The daily gazette., 1878-02-12
The Returning Board villiany

vIRws.oF REPRESENTATIVES, LEONARD.
Judge John 4. Leonard, representing
the Fifth Louisiana district, was formerly
judge Of the Supreme Court Of Loui-
siana and was elected TO the Forty fifth
Congress Ms republican, having the
certificates of both Governors kellogg
and Nichols. In conversation this even
Ing with Herald reporter about Secre-
tary Sherman's utterance of to-day Judge
Leonard said that the conviction of An
derson did not surprise him, nor would
the conviction of Wells. As for Kenner
and Cassanave, they would probably not
be tried. In the language Of the eminent
criminal of New York, "What are you
going to do about it?" 1t would be just
as reasonable, he thought, TO expect the
administration to interfere with the trial
Of Boss Tweed 1t would be TO expect
federal interference with the criminal
proceedings against the members of the
Returning Board Of Louisiana.
LOUISIANA A SOVEREIGN STATE.
The Pelican State, he said, is to-day
q sovereign State in the federal Union,
untrammelled in all her local rights.
Governor Nichols 10 the Governor re>
cognized by President Hayes, and is,
| therefore, the lawful representative OF
the s ate Of Louisiana before the coun-
try. The emancipation Of the State
from federal interference has not only
freed her from the presence of the army
but has also restored her to local self
government. Therefore she IS COM
petent TO try her citizens for alleged
violations of her laws, to convict them
| by force Of her jaws and to imprison
them as her laws direct. Against such
a procedure what can the President or
any member Of the Cabinet says? State
courts are doing the same thing every
day in other States.
Cltizens Of New York and Massaohu>
sets are daily before their criminal courts
and sentenced TO penitentiaries. Men
are tried, too, for murder, convicted and
sentenced to be hanged. Executions are
not unfrequent in all parts of the coun-
| try. Bat what argument does that fur
nish for federal interference? PEOPLE
may cry out, protest and denounce the
proceedings, but that is the end of the dis
satisfaction. Such, too, he thought,
would be the result in Louisiana.
sUPPcsING SHERMAN DOES.
But some people up here say they
are not guilty. For instance, BE cretary
Sherman thinks so, writes so, talks so,
What If he does? That will moi
change the opinion OF a Louisiana
jury. And supposing that John Sher-
man should be indicted, tried and con.
Victed. Why, they would inst as soon
send him to the penitentiary as Ander.
son or Wells. You see, or perhaps 1t
may not be quet SO plain to you as II
really is, the administration of Presi.
dent Hayes, of which Mr.. Sherman il
a member has recognized the N cholis
government as the only State govern.
ment in Louisiana-the government,
which the people of the United States
wanted recognized because 1t was the
government of the people. What
then? Shall it be said that her Judi
ciary is not to be allowed to exercise
its prerogatives? What the judiciary
of state not fit to try Its own citizepss
THE GUILTY MUST SUFFER.
If regular and lawful trial shows tina.
Wells and Anderson were gailty of fraud
that violated the State law, then for their
crime they must suffer. Suppose the
people Of other parts of the country cry
out that this is political persecution they
may do so; that is privilege accorded
the free American citizens; but don't you
see, said Judge Leonard, the question
will always recur, what are you going to
do about itS And is not the answer a
plain oneP Attend to your own business.
Louisiana is capable of taking care of all
the criminals within her border.
+: L. FRANK, 900 Market street, IL