The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
State Comfy.

CoOlA III 1 I
lew Orleans exposition, or almost
ny other question than the repdi-
ion of fugitives. They argue with
tut stopping at the strict import of
my statue, that thief's thief, and
hould be punished the world over.
No country should be so wide as to
,hield criminals from acquisitions.
still less should mere technicalities be
nterposed in their behalf. Even in
law, in its general pr1nc1-
pies, affords no such protection, and
where the laws between two nations
differ as to the rendition of fugitives,
the matter is remedied for the pur-
poses of mutual justice, by extradi-
ton treaties. Even Englands boosted |
protection of her subjects n every
country, aims to protect tn EN- only
from unjust treatment, not from justice
itself ;and supposing fugitives do escape
punishment by getting into foreign
countries that is no reason swhy such
practice should be allowed directly or
indirectly to shield criminals from
laws which the states, as component
parts of the same confederation, are
mutually interested in having en-
forced for the general welfare. What
matters, as in the Carroll case, the Of
fence is unknown to the laws OF Lou
isiana, as long as it is one recognized
by the statutes of a sister state OF the
same confederation? But this Is
point further along, and one upon
which we wait to see if Gov. McEnery
can throw some light. Certainly, as
the states have no power to make
treaties to cover such points as that
raised by Gov. McEnery, the broadest
latitude should have been given to
Ireland's requisition.. AT the same
time the comfy between states should
be friendly and dignified and enforced
by executives with all the gravity
of international law, for custom has
madeit the governing interstate pol
icy in such matters. Anything that
smacks of spite or is lacking dignity
in such questions, is, to say the least
of 1t, improper, even if it results in
no harm; and an officer, whose duty
like that of governor, is
to enforce law, cannot afford to be
splenetic towards a fellow-eXecutive,
or draw too fine point of propriety
about granting acquisitions. Such
things he'll find
Like qua that's aimed at duck or plOver,
Go wide the mark and kick the owner over.
BrsIdes, McEnery's action should
not be pleaded as an excuse for LIE
lands. One mans fault don't justify
another's wrong. especially in such
grave state questions. And, after all
Ireland may have hurled his javeliI
without proper reckoning, when hi
telegraphed McEnery: "Since you
action in the Carroll case, 1 am no
disposed to exercise extraordinary pow
ers at your request" This shows tina
our recalcitrant governor felt spurred
and kicked back. But McEenery
made great mistake in signing onl.
his initials, as. D. McE." tt
the Endorsement on Ireland''
requisition, besides writing theindors,
ment itself in almost unintell igiblt
hieroglyphics. The endorse ment, how
ever, though lacking in dignity, ex
pressed bona fide reasons for refusing
the requisition; and Governor IRELAND
was " rong in supposing, as he seems
to have done, that the refusal of Nc
Emery, who, by the way, is an abl'
lawyer, was not based on propel
grounds. Whether reasonable or not il
the eyes of the Sage of Seguin," they
were such as had been established by
preCedents of former governors O.
Loui lana in refusing acquisitions fol
the arrest of parties for offenses I'M
known to Louisiana law. If a either
of Louisiana cannot be arrested OF
such charges, the precedent establish
: ed is that the citizens of any state
charged with such offenses, have tn,
same immunity from arrest, by Louis
lana officers at least, as long as the,
are on Louisiana soil. This may OF
may not be right, or so good rule a.
Governor Ireland's, but it is the pol
| Icy of tho governors of most Of The
states and itgoverned McEnery in thu
Carroll case. In that case the accused
was charged with taking mortgaget
property out of Texas, but the Mem
Try request which Ireland refused
WAS for man charged with mos
atrocious murtler-a double murder il
fact-in Louisiana. The difference il
the two offenses should certainly hav,
prompted Governor Ireland to hav,
acted differently, no matter what view
he took of McEnery's action.
Altogether it is an interesting issue
between the two governors, but it will
be a sad reflection for the people of
Texas, should the delay caused by hel
chief executive result In murderer's
escape from the clutches of the law
by habaes corpus or other legal pro
ceedings. 1t is to be hoped such will
not be the result.