Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-09

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Q, 1878.
LET THE LAW TAKE ars COURSE.
The futtering and squirming OF the
members of the notorious Louisiana
Returning Board, their desperate at
tempts to avoid arrest and their threats
to make damaging exposures If the
Government at Washington does not
protect them, evince something very
different from conscious Innocence.
Why should they be so terribly scared
II they are not gully? In their des-
peration they two perfectly
self contradictory positions. They as
severate their innocence In one breath
and declare that their attempts to escape
q trial proceed from their dread OF a
jury dishonesty packed to convict
them, and in the next breath they in
timate q willingness to tell all they
know and disgrace their former pat
rons If they can be assured of immu-
nifty. This proffer of damaging dis
closures Is an implied confession of
guilt. Why should they demand i'm.
munity as the price Of what they can
divulge If their statements would not
convict themselves?
The pretense that they fear a packed
Jury does not help them. Be the jury
what 1t may, their trial will be public.
They will be defended by able coun-
sci and will possess the right of chal-
lsnge which belongs to all persons
arraigned on criminal charges. Their
cases excite such general interest that
the trial will be closely watched by the
whole country, and every scrap Of evil
dence will be reported for publication.
IF injustice is done item, it will be at
once perceived and denounced. If
they are convicted against evidence or
on insufficient evidence, Governor
Nichols, who is averse to raking open
old controversies, possesses the par
doning power, and will not hesitate to
exercise it. They have nothing to fear
unless their guilt is established by
proofs which convince the great body
OF impartial men who will watch the
trial and weigh the evidence.
Their proffered confessions must not,
under any circumstances, be accepted
by the authorities of Louisiana. If
they are such ~rascals as their offer i'm
plies, they would not scruple to tell
any story which would secure their es.
cape. The prosecuting officers have
no moral right to exposethe reputation
Of respectable citizens to the aspersions
and inventions of . set of knaves, who
have the double motive Of revenge and
safety to tell such a string of lies as
they think would please the political
party whose protection they invoke. Let
nothing be spread before the public in
this matter except the sworn testimony
of witnesses who are subjected to cross
examination and to the customary le.
gal tests of credibility.
The prompt refusal of Attorney Gen.
eral Devens to sanction the attempt of
the Federal marines to shelter these
fugitives in the Custom House, is pre-
cisely what might have been expected.
They could not have been harbored
there without a fragrant violation Of
law. The case was SC plain that the
Attorney General did not think it nee
essary to consult the President before
communicating his decision. AS this
is the only, it will doubtless be the last,
attempt made by Federal marines or
Federal soldiers to interfere with the
jurisdiction OF State under Mr.. Hayes
Administration. Happily, all that sort
of thing has become obsolete. 1t is
alleged that when the troops were with.
drawn last spring there was some sort
of an understanding or bargain for the
oblivion of all former offenses. II
there was any thing of the kind, it
could have related only to offenses
merely political. Assuredly it could
not have included crimes against the
law, for that would have been the COM
pounding Of felony, which would have
disgraced all the parties to it. Even ii
such q compact had been made, it
ought not to he kept. Being contrary
to law. nobody could be bound by it.
Let justice have its regular course!
SENATOR HOWE has done a good
work in bringing to the atten.
ton of the Senate the scandalous
delay experienced by those entitled to
pensions in obtaining them. The
cause. whatever 1t may be. Of such
gross injustice, ought to be promptly
removed.
FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND immigrants
arrived at New York last year, and the
sens of the Fatherland led all the rest.
U,-,ou&r tuvn thO,o.rI nror,,saA 80 10