The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-01-18
MIR. ELAN SPEAKS.
A Few Very Pertinent Questions Ask.
ed the Attorney General.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, !
Washington, D. c. Dec, 1873.
Hon. Clas. Devens, Acknowledgement OF
] tho United States, Washington, d. c.:
SlR--I am in receipt Of information
that arrests have been made Of par
ties living in tho parish Of Natcbito-
ches and Caddo, Louisiana, charged
with violating the laws Of the United
States, relating to "the Election Fran.
chIse = and have been taken off to
the city Of New Orleans for examina.
tion-several hundred miles away
from their homes, while there il a
United States Commissioner at
Shreveport, in the parish Of Caido,
and think also in the town Of Nat
chitocles. This practice operates in
many instances az a great hardship,
putting parties to the trouble and ex-
pense Of . long journey, and taking
them away from their business. In
case Of commitment and balls, some
Of them are compelled to 10y in prison
until they can communicate with
their friends at home, 10 enable them
to give bond with satisfactory securi-
ties. Section 2O23 of the revised
statutes Of the United States provides,
that whenever an arrest is made un ,
def any provisions of that title, tho
person shall forthwith be brought be-.
fore q commissioner, Judge or court Of
the United States for examination,
etc. The marshal for the district Of
Louisiana, it would seem from this
practice, considers that he has
the right I" take auy person 90
arrested before any commissioner,
Judge, or United States court in his
district, that be pleases, without re-
ference to the commissioner or case of
tho party accused. In the excitement
just before and at the time of an
election, and in consequence Of the
cliagrio and disappointment felt Of.
forwards by defeated candidates, ar.
rests for violations of the election
laws are often made upon insufficient
grounds, and when they come to be
examined into, the parties accused
are discharged. l remember a case
directly in point:
A series Of arrests were made inst
before the general election in 2574.
Thirteen persons, men Of character
and influence, were arrested in tho
parish Of Red River, and kept in
confinement in the courthouse under
. guard of United States soldiers for
three weeks, and until the election
vas over, when they were all admit.
ted to bail without examination.
There was = commissioner on tho spot
during the whole Of this time, but
who declined to make the examine
ton although frequently urged to do
20, on the ground that the warrants
were Issued by . commissioner in the
city Of New Orleans, and therefore be
had no Jurisdiction.
call attention to tlleAO facts for
the purpose Of requesting you to in.
struct the marshal and the prosecu-
ting officers and commissioners of
tho United States, for the district
OF Louisiana, that parties arrested
under the laws Of the. United States.
above referred 70, I've carried before
the nearest commissioner to the place !
where the arrest IL made, unless the |
person arrested should prefer to 10
before somc commissioner or judge
Of tho United STAGES Court in New |
Orleans.
An early reply is respectfully 70.
qusstsd.
Respectfully yours,
J. B. ELAN, N. c., La