Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-08
From the London Quarterly Review
The Trial Of Jefferson Davis.
An Able English View Of It...HoE the
l. -f World Regards lt. ..

I y. -
lpected ms an earnest Christian, the Washington oi
another generation OF the same race. Nov, none
so poor as as TO do him reverence" In this coun-
try, happily free from excitement, we can calmly
weigh facts which others see for the time through
rile distoripg media of prejudice and passion,-
Jefferson Davis simply followed the example OF
George Washington. Both were Southerners, both
slavehoIders, both levied war against older gov
Iernment Washington, q subject of the British
Grown, under which he held acommsson, commit
ted IN act Of unquesondbie treason. Jefferson
Davis was never a subject of Abraham Lincoln
lie was the chosen ruler of millions of the Amer
can people, twice rs many as demanded their iu-
dependence from this country. Over them he ruled
for years under all the most complete forus Of CON
stutional government ed .r
That such man should be hunted down as a
felon is one OF the dark spots that will be len by
this struggle on the page of American history--oi
~ the darkest The charge which President John
son attempted to fasen upon fallen foe has been
secuted upon every hand The assassin of Mr.
Lincoln was a stage-slricken fanatic, iucapahl, at
the time of seeing that his crime would he rninous
TO these he thought 10 serve. After the surrender
of Lee, even ii the whole Northern Cabinet had
pershed, this could only have influenced the result
by rendering the irresistible armies of Grant and
sherman more reyengetnl, and adding 70, the suf-
terings OF the yanquished. Booth was not a
lSOutherner had no eOhneXiOn with any State oil
the Conirderacy, had endured no ouir'ge. suffered
no loss. 1t wns well known that his fathers in.
tellect was diSOrtered, and that he had committed
acts of violence The circumstances of the crime
1.-THE theatre, The stage, The flourish, The quota
tion, hc mans life, his letters his dying request
TO tell his mother that he had done what he
thought for the bes-all indicated the ind vduality
of the act, the originator, the intended hero of the
Tragedy. 1t is one OF the crimes that throughout
al history, and with all nations, has invariably
companed such conyusions. No great disturbance
occurs in European history but some one comes for
ward to play bis part. r. ,-1 s
There IS, hardly sovereign rcigning in Europe
whose life has not been attempted. and there are
those old enough to Remember the conspiracy OF
LThist!cwood, when it was intended to destroy the
whole government Of this country at n blow. So
far, then, from the event being Iare phenomenon,
it was one to be ANTICIPATED indeed, it seems 10
have been expected 10y Mr. Sew ard. As in certain
sanitary conditions certain diseases attack the body
so amidst wars and tumuts this form OF mOnOmania
seized on minds so predisposed. In all this how
ever deploraOlc, there is nothing astounding; but
astounding it is that President OF the United
S;atss should bring charge OF comp lefty such
a crime against an emine!t American statesman
and soldier. To make such charge heedlessly
without evidence OF The clearest character, was to
bring an incfaceable stain upon the dignity of the
country. II bears the aspect OF an attempt to as
sasinate The reputation Of deies less man,
Among savaGcs it is the practice TO aloat over he
tortues Of the defeated, " make a target OF the
quivering body, and transhx it with arrows as
pastime. Civilized nations usually treat the vic.
tins of war with humanity, even with generosity
The whole conduct of the government in this mat.
ter OF conspiracy trial is painful in the extreme
the trial CT an ofense wholly unconnectrd with wal
by court martial; the composition of that court
its president lis reporter the ittletattle received
eyidence, and, beyond ALL the secresy attempted
carry MS back to the worst usuages OF the darkes
times. .,r.. .. ....f ..s... ......a
Jefferson DaTis is now in the hands Of his enemies
and remaining to he tried for treason. II he hnt
committed this crime he would then stand on {
f level with Washington, KoSsuih,I Garibaldi ant
others hitherto the object Of American imira,i, n
- Can the sam, thing he virus when others sulfsr
c aud the hlackgst of crimes when it jniurcs on
A seveS2 II he be tried under the present cxgi c
e meat there can be little doubt as to the verdict;
but it cannot be supposed that the American peopl,
= win commit such an act as to take any man lift
' Tor simply following the example Of their owr
: idolized hero. aud exercising a right they are al
h,augh, 90 clam--,a most sacred right as Mr.
r Lincoln declared it to be. Aud as Ar. johnson re-
itCraes that treason is the greatest Of crimes ",
, are LED to examine how u is regarded by the Con
siltutioh oi Tue United states Here so iar iron
D oelng lhns accoAnieA IL D selected from al o'hel
Q onelces' not 10 Ce s'lgnit11ce, oLt 10 1pe oeu'
= win gen'Iy, ana 7hedged round Win protection
7 - -
1 NO pilI OF altaAder snail De passed., Af'. 1T
Sec ); NO person sha'i ne convicted oi treason
' unless on The testimony OF two witnesses TO the
same overt act or ON confession IN open court
IN ART u, sec =, II Is classed Wlla Orhely ahu
'he ON amendment 10 Inc constitution requires lha
'he accused shali nave ihe rlght TO "a Speedy ah
Pnone 'rial ny an Impartial Jury OF ,ne orlle ah'
"ho'e. 'le o.Ie s'',' u'Nu ovVii
il' - 9e. - ',u'''nS '""' ~ "','''' y.
SOU st% ~o,H s , On ~ upot " 10
eA,v?' uu's .'le ile VI w., lg'So
~ tns ui", % ~ oo .'iIuC. 't''ia "s ',' li'I
o'''.v w I'm '' -" ",''s' "e ~
HE ,ne i'su' " sp'e ~" go w 49,
ui"" 'up' ~ ""oh N''i 'Ny ",us'S "n! 'E"',ss
n u"re ~ ufe lne "IkuInyn" ~ 10 no' setrian! I pe
Iv,eu ~ 'ii's eVun'.y 'lu,' su,i' is"t "n
iH'"I ~ apo'nPe'e"t "s"l Nu'no'"y, No''uS'usl
1,N uelutu Oh'u''iS' "sss!'s, ~ uie "o'N ou ~
Copsl'upoN' o"' uie lSu' % lnue'Vn' ~ tie
: of ,bsm free soyereign and indepcndent mower
a il verv certain ne tbey were senaratrly acknowI
!, iged Inv ibis Country in these terms Thai tbeI
80 L. -, N,i,i - d., TTi,aa S,,, ,l;d 40,