The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-27


information had been allowed to be
amended to cure fatal defect-a
most unheard of'thing. This looked
very like persecution. And how
had the verdict been obtained?' It
was asserted by one Of the jurymen
that he had been tricked into agree
ing by false representations as to
the effect of the recommendation to
mercy. This looked very like
persecution. - IS
Mr.. Leonard thought the majority
ia this House owed it TO themselves
to pass the resolution. Very grave
charges had been made, aud they
should not rest under such imputa-
tions. Let the Judiciary Committee
examine into the matter and report.
Mr.. Wise thought the construc-
ton placed upon the language Of the
resolutions of last year by Mr.. War
moth absurd. There was not word
in them to justify the idea that i'm
munity for actual crime was meant.
The gentleman from Plaquemines
could not have been familiar with
criminal practice or he would not
HAYS: stated that the amendment Of
an information was unheard Of. 1t
was very common procedure. AS
to the information being filed by the
District Attorney, it was the duty OF
that officer to file it if he conceived
that the Grand Jury had failed in
its duty.
Mr.. McGehee, of West Feliciana,
then took the floor, and said:-'
Mr.. Speaker: regret, with the
honorable gentleman from Caddo,
Judge Wise, that this resolution
should have been introduced into
this House: but, since it has benin
troduced, will not suffer the state
ments made upon this floor to 60 un-
contradicted. But before proceed
further [ will notice the remarks
from the gentleman from Caddo, Mr..
Leonard. He says the passage Of
this resolution will "relieve the Dem.
ocratic party of the State Of Louisi,
ana from the imputation of a viola
ton of"their faith" of their pledges,
etc. Sir, the Democratic Conserva-
tive party Of Louisiana does not de.
sire to be "relieved' Of such an, i'm
putation. Sir, they repudiate such
an imputation, and hurl it back from
J whence it came with the scorn that
it merits. I speak for myself and
the Democratic Conservative party
| of Louisiana when I1say I voted fol
: the resolutions passed April 20, 1877
with full knowledge of their pur
port and intent. Sir, we were told
t by those who spoke, as it, were, fo
1.-THE President, that. charges of hruta
: outrage, cruelty and violence hat
Y been made against the people of Lou
\ isiana, and the fear of the North wa
: that these expressions and outrage
J. would be practiced upon the Repub
= licans of the State of Louisiana il
0 revenge, and under the, influence o
# the violent excitement caused by tn
e late struggle; and that those stories
e though not true, had been spread il
a thousand ways before the people o
8 the whole United States. Th
: pledge was sought and obtained from
n the Government Of the State Of Lou
g siana, as represented by the Genera
e Assembly, with the Governor, t
= place upon record the determinatio
II of the people Of the State to discouu
tenance everything that resemble
l. persecution for political principles
not prosecution for criminal yiols
ton Of the statutes Of the Stat
J. which was expressly precluded fro'
if the scope and tenor of the resol,
At lions. Sir, the Democratic Conse
g vative party gave these pledges viii
n ingly, heartily, for the reason th,
a. there never was the remotest idea {
r. determination in their minds to pc
1t secute Republicans for their polite
st principles. Never did the member
IS of the General Assembly vote {
is pledge themselves to refrain fro
y prosecuting criminals violating IL
rs statutes of the State, Such q pledl
re they would have seorned to max
D, even as the price of their libertie
TO Mr.. Jonas arose to reply to a que
ID ton asked by the gentleman fro
t. Plaquemines. He had asked VIII
Sc the resolutions of last year meant,
TO they did not pledge the immunity
d. the Returning Board from prosec