The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-12

| he Mr. Sfern1an) knew every one
would have been rejected on his osttI, yet;
though ehaflenged, they were sworn IN.
With such d Jury I auI prepared to be-
lieve the story telegraphed this morning,
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
and his associates is, that In the perform.
ance Of a public duty, ir plain pursuance OF
law and upon ample testimony, they eliIni-
mated from the election-returns in Louisi-
ana Che results OF violence and intimidation.
Though this was not alleged in the infor-
nation" YET every body knew that this was
the gravan1en Of their offence, and without
it no man on this Jury would have con-
victed Anderson. It is this that excited
this populace, heated with passion, to the
highest state OF resentment. The pretence
set up for the prosecution was that ADder-
son had participated in forgery or alter
| alton OF the Vernon parish returns; but
there was not one particle Of evidence to
connect him with this act. The whole
had been thoroughly examined here,
by the committees OF Congress and all
the recordsan returns had been spread be-
fore them, and even Littlefeld. who made the
alterations. had exculpated Anderson from
any. knowledge of it. The truth isthe YER
non parish returns were opened by the Re-
| turning Board before hosts of witnesses on
the ninth day Of the examination, were
printed precisely as they were in the daily
papers and in both houses Of Congress, and
| theIsubsequent alteration by Littlefeld OF
one copy Of the returns was done either az
| ga put-up Job" by him or in. the interest
OF local candidates, having no effect on the
| seneralresult; and there does not appear to
be a single SCRAP, Of testimony showing that
4 Anderson participated in it in the slightest
| degree. There was no motive for such al
alteration by Anderson, the true returns
being printed in so many forms it was abb
surd to think he would alter it; yet upon
this false .pretext he was convicted.
still hope that this conviction will not be
carried into execution; but il it is, as a
matter Of course the deepest feeling OF re-
sentiment and hostility will exist in the
minds OF the great mass OF our people, who
| believe that these returning officers did but
| their single duty. Nothing has been done
here pending the trial to interfere in any
way with the course OF judicial proceed
ings; but il Anderson is imprisoned under
| this sentence it will be a mockery OF public
| justice, and will bring into contempt all ef-
forts at peace and conciliation. 1t is an.
unlooked-for and terrible commentary upon
the efforts of the President to quiet the tur-
bulence and violence OF Louisiana politics,
and it seems to me an act of folly and mad
ness.
The dispatch to General Anderson is as
follows:
Washington, D. e., February 4, 1875
Colonel Thomas &. anderson, Ne1o Orleans,
L.: The undersigned feel it due to you,
under the circumstances, to assure YOU OF
our unhesitating belief that in the matter
wherein YOU stand charged you are alto
gether guiItless Of any offence against law;
that you are falsely accused and maliciously
prosecuted; that the proceeding against
YOU, though in the form OF law, is without
the substance OF justice; that we hereby
tender our earnest sympathies and express
our hope that the sense Of justice and love
of peace OF the people of Louisiana will
protect you and not permit the best inter-
ests of the whole country to be disturbed
by revival of sectional animositics. In
any event we are confident that the Ameri-
can people will redress any injustice OF
which you may be made the victim.
ISigncd1 JOHN SHERMAN,
STANLEY MATTHEW'S,
J. A. GARFIELD,
EUGENE HALE,
HARRY WHITE.