Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-05-26
Jeff Davis a Prisoner.

/ Inc intelligence OF The capture OF jeff.
Davis will produce sense of satisfaction
throughout the whole country. 1t has
been felt that the triumph of the gov
eminent was hardly complete while the
chief rebel conspirator and the official
head of treason was at large. The pub,
lie have felt regret at Sherman's first
truce with Johnston more on account Of
the apprehension that it possibly had
given Davis time TO escape, than because
of any other evil result of the convention.
Davis has been regarded more as the
representative man of the rebellion than
any other traitor, and it has seemed es-
pecially fitting as well as necessary that
in his person the majesty of justice should
be INDICATED, and the crime against the
government should be punished. We
doubt whether the official statement Of
President Johnson's proclamation offer
ing a reward for Davis and others, that
this arch conspirator was an accomplice
of Booth, added to thegeneral Indignation
against him, or increased the general de-
sire that ne, at least, of the traitors should
be visited with the righteous penalty of
violated law. The people believed him
to be capable Of even that crime and
they knew that his guilt was blacker than
that OF any other rebel without that adj
ditional stain; and it hardly seemed that
rebellion was dead while the greatest
criminal of all was where he could still
issue proclamation and official orders, and
assume to be still the head and front Of
treason.
And now that Davis is in the bands of
the Federal authorities, we trust he will
be dealt with as bis crimes Deserve
His fierce and implacable hatred of the
Union, his satanic ambition, and bis active
brain have given the rebellion immense
strength and caused the shedding Of
rivers of blood Of bis countrymen and
ours; and this blood cries from the ground
Of a thousand battle fields for Justice
Libby, AndersonviIle, Salisbury, and
other rebel prisons rise up with their
terrible records Of unutterable horrors,
and arraign him as the most atrocious
and cruel murderer in the annals of time
Arson, Starvation, Murder, he made the
agents of his will. In his warfare against
The government he hesitated at no enof-
nifty Of wckedness, he stopped short OF
40 possible crime. With a deliberate
riendi,hness more than savage, with a re-
liuement and an ingenuity o f torture
which it is possible alone for one educa-
ted 10 slavery to attain to, be led and IN
cited his rebel associates to every uncisi.
lied and nhuman method Of warfare
More consummate in his treacheou
hypocrisy than Philip II of Spain, more
studied aud perfect in his cruelty than the /
infamous CalIgula, he is the foul and |
poisonous towering OF the slave c.vll'za-
ton OF America, the concentrated venom
of the whole serpent brood Of treason,
and his career will find It's only fitting
conclusion on the gibbet,
We presume the government will i'm
nediattIy put Davis upon trial. If the
evidence of lis completely with Booth i.
clear and undoubted, he should be tried
tor that offense, as, in that event, he would
yet no sympathy from any quarter. But
unless such evidence can be had, he