The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-29

] IN answer p petlticna presented for thk IN
Conditional Pardoh ofJeforson Davis ~ III
egatona rom southern States, Pre.ideui
aohnson has twice slolided that. 'Ifirtason
vas eouimitteds tAsEe oaght. 10 b soui& test
N determine the power on TIE Government
4 to punish The crime. Fbsrs .Ss,,if h. :, !.
vinaicatiOn Of the Governmenf - 4 n, Con-
stituti0n, even &C. tbo parlduinr power wee
ezereiaod thersa1eF." u Is net suaieient
that the abilisy ~ the. Governments q sus-
tain ITSELF BY physical means Is determined
ne great moral questions involved in the
contest must be settled quits IS dscisiyelV
Treason must BE- niads 0dious'i By ne eel
enn Judgment Of the highest tritaual 10
which i can b carried. This. five mis-
taks not, is the insention ofths Govern ment.
Jeterson DAVIS IS selected ior ths test, no,
pecause ne is worse nan, or has committed
sets more treascnahis in thsir character
inan other men, VINO couspired with him b
overthrow the Governments cf She United
states, but because be stands IS the repre- ]
sentative head q treason, a. embodied In
an orgauiEed form Of governmeut. 81.
L Is notorious tact that no fncors;iera-
Die number Of those uho have availsd
themselves Of Executive ihsgnanimity, and
accepted the pardon generously proharsa
BY the President, there being 10 6sher al
teruatlVe - ths sights Of ritizsnship and
restoration Of property, , maintain that. in
following their States into se,as-ioa s,ss
joining in the war Of rebeilisn, thuy com
Inftted no Treason, and, Under = strict con
siEuetion Of the Corstitution and the tkeorv
Of our Government as ooutai1sd IN the |
lEs IN harmony with 4. could noe be pun
ished a. traitors. Some have been 50 bold |
a. 70 assem- thi8 IN The conventions called 10 |
nalhfy the oFdinsucss. 81 secession and /
brin5-s States bach into the Union. This /
theory involves the aqusstion 81 the sove-
reiRnty Of the Siutes, aad their l1ieht 70 /
withdraw from the federation Of States CON-
pelling the eitizens thereof % renbunce /
lheiE Federal sllegianoes aud follow them
tn4F go.e-..s b. .-t.fE
The question: thsrefore, TO be settlsd By
the trial of.Jaherson Davia, iaof the gravest I
national impOEtance. II involves the high
eat powers Of The Government as much Rs i
Affects the rights Of the maanest citiEsn; for
: IS not only 20 determine the supreme au-
thWity Of she one, but definitely define the
supreme Allegiance OF the othsr, WlieEhaz
Jefferson. Davis Is 10 BE- hung, o. Is 70 be
pardontd, is matter that sinks INTO inaig-
nheanee beside the question whethfr ne
government has The constitutional right %
hang bin IS traitor, and Whtther his Of
ense is such as % bring upon Inn the az
rene PeualtS Of the Law. Fhisis the 1tast''
Which the President proposes 10 make Ia his
'ase. So far as arms can determine q, %
has been decided; th3 SOath has submitted
o that decisioh. Thecontsst i trsusforred
o the courts, where the conflicting theories
epresented byaths United States -. Jeifer-
On DavisHih stand eouirpnted before The
highest tri bnnal Of the nation. Its decision
vii. net beless decisive than Inst q ne
~; .and thoas who have. Accepted The one.
aust aceePta the other - conclusive and
Inal.-CiH. Con. 600 af ts. .asass-