Louisiana capitolian., 1881-08-11
NEW ORLEANS yIGILANTEs.


After several meetings of the Direc-
tory Council of this organization, at
which various ansofprocedure were
fully discussed, it was finally deter
mined to issue the following prelimin-
ary address to the public, outlining
the objects and purposes of the
organization
I. To insure full protection, in life,
liberty and property, to all good citi-
zens, without distinction of party,
race or nationality.
2. 10 suppress, atall hazards, crime
and rowdyism.
3. To coerce our public servants,
both high and low, to the full, faithful
and fearless performance of their
duties, and to afford them protection
in the discharge of the same.
a. TO see that the moneys collected
from the people of this commonwealth
in the shape of taxes, licenses, re-
venues, ETC., are economically and
judiciously applied to the use of the
government-to the payment of the
principal of the public debt and in
terest thereon, and to see that the
said moneys are not perverted to the
use, support and perpetuation of in
famous rings.
5. TO see that the laws of the COM
monwealth, especially the criminal
laws, are strictly and impartially
enforced and to ferret outsuppressed
evidence and unwilling witnesses in
all important State cases.
6. TO prevent under influence on
the pardoning power.
I. To watch with vigilance the
different branches of our government,
and whenever and wherever we find
an untaithful public servant, or a
wrong donet the people, to see that the
servant is punished according to his
guilt, and to sweep away the wrong,
that right may rule.
The above address was printed on
handbills, and found posted Tuesday
morning all over the city.-N. O..
Picayune.
The ends to be reached are very
praiseworthy, but we cannot see how
a secret organization will bring
them about. We have seen
them operate before, more fire.
quently to the injury of the inno-
cent than of the guilty. 1t will doubt
less create reign of terror, for time,
and will receive the applause of the
multitude so long as it strikes where
it should. At the first error commit
ted though, it will encounter public
condemnation, soon followed by open
resistance.
Let the good people of New Or
leans organize themselves openly,
with leaders whose names will COM
mand the respect of the people, every
where. Let them make details of
members who Will tearlessly aid to or
arrest the hoodlums and other evil
doers. Then let them see that hood
lum juries are not organized to set
them at liberty. Let them attend
trials and report unfaithful Judges,
that steps may be taken to substitute
better ones in their places.
Let them appoint Committees which
will investigate the accounts and act
ions of the administrators ofpublic af-
fairs and see that they faithfully per-
form their duties under the law, else
hold them up ito public condemnation,
and III consequence, secure their dis
placement, after they will have been
given a fair chance to disprove such
charges as may be made against
them.
The Star Chamber system, which
consists i'll condemning men without
hearing, frequently upon the report
Of some member who through per-
sonal prejudice denounces them. will
create naught but anarchy and ire
concilable animosities.
If the Committee of Public Safety
of New Orleans remain a secret Or
ganization, it will prove a failure.
If on the contrary it comes forth
boldly in daylight, in the manner we
have described, it can correct the
abuses complained of.
THE GRAND JJRY AND THE