The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-15
Tho Verdict.

The backbone of the political prose-
cutions has been broken, The verdict
which was yesterday rendered in the
Natchitoches case, and which sent
forty-eight of the best and most proml-
nent citizens of tho State back to their
homes, may be accepted MS tho result
which will be reached i'll most, II not
all, of the political cases now pending
II any convictions ut all are secured,
of which there is q bare possibility,
thew will be in that class of cases where
officers OF election are charged with
interfering with United States deputy
marshals. There may have been in
stances where election officers, excited
by the insolence and overbearing man
ner of these federal officials, stepped
beyond the limits of their authority,
In all OF those cases, however, where 1t
is charged that there was conspiracy
or settled purpose to prevent the Re
publicans from voting or supporting
any particular candidate, there is no
possible chance Of conviction. or
this class of cases, that in which the
accused parties were yesterday so TIL
umphantly acquitted was by far the
strongest. 1t was perhaps chosen to
be tried first because the government
considered that if conviction could
be obtained in any of these cases 1t
could be secured in that, The govern
ment failed in making out case, and
failed so conspicuously, that there is no
longer any ground for the Northern
Radical press, and the stalwarts in con
gress, to charge that Republicans in
Louisiana, both white and black, are
not allowed q free expression OF their
will at the ballot box. IL cannot be
said that there was not full and fair
trial, or that the jury was baised IN
their feelings. The jury was selected
with the greatest care, and each juror
could, and did take the test oath.
There is no question but that the jury
was satisfactory to both sides, since
neither the government nor the de-
PENDANTS exhausted all of their chal-
lenges. If there was any leaning in
the rulings of the court it was towards
the prosecution. The witnesses for the
government were as clear-headed and
as intelligent men as there are in the
Republican party, and were fully capa-
BILE OF telling all they knew. Notwith'
standing all OF these favorable circum-
stances the jury found verdict OF
acquital. The fact is, the government
had no case, The disturbance that
took place in the town of Natchitoches
on the twenty first of September last
was not the result Of conspiracy to
prevent Republicans from supporting
and voting for whom they pleased for
office. If the jury had heard only the
witnesses for the government and ac-
cepted their Interpretation Of the
meaning of certain events which occur
ed in the parish of Natchitoches they
might have found different verdict.
A searching cross-examination, how
ever, together with the clear and
straightforward testimony of the de-
Tense, showed beyond question the true
explanation of the disturbances upon
which the prosecution was based. That
explanation entirely disposed of the
charge of conspiracy. 1t did more than
that. 1t showed that the troubles in
Natchitoches parish were partly, if not
wholly, brought about by the arrogance
and overbearing conduct of the Repub-
Iican leaders.
The conclusion which has been reach
ed i'll this case will be hailed with sat-
isfaction not only by the friends of the
accused parties but throughout the
the State. These political prosecutions
are regarded, and with good reason, as
a scheme ON the part of the Republi-
can party to secure the State at the
next presidential election. The verdict
of yesterday stamps the schedule as
failure. When these political trials are
over the last struggle of Radicalism
tor supremacy in this State will have
been witnessed. N, 0. Times.