The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-17
THE LOG WAR IN CALCAsIEU.
No. 13 COMMERCIAL ALLEY, /
New Orleans, April l6, 1878. ]

Editor Denaocrat-,A letter signed W. y. Postle-
waite appeared IN the New Orleans Times OF this
mornings date. In defense OF Mr.. Carter. the gov
ernment agent. and other government officials
employed in the Gale tsieu log persecution. This
letter. p,uportn0 to be written in Caloasieu and
dated April 8, is false on its face IT states that
Gen. Sewell was In Cascasieu at that time taking
voluminous notes. and that the parties had con-
teesed Judgment Now on the fifth instant Gen.
fe eed Judgment I'LL the ninth instant.
The letter also states iha' Carter asked for
and is anxious for an investigation yet this
could only be obtained by the persistent efforts
of our united congressional delegation. Verify
his anxiety is very manifest in the manner in
which Special Agent Adams has been detained
at the Custom House here inspecting records
through the District Attorneys 8 ecacles. and
no. ca ling for any testimony beyond what is fur
nshed 10y the government officials. L. is to be
presumed shat Mr.. Adams has his instructions
from the Department of the Interior. but these
instructions appear to be widely at variance
with the assertions made by Mr.. schurz to Mr..
Acklen and the Louisiana delegation. and the
assurance that t. stimony shoud be taken con-
tradictorlly in presence Of the representatives.
of the logmen. An investigation Is not what is
desired either by Mr.. Carter or NJ r. Schurz. Mr..
Adams would .carcely have remained two weeks
Mt the New Orleans Custom House making an
ex parte investigation OF records had be been
That most OF the parties engaged In the log
suits have confessed Judgment in no way alters
the aspect OF the rhse. for the investigation
should proceed TO inquire by what means this
confession wa obtaiued, and what is the nature
meht. fearing II trial which must end in def-at,
after staving 1t oI for near y year by resort
ing to every bubble of the law. at last offer any
terms to induce The defendants 10 compromise
Ii the government believes these men to be
guilty the suits should have been pu' sued and
vigorously presse to a conclusion 1t is II
question Tor Congress to investigate who has
the power to authorize MIR. Carter. an agent of
In the hands of the judiciary.
A. to the special charges made against Mr.
Carter we have yet to learn that any one of
Were he alone involved long ere this possibly
the question might have been tried but there
are Others higher in au hority who shrink from
having their actions and motives dragged to
light: hence the Discrimination to submit TO an
inquiry. If Mr.. Carter Is SO confident of the
him befJr a competent tribunal.
Another question for the Investigation Is by
what authority did special Detective Carter buy
logs at Judicial SAL; and If. as asserted he
dsposes Of them at a profit. what becomes Of
the money; to whom does he render an account,
and by what authority detective rec ives and
duties belonging exclusively to the Treasury
Department.? letter also appeared in the late
issue OF the PtcdWnte, purp"rting to be an in
dorsement OF thus fellow Carriers acts by an 11re-
partial observer. 1t is signed ID. Coos" Truly
an impartial observer; when one considers that
he. In CONJUNCTION with Carter ls charged with
conspiriog to defraud the government and the
logmen out OF $5000l
In striking contrast with the aforesaid In
dorsement is the suhIoinrd letter from Judge
Hudspeth. whose we'll known integrity. ability
as jurist, impartiality and personal informa-
ton upon the subject of which he speaks are
recognized IA jncoLtrovt rtible authority to af-
ford am pie refutation to statements supported
by. much stronger evidence than that es,ab-
lished by the signatures OF Coos aud the bal
ance of CarterS confederaes:
'0PELoUsAs, April 8. 1873.
Gen. L. sewell. Lake Charles:
Your telegram received. regret exceeding
Iy my inability to remain at the Lake until your
arrival. press of business here. cou pied wi h
fears of the heavy rain which occurred Just as ]
reached home. hurried ma off. forward you a
copy of the Opeiousa as Journal containing my
charge to the grand jury. Considering a good
charge as important. 8 'on after my appointment
As Judge in 1876 drew up my charge in writ
ing. and have since used substantially the same
charge to every grand jury. making this one the
basis. and usingeuch additions rs thought h.
necessities of the times required. The portion
OF my charge relative to the action OF govern
ment officials in the Calra-iau log war was not
reduced to writing. 1t was In substance about
this.
1T has become a matter of public and general
uotoriety throughout the entire length ana
breadth of the land through charges made In
the rublic press of the country. and on the
floors Of both houses of the national Congress
that government officials, acting uader the
color Of law. and under preext H protecting
the timber OF the Unitel States. have committed
Haprant outrages on the rights Of citiznns. and
laye Willfully violated provisions OF section sls