The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-10

~ brotherhood which our distress evoked
sErn,rhout our common country. While 1t
scok such tangible shape as TO- give great and
-scessary relief to many suffering people, and
S,hlle its practical results were seen, felt and
.sr,Unized wherever the hard cf pestilence
ssa laid. It's moving cause furnishes besides
S. subject of congratulation. Of appreciation,
- the people Of the State generally
~tthof,t regard to the mere question OF bene-
Il n received, as indicating that community Of
Sailng binding together the people Of the
Sjnlor,. ms pointing TO the How OF; common
s,,rinr Of benevolence from one end OF the land
u the other. Tho general condition Of the
seaouie Of the State, putting aside the suffer-
"a engendered by the epidemic, has improved
airing the year. Bountiful crops have blessed
a. state, and whilst the shrinkage Of values
has caused some anxiety and want Of remu-
neration, this effect has resulted from the re-
4nrn to II safer and more durable standard OF
values, which, operating upon all classes OF
nroperty alike, brings about an adjustment
calculated to give greater security and sta
nifty for the future.
have the pleasure of reporting TO you that
throughout almost the entire state, the laws
have been well observed, and that where vio-
lations Of the Same have taken place they
nave been generally punished. regret,
however, TO say, that In u few localities there
have occurred during the past year some OF
lhoee acts OF violence and lawlassliess which,
II this State, as In other sections Of the coun-
Nv. occasionally happen. and which, while
stsrtling and distressing the mass Of tho
peope, are practically beyond tie reach Of
ne constituted authorities. These troubles
md disturbances are not referebleto any ons
oause. In some instances. tho parpetration,
az alleged preparation Of crime OF heinous
cheracter, or the repetition Of Il series Of petty
misdemeanors difficult Of detestion as to
their perpetrators, seem to tsirov even good
men into kind OF frenzy which, for the time
being, sets Judgment and reason mt defiance;
ID others, belief that what Ii called the
technicaiities OF the law may permit the es-
oape OF some one generally believed to be
substantially guilty Of crimf, causes men to
substitute their own ideas Of justice and
methods Of remedy for this machinery
provided for the enforcement .of right and
punishment Of wrong. 30, want OF conf
dence In the honesty or impair
tality Of judges, juriss and officials
Is sometimes made the basis Of and
attempted justification for these acts, which
In the United States have come to be known
by the designation Of "LYnch law" From
whatever cause springiDg, these acts are
rarely punished In any portion Of the Union.
There are ordinarily 30 nsany persons con-
cerned In them that those who are cognizant
Of the facts are either unwilling to speak,
from sympathy with the acts, or afraid to
speak, lest they should involve themselves In
trouble. Evidence being; the essential basis
Of all judicial proceedings, the want Of II
presents m insuperable obstacle to officers
" ose duty 1t rs to seek outand punish law
b akers. Some months ago three men
charged with crime, two OF them with the
murder OF q white man. and once convicted
Of the killing Of a colored man, we're forcibly
taken from the jail at Monroe aud killed. The
men % killed were coloreti men. The mob Is |
supposed to have been made;up either entire
~ or mostly of white men. Later, man by |
the name Of st. Martin, cpnfined In the parish |
jail Of st. Charles parish on , charge OF MUIR
der Of . colored man, was taken therefrom by |
elarge number Of men end murdered. The
mob In this intance were colcred men and the
victim white man. Botl Of these cases have
received investigation from the grand iuries
Of the respective parishes, land yet nothing
has resulted from the investigation in either
case. Ihave no reason Il, doubt the thorough
sincerity, in each case of tho officers conduct
Ing these Investigations. in one instance |
they were Republican, In the other Democrat |
10 officials. It can scarcely be believed that
Ia these two affairs there are not persons not |
legally responsible for the cSlmes committed, |
who are cognizant Of tho same and yet hold |
their peace when it is their auty to speak. I |
Even had they failed In tAeir duty (which |
they did mott, being constitutional officers
'hey could not have bean suspended or re-
moved by me; nor Is there any power granted
70 any one, In any manner, 10 originate pro-
'eedings and try persons Ia any other par
shes than those In which the crimes have
,een committed. The constitution expressly
guarantees trial by the Jury OF the parish
a which crime Is committed, subject only
o change Of venue when the case has
cached a certain point. Despite my great de-
'AAS w soV VI tllc law
. all cases, and despite the fact that under
he shadow OF these great fundamental prin-
iples the perpetrators :of crime may some
lines escape detection and consequent pun
shment. should hesitate long to suggest
ny modifcation In them yesting In either
he Executive or any other department the
'ower to Initiate proceedings or try the same,
ghen so commenced, out Of the Jurisdiction
I the court Of the PARISH or district where
he crime may have been committed. Such
over vested In the Executive, or any other
apartment, would be Us powerful for harm
4 bad hands as 1t would be for good in the :
ands OF conscientious officers. / make
hese remarks for the purpose OF show
" that good institutions and remedies
nd honest officials require the concurrence of
ther facts to make them thoroughly effective.
fter all, the real effective Instrument for put
ng an end to acts Of hwlessness is the force
public opinion manHesting itself on all
sessions in aid Of the Supremacy Of the law.