, 1879-03-29

will otherwise abandon tho only system ,,ll-
der which the issue oan DO fairly tried before
the people.
ADMINISTERING The LAW AT 4 DE-
TANCE.
Tho United Stntes hnyo code Of criminal
lnws applicable to o1anses committed ngoiust
tho Nntiounf authority. These olfenses aro
against tho integrity Of the postal service.
the integrity Of tho inter,n1 and Of the cuB-
toms rovanue service, against tho coinage
aud currency service, against tho National
Banking laws, aud various othor branches of
the National service. It has special series
Of punlshmonts and penalties for crimaa
committed by persons officially in tho service
Of tho Government. For tho proper oxec,s-
tion OF this criminal code, which covera the
crimes Of perjury, falso swearing, embczzle.
ment, forgery, couuterfeiting, conspiracy to
rob tho revenue, md list rs long rs any
other criminal code, thers is a judicial estah-
lishment with full force Of Courts, Mar
sha's, District-Attornoys, and Grand and
Petit Juties.
Tho Government Of tho United States ia
hAFF0a0A ~ A2 4cElV9lAtVLA Ill A449 EbfGEAa
districts by honest md competent mon. II
the Government has any doubt as to tho
integrity or the ability Of Its legal officers, it
ought to remove them. Whenever in tho
current transaction Of business the Grand
Jury of district sha!l hnd TINT crime has
boon committed and tho evidence complete,
md shall so find by an Indictment OF tho
nTa fhn }rso1 ~ hal fn1ial<Dnrt nI,ot,11
take place before tho Court in the district
where the oiTense is committed. This Is o
right which tho accused has secured to him
by tho Constitution Of the United Statos, md
auy attempt by the Government to defraud
citizen Of that constitutional right by q
transfer of tho trial to Washington City
would DO declared m outrage, deserving im-
peaolmont.
Tho administration of tho criminal law
has, however, undergone a chango. Parties
indicted in tho Federal Courts aro no longer
tried In tho district wloro the ofTonso is COM
mitted. Persons accused Of crime, for in
stance, in tho Northern District of Illinois.
aro no longer required to answer or bo tried
in tllis city. Tho case is takon to Washing
tOAt 4At4 kA4I t4IEAAEA ID 4NAEE LAD AGEEball$
OF employing counsel to defend him, not in
tho District Court Of Illinois, but bofore
sotne e1tra-judicial mud, NO may odd, extra
constitutional tribunal ut Washington. Dis
| trsct-Attorncya aro no longer engaged to
| prosecute business before tho courts in their
States. Their business is to oboy instr1lc-
tions from tho tribunal at Washington; they
arc told when 10 indict, when to discharge,
| when to acquit, when TO convict, when
to mol. pros. aud wton to give tho caso away.
Tho Offenders against tho laws OF the United
States under indictment in Chicago aro 81
| numerous That They can a!iors1 to keep per-
tnanent corps Of counsel ut Washington.
Thoy caro- nothing for the District-Attornoy
in Chicago; II ho venture to movn against
them, lie Is notified that his removal IL uudor
consideration, Or special counsel liz employ
cd WHO can bo moro vigorous than he 1t,
minding his own business and doing notli-
ing, or lse IL advised to mol. 7ros tho case, or
to seui tin papers TO Washington, or to wait
Instructions, or ono wAy or another to do
nothing. It appears from recent disclosures
TINT Senators md Representatives iu Con.
gress, not content with rHurping the
Executive power Of making all appoint.
noats for political Offices, havo ongag
cd in the additional duty OF con-
trolling tho prosecution OF criminals
In tl,er respective Statos. Thus We seo the
Senators anu tho whole delegation from &
state appealing to tho nowly-oonstituted
tribunal at Washington, mot far speedy
triRt and prompt Justice In tho oaso Of one
Ut tller constituents, hut TINT ho be dis
charged without trial. Nay, 1t ia represented
that even Cabinet ofiicur has united will
tho Senators aud Representatives Of Stat'
In appealing to anothcr Cab!net officer no
to permit constituent Of theirs 10 bo triei
ut all. No possible damage or Injury coult
happen to tho porson Indicted from trial
unless his guilt should ba SO evident tl,at IL
would DO convicted. And 10 prevent tia
conviction upon notorious guilt Of m o.;
grAyoted crime this tribunal at Washington
has decided to lot tho man go. The dill
Guilty IL to got somebody to sign tho orde
Of discharge.
| Wo do not believe that tue President |
aware OF these proceedings, nor TIM
he Ia even aware that thoro ar
many caaos Of indictment for sosndalous cor
suption kept frou. trial by tho Court
through thu aotivo sympathy and interior
ence Of tho Departments at Washington
Nevertheless tho legal fraternity represent
Ing persons under indictment In tho Fedora
Courts Ase 1eaping harvest for services q