cases
you should endeavor to select those VINO you
are satisfied are the leaders of such conspira-
cies rather than mere followers. In no case
will you permit any warrants to be wantony or
issued. The laws ara to be executed
firmly, but always fnirly and impartially.
1t is needless to add that we also entirely
agree with these humane and iudicious senti-
ments Special care will be taken to dis
crimnate between the ''leaders" and their
mere followers For the latter there Is in
finite mercy; for the former none whatever
We cannot conclude without rendering to At
torney General Devens our grateful ac1nowl-
edgments. Jew, I thank thee for that wordr
THE TrNGhu TP0npT z