The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-14


nalists, representing the dominant party In
the State it was our duty to demand that
proper punishment be melted out to the
scoundrels who had SO shamelessly and
openly violated the criminal laws Of Lou
isiana. Wells, Anderson d Co. had no sooner
published to the world The evidence OF their
corrupt tampering with the returns OF the
election than we denounced them as u band Of
criminals and asked for their Indictment.
The law officers Of the State, faithful to the
obligations of their oath Of Office, caused them
to be arraigned for the Infamous crime Of
forgery and have secured the conviction Of
one OF them For this they deserve and have
received the thanks and commentator Of the
people.
The trial Of Thomas G. Anderson was Us
fair and impartial proceeding as was ever
witnessed in court Of justice. If any par
tiality was shown 1t was rather toward the
prisoner than the State. Every safeguard
which the rules Of Anglo-Saxon criminal prac-
tice throw around o man on trial for fol
ony was extended to him. The jury was
composed Of men Of both races, every one
OF whom was disposed to be governed in his
verdict entirely by the evidence. The Attor-
ney General and District Attorney distinctly
stated that they did not desire conviction
unless it was forced from the jury by the tes-
timony Of trustworthy Witnesses
During the trial the press Of the city studi-
ously abstained from any acrimonious refer
ences to the case combining itself to q mere
recital of the proceedings in court. Every
day the prisoner was escorted through the
~. I.. 4
slightest approach to insult or moestation Of
any kind. In fact. SO quietly and deeorously
was the whole proceeding conducted that no
stranger could have imagined that d man was
on trial who had little more than year before
employed every device suggested by devilish
ingenuity and bitter hatred to rob the people
Of their liberties and condemn them to life
Of misery and degradation.
And now what do we find? A citizen of
Louisiana Is convicted by o Louisiana jury of
an Infamous crime ag INST the laws of Loui
siana, and no sooner is the news of the con-
viction transmitted to Washington than the
Secretary Of the National Treasury and four
other eminent statesmen unite in o tele-
gram OF sympathy and coincidence with the
common forger. Not satisfied with this i'm
proper reflection upon the conduct of our
officials, the Hon John Sherman, apparently
frenzed by rage, launches out into wholesale
abuse and yituperation Of the people, courts
and government OF the State, and even for
gets himself to such an extent as to threaten
us with return to the methods of Grantism.
Has this country ever Witnessed such an ex-
hibition of official indecency on the part of q
Cabinet of1iceo
We tell this fellow. who is regarded at
Washington, where he Is best known, as the
very incarnation of corruption, that his I'm po-
tent threats convey no terror to the free peo-
pie of this sovereign State. His impertinent
attempt to intermeddle in the internal affairs
Of Louisiana and to interfere with tie course
Of justice provokes only our contempt. He
and the Cabinet and the President have no
more power to vex us, now that we have
emerged from our former condition OF subjec-
ton to Federal bayonets, than has the En-
peror Of Morocco. They may fret and fume
and swear to their hearts content. The law
must and will take it's course, for we have
no fear that our efficient and conscientious
Attorney General will so far forget his duty
as to allow himself to be browbeaten by any
pouy out VI ehe aaitiHu pellolmduG5 VI Ills
duty. Let the prosecutions go on, without re-
gard to what Mr.. Hayes or his Cabinet may
think or say. and let Louisiana officials show
to the country that they will not bend the
hinges of the knee to any extrane-
Gus power In the land.
AS for Mr.. Sherman, we warn him that, If
he continues his wild raving ON the subject Of
the prosecution Of the Returning Board, the
country will soon begin to suspect that there
is some personal fear underlying his action In
the matter, and we shall certainly feel inclined
to ask that the House Of Representatives ap-
point q committee to investigate his connec-
ton with the fraudulent count Of the electoral
vote of Louisiana,