Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-07
TIE THREATENED PROSECUTIONS.

1t is understood that numerous
warrants against cit;zsns in North
Louisiana, charged with offcnses
against the laws of the United
States, in connection with the late
election, have been placed in the
hands, Of the United States Marshal.
1t is presumed, and perhaps justly,
tina! tho proceedings under which
shese warrants are issued consti-
tute part ola general system of
'e2al and judicial intimidation TO
be pnt in practice against the peo-
plA Of the Southern States, to drive
them from their opposition to the
Republican party, and to punish
them for voting the Democratic
ticket. If such is the case, the fact
will soon be developed. If the en-
yinery of the law to he put in
motion, not. to assure justice, bat
20 serve the purposes Of ambitious
politicians and to crafty the re-
eminent and an.mosity of q Sec
sional party, these motives will be
revealed by the spirit with which
he prosecutions are conducted,
Ind the persons against whom they
are directed. When homes: citizens
are torn from distant homes and
dragged TO New Orleans to be tried
ror grave offienses, on charges pre-
erred by obscure and ignorant nc
sroes, the suspicion il at once
aroused that such proceedings are
saken for political purposes. and
not to serve the ends OF justice
When, in addition it appears that
prosecutions OF this kind are al
ways contemporaneous with some
frantic outc.y on the part Of the
Radical faction, and some peculiar
y violent outbreak of sectionai
hatred against the South, this sus-
picion.i 10 apt to be intensified and
confirmed. Such appears to be the
case in the present instance, and
We are, therefore rot withant v arr
can't in assuming that political in-
.luences Of very ultra character
nave inspired the President anc
his Attorney General to undertake
his judicial crusade against th'
citizens Of Louisiana. This fac
-hou]d always be borne in mint
vben we take into consideration
,he conduct of the officials Wit
represent the Federal Government
IA this State. However grotesqu
..!ay be Mr.. Leonard's altitude a
y public, prosecutor OF person
,,harged with offenses against tn
election laws Of the United state:
however great may be Marsha
Vharlon's energy in executing tn
orders of his Supporters, we must re
aember that the responsibllit
rests not on them, but on tho reck
less and ambitious politicians VIII
have urged these useless prosecu
sions, and the high officials b
whose..ordcrs they are undertaken
Iu few days we presume tn
Marshal will proceed to execu'
The writs which have been place
in his hand. 1t is OF the highe
Importance to the persons name
in the writs, and to the best inter
ests of Louisiana, of the soutl
.nd of the Democratic party, thu
40 resistance should be otfere
i, them, and that no attemI
should be made to evade them.
he first place, resistance to II
lower of the United States wou
,,e lutte. 1t would be followed
consequences disastrous to person
yprayed in il, and we'll calculate
% confirm the calumnles whlt
nave peen calculated respecting u
alleged lawiess character strenge
n The position Of the enemies
he South, and cut away the grou'
from beneath the feet of our trien<
10 attempt evasion would be us