Daily Republican., 1882-01-04
Mr.. HiexiMs' Defence.

defence to-day before the people OF
Delaware, touching his actions in the
Neal case, and manly nobly defence
it is. Under ordinary circumstances
zone would be needed, but where his
character, his integrity, and through
them the Republican party Of the State
of Delaware are all assailed at the same
time by gentlemen of legal standing
who ought to know better, MIR. Hig
gins has fearlessly defended himself
and his actions without subterfuges
without apologies and without fear in
such manner that the tongue of scan
dial and vituperation should immediate
ly cease its senseless chatter and remain
forever silent. From one end OF the
State to the other, the Neal case was
made the subject ofpolitical harangues
by Democratic Speakers III the cam
paign CT 1880, and the attempt was
made by Mr.. Bayard and all other
Democrats to the most insignificant
upon the rostrum, to make political
capital out of it for the Democratic par
ty, and where even the most aggressive
and insignificant Democratic speakers
dared not to 60 in the case, Shiny,
worthless renegade editor, the degen-
crate offspring of illustrious sires, was
pushed ahead to Islander decent people,
while others, more able, stood be-
hind and furnished arguments.
Why has this all been done" Sim
ply because {. negro, by Mr.. Higgins
doing his duty as a sworn member of
the bar he honors with his talents and
character, escaped the hangman's moose.
This was radical change, it is true,
but was there never to he a change?
Was every negro charged with capt
tai offence whether guilty or not, tol
continue to have merely the form of a
trial and be swung into eternity, while
every white man charged with similar
crimes escaped? Look back upon the
last two decades of Delaware's history.
Where is the white man who suffered
the extreme penalty OF the law for
capital crimes, though many were &C
cused? Where is there an instance of
black man escaping in that time? |
There had to be a turning point some /
where, and it came in the case of Neal, !
with Mr.. Higgins as his counsel. The
whole history of the case is fresh in the
minds of our readers but glance back.
ward will strengthen the memory and
perhaps remove the great pressure oil
race prejudice that still holds many
minds in slavish chains There was
nothing remarkable about Neal to en-
title him to particular notice. He was
neither intelligent nor prepossessirgl
in appearance and any other co!ored
man could have as easily occupied bisi
place, and the case would not hivei
been changed. He was charged with a
capital offence. "Hang him." shouted {
a chorus of Democratic campaign
stumpers and subservient Democraticl
editors. But the laws Of Delaware pro. /;
vided a fair and impartial trial for the
accused, and also wisely provided that
he should have counsel, and for this it
still further provides that the counsel
shall be paid the munitioent sum of
$2.E. Mr.. Higgins was appointed by
the Court to defend the prisoner Hell
did not ask for the appointment, and
did not know he was appointed until
some time after the appointment was
made. Being appointed, he gave the
case the whole benefit of his ability as
one of the ablest members of the bar.
He did the best he could under the cir.
but his client was convict
ed and sentenced to be hung. Even |
here Mr.. Higgins did not desert the {
case, but taking no mean advantage of +
nm error, to which he called the atten- 1
tion of Court at the commencement of C
the trial and which was fully discussed, p
ne got the case taken before the United 5
States Supreme Court and docketed for Il
an early hearing. 1t was after this Il
that the political war cry was raised by s.
Mr.. Bayard, Mr.. Martin, Mr.. Sharpley, ii
MIR. Turner, Mr.. Pennington and other u
Democratic Speakers and disclaimers n
against Mr.. Higgins personally, and ia
against the Republican party gener. a.
lilly.
What was all this for? Simply toI
make Democratic capital, something n
he party very much needed at that s
ime. There was nothing irregular in II
,he proceedings. Mr.. Higgins had d
simply done for a negro client what i
Mr.. Bayard would have done for = r
white client, and for which they would Al
nave been reCreant as lawyers to their A
rust had they acted otherwise. Sena q,
,or Bayard was lawyer, and yet 1t g
,tood upon the political rostrum and
denounced the course the Neal case hat
AIKEN, though 1t was strictly in accor|
lnce with the laws of the State.
that the usual course Of
,,s. ,uh,.h h,, ,uo ,,,oo.h,v an jUs.
ever since the gov ""'"
was instituted was now i '''"o''
with, and his appeal stirred i'o,i "
,.n.,,,sd ,ho f.s,in, If rrs; M and in
a.. p.rrhl,o,n ror,u ,uSice against
- a.. ;n1,o lren the Graud
H.; IS u,I;,,,,l ncs and leader
out its illumination 'o'''iot '""0
,,a = 40 had tab, 8 against the turo
~ ATT. o., nom N. Notwithstanding
a.. scot. T., oeeats came near losing
l.. Il Il Sl.s.f