The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-16
WHAT SHOULD BE DONEg
To tho Editor of the Democrat:

To tho Editor OF the Democrat:
Az any other citizen who feels IN interest In
tho welfare OF bis fellow citizens and Of his
State. have been closely Watching the course
Of events as touching the so-called prosecu-
tons under the Federal statutes, Of citizens oil
the State for The crime Of working and voting
for The success of tho anti Republican ticket ia
the recent election. 1t was matter OF surprise
to me to see until so late date tho seeming In
difference. or else tho blindness, on the part OF
our Legislators and public journals to the i'm
mense results which will come out Ito our utter
undoingl OF tho persecution and conviction OF
the gentlemen who are to-day Illegally and
without any warrant Of LAW uniustly held be-
fore q partisan and periured court. under
charges which. ii criminal. are offenses against
the State and not against the United States. and
over which, therefore. the Federal court has no
rightful jurisdiction whatever.
It Is unnecessary for me to seek to establish
this assertion by reference to decisions of tho
United States Supreme Court upon the ques-
tion OF suffrage. or Its decision In the Grant
parish case. Your own editorials. recently pub
lished, show your coincidence OF opinion with
me on the matter: and there Is not a man
within the borders OF our country who has or
binary intelligence who does not feel and
KNOW that these so-called prosecutions before
Billings and Woods are infamous partisan per-
secutions for political purposes to subserve the
ends OF the to administration In the interest
OF the Republican party.
Some time since. when the Legislature had
been In session some two weeks, seeing that
nothing had been done by them in the way OF
calling the attention OF the Executive and law
officers of the State to the outrages which we're
being perpetrated against the dignity OF the
State. by the arbitrary and Illegal arrest and
dragging from their homes In distant parishes
citiz4ns OF the State. to be tried before the
Federal court for matters which. If offenses.
were against the State. and subject only to her
jurisdiction. | published a jmmunicaton in
the DEMOCRAT. directing the attention OF the
Legislature to the action OF the Virginia AS.
semby In the same premises, as also to a much
more speedy action TN Alabama, where the
Judge and marshal WIRE clgpped into jail
hoping that our Legislature would take such
acion as would cause an immediate cessation
of the outrages and the relief OF our citizens.
The craftsmanship and back ne Of the
Legislature were sufficient TO sS windy
protest-nothing more; and the dignity Of the
State and the personal rights OF her citizens
continue. from day to day. insulted aud tram
pied upon by perjured and hiraifng United
States eff :ials. And now what should be done
You are as we'll aware as am that any defense
Is as idle as it would be If addressed to Gays
statue on Canal street. ( do not believe that
any one has the slightest hope or expectation
IA. .hat The liked purpose OF the Federal court In
us city to convict will be moved by any amount
~ ! argument or Of proof thattha law and evil
Sence Is all in favor OF the prisoners at the
ia. a party that will override the constitu-
,aon ana set at naught the will OF the whole
people to steel the government and its Offices
tba ny gong 70 stop at any such small matter as
- ~ o3iasi0R lae Liberty and constitutional