The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-20
LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS.
New ORLEANS,
Feb'y Is, '7s.{


Feb'y Is, 49,
Editor Dens0crat:--
The conviction of Anderon seems
o have produced more excitement in
" Washington than here, where it has
been the nine days wonder. The
stir think is mainly due to the fears
ind chagrin of Secretary Sherman.
He is somewhat afraid of informa-
ton being fled against himself, and
At any rate the conviction Of his
''pal'' nips in the bud his aspirations
for tue Presidency ip the dim future.
His course as Cabinet officer in
the Judge and Jury before
the trials of these Offenders are over,
is likely to impede administration Of
justice, and is good ground imagine
for 4 Committee of the House to
make Investigations with view to
impeachment. Case of rehearing
was closed yesterday, and will proba-
bly be decided Monday. lean safely
predict that there will be no new
trial. Gov. Wells gave bail and was
released Saturday evening-his secu-
rites being Gnstavus Devron for
$4,000, H. j. Swettenham and r. L.
Belden for $4,000 each. The bond is
a good one, and think it may be
proven, for if there is no reliefbefore
the trial comes the Governor will be
found again missing. He has out
witted the Lion Of st. Landry in all
of his affairs in an amusing manner.
We all know that the Vernon Parish
forgery was a private job of Gov.
Wells, and that Anderson is too level
headed a man to have. done such
bungling piece Of rascality, and knew
nothing about it until it was consum-
mated; this he was in measure
forced to acquiesce. The Governors
case was first set for trial, and he
managed to escape and get Anderson
substituted, and being first had to
bear the brunt Of the prosecution, A
general impression is gaining ground
that the Governor will pardon An
derson; no one can speak for him,
but ! know that il he thinks it best
to do 90, he will, in spite of any in
auence to the contrary, and the pre-
sent Senate will doubtless confirm it.
This idea is based upon the resolu-
ltion of last winter, that there should
be no political prosecution, but how
the vulgar crime Of forgery can be
construed into q political offence, is
beyond my comprehension. ] think
that one Of the most important duties
of the government is involved in this
trial, "the guarding ofthe sanctity OF
the ballot box" and If this man SO
) notoriously guilty, should be par
doned before his sentence is carried
. into execution, the majesty OF the
| -94 4 < .
. law will not be vindicnted, the prose
;. cution acknowledge, as q political
e persecution, and the logical conse-
8 ouence to the world that it vas done
+ solely for political capital in the next
G political campaign. Speaker Busl
d is understood by some to mean thai
8 he takes the Republican interpreta
8 ton of the resolution, and will 80 de
clare at future time. In Governor
# w ellis case if he be convicted, th'
j. Governor can not release by pardo'
le from the Peniten tary until the Senat
, passes upon it, and in the next Sen
d ate that may not be SO easy to do, al
m the people justly demand that som,
at one shall be made responsible 70
n this great crime against the libertie
il. Of Louisiana, and against Republican
III Government.
The early part Of the week th
is House had several field days 0
ng question Of Constitutional Amend
'e ments versus Constitutional Conver
mt ton. Leonard made very fine q
ng gument in favor Of a, Convention, br
Nd on a test vote could only get ~
nd favor Of it. The question may no
Of be considered settled, and the Amen
ms ments will all pass. The bienni
my sessions of the Legislature saw
ere over 100000 a year. So far son
iii. ten Amendments have passed; one
In them limits State and Parish Tax
be ton to 10 mills each, and -prohib
ing the issuing Of new State Bond
the this latter will no doubt kill the b
not giving aid to our Railroad. Tod
M the Committee on Elections report
in favor Of seating Barbin instead
lca' Souer-Peralta, Democrat, joins in
Car minority report In consequence
the this the Republicans have det'
IONS mined to defeat the rest Of !