Year: 1876




EFFEcT-THE ATTEMPT TO SHIELD PARTIES


IMPIlcATEp-A CALL FOR LIGHT.


There doubt at all that the letter OF Attorney
General Fierrcponi the Western District Attorneys
has understood in all the Western cities whero
whskey frauds have been under investigaion-frst
notice that the Attorney General intended TO assume
control OF these cases, and second distinct threat
against persons who, being guilty having confessed
their guilt had turned States evidence and helped The
govornnent-a threat that such persons should not
escape punishment no matter how important their
services 10 the government


The assumption OF particular authority in these in
tornal revenue by the Attorney General has
caused much surprise here among lawyers who know,
rs was pointed out IN these dispatches Tuesday,
that the laws give the Commissioner Of Internal Rev
enue under the direction and approval Of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, entire control over such and
that the Attorney Generals assumption Of authority
in the premises contrary law II II should turn
that his letter embarrassed the officers OF jus
tco IN 81 Louis Chicago Milwaukee and other places
and made offenders reluctant TO give evidence
which 10 convict those important and influential
who The chiefs il this gigantic conspiracy against
The revenue the Attorney General will be able TO
very grave and disagreeable responsibility,
will IT be possible conceal such effects.


Whatever has passed in the course OF these
Whiskey fraud Investigations viii be made public before
many months or even weeks past. Too much has
been kept hidden far for the public good conceal
becomes daily less possible and when the whole
story s published will be found that the charges of
hyortsm on which the Attorney General based his
ettcr were made. not by honorable persons anxious
hat justice sha be done, by class of poll
tcians unhappily influential in certain quarters who
we're jealous only to prevent the punishment
Of their allies, and in many their
pwn exposure. II is these who have hinted and in
tinusted what the Attorney General repeats
prosecutions have been made from malice, and that
guilty persons have been let on through favortsm.


The misfortune in these whiskey trials has been that
Of the persons tried indicted old personal
friends Of the President Of those who surround the
President Many others were influential politicians
the attempts shield these against the rgor
impartial prosecution foot by the Treas
nry Department have been incessant is here that
"favorltisn' endeavored 10 be exercised; but il
just these persons whom, in the public interest
1 was most important to expose and punish,
'or they were the chiefs of the great conspiracy
against the revenue. They misuscd their influence and
her positions defraud the government and to
rupt those their service. The House of Representa-
lives would dc well to demand once all the papers
and evidence relating the whskey trials II ig very
doubtful IT, this stage OF the prosecutions the ends
pf justice would be injured oy such demand and it
would be easy for the House let receive
any part Of the documents which ought not,
ust yet to be made public But 1t certain that the
public interest has been furthered by all the
soament and mystery which has been practised toward
The public about these whiskey matters


THE INFAMIEs OF THE LOUISIANA ELECTION


BrL-How IT IS PROPOSED TO CONTINUE


REPUBLICAN RULE IN THE STATE.


An.
Examined to-day 10y a number Of congressman and it is
regarded by everybody infamous A
kading republican remarked


Under the forieth section it is OF to hold an
election. II would be mere farce


JhIs section, in fact would enable any rogue any
where away the election returns and upset
The election in any precinct county Of the State
The Returning Board is to consist OF three republicans
two democrats and majority is Io decide; they
have power hear evidence and to decide summarily
and without appeal on the election returns Of the
whole state The fortieth section declares that -


Whenever il shall be made to appear TO said return
ing odcers nv affidavit other proof that city
Town ward parish, election precinct or locality in this
STATE al any time between the commencement Of any
regstraton Of voters revision Of such registration
preceding election hereafter held In this State
rudinr the day which such election shall be held
during The time Of counting OF The votes and ing
statements thereof there has been has occurred any
riot, tumUlt Of violence, fraud wrong. breach Of
public peace from the nature thereof calculated in
tended VI Of such character as TO numdate or alarm
any class order character OF voters from voting
reseteriHc unaffected and uninhuenced by fears Of
present future hardship wrong OF any character
whatsoever to result TO or be inflicted upon DC
suffered by them any ofthem by reason OF thefvoe,
or II shall be so made TO appear that
efforts to intirnidate any voter have been
by any person persons any such locality by
OF threats OF violence. either against individual
voters or the voters belonging TO any race, class
political party faith by means Of any such threats OF
violence made publicly, or by posting written or
.!lsa a x ySsRGs sr Ss any sgeEEa ErsHsSt Hsssat.eSfe
lence can be reasonably Inferred whether the be
written or printed in any form in any newspaper. ny-
theet circular, posted on or near any dwelling
house occupied tN voter voters scattered and
distributed along any highway or public place or
despatched by telegraph or sent through the public
by private hands; or II IL shall
appear thai within the period Of time aforesaid,
considerable number Of bodies Of persons. armed
hib themselves together for the purpose OF conveying
M impression OF contemplated violence against any
class q persons entitled 10 vote they shall resort
20 disguise TOT any such purpose. or exhibit arms or
ghal about frng dischargng eithe: smallarms
artillery, thA any number Of white peasons
shall have combined and conspired together shall
concert apparent concert together TO nnu.
intmidaie any citizen, being persons Of color
other than white or or African descent or race TO pu
enoe them or any Of them fear or menace Of anv
character sny other manner. their irce exer-


se N ther respective rhts or franchise or inavens
them OF any Of them TO abstain from voting al auy
tuch election by creating IN the minds OF any such per-
son or persons fear and apprehension Of danger
"
rurpose OF 70 influencing such voters casting their
votes threats Of Withholding from such persons future
employment OF ofdischarge from present employment,
general threats against the race 20 which such voters
belong


IN az such cases and n many others


Iiis hereby made The duty Of the returning oacers
&c examine into the truth OF the matter 80 shown.


AND they have power 10 decide and 70 throw cut at
their pleasure the vote Of the locality whether
precn net a county


Under this section, " Il becomes law, the Return
inc Board may manipulate the election returns as
Il TIeafes, and u remarked here to-
Gay that the Tweed Ring had dared
TO Tats and had been helped by the
fcteraI government enforce such law Tweed could
have invaldated every city election in New York and
Derpeiua'ed his corrupt reign for ever for order to
show intimidation Is only necessary hire spy to
port newspaper slip even one Of Hasis cancatures