New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-30
The Trial OF Davis and Breckinrtdge.
The following is the Washington letter OF


" Occasional" to The PHILADELPHIA Press OF Monday;
WASHINGTON May n. 1865.
The trial Of Jefferson Davis and John e. Breckln'
rid ge will take place before the Superior Court OF te
District OF Columbia There seems 10 De no purpose
on the part of the Government to surround the OCCASION
with any particular ecat, nor. indeed. Is there tne
slightest necessity for giving dramatic appearances 20
that which should simply BE- the execution 81 us a"sn@
and fair hearing to the parties acS ra;.ei
States-wheher he took an oath TO support the Const
tuition OF the United Ststes-whether he dd 20 when he
accepted the commission or wore the unborn
Of the country that educated him; also, when he
was an elector for President IN lsii when he
sat in Congress in le45 when he became a
Senator in Congress in ls47 and subsequently
in le5l. when he was appointed Secretary OF War oy
Presiden Pierce In le53 when he was again elected TO
the United States Senate in ls31-whether ne
seore allegiance 10 his country and her author
ny. her Constitution and laws, on each OF these
several occasions. soemnly before God and man and
then deliberately and insolenily broke the chain OF
sacred coyenantswbetber he left his seat IN congress
10 Join in the Rebehonwhetber he was the head OF the
Rebelion-whether he prompted, conniyed at, or APP
proved the invasion Of the District Of Columbia ana the
several attempts 10 attack the city OF Washington
these and few additional facts are all tnat are neces
put the great coDspirator ON trial before the
Superior Court Of this District. There Is no reason
why II should be invested with extra dignity. II the
criminal is notorious, that should rot be made
the pretext Of turning the court into theater.
All that 10 required to be proved can be proved in
short time and II those who are t. defend Jefferson
honors OF the experiment. The ChiefJnstiee Of the
Superior Court Is the Hon. David X. Cartier. native
OF New.Yors. and represented one of the Ohio Con.
gressona D.trcts from le49 10 1853 he hos occupied
screrdI positions in A Sdtedmor0 Others that ot
PresLisnf JEdss Of popuions and irsGssrt district.
lie also represented country al the south Ameri
can Conrt Of Bolivia ne Resident Minister. lie
resigned and returned 10 Ohio about three
years ago. After Congress had reorganzed
the rou,es Of this district and egslaed out the old
Judges. President Lincoln. anxious 10 secure men Of
ripe experience, capacity. aud unchaenged loyalty.
appointed Judge Cartier at the head OF the Court
and associated with him the Hon. Abraham On OF
New.Yoik. the Hon. George +. Fisher Of Delaware.
and Mr.. Wiley OF Georgetown IL is before this Court
and probably before Judge Cartier alone that the great
criminals will be tried II is proposed in certain quar-
tiers that ChiefJustice Chase should preside.
but do not think the idea will be carried ont
Those who know Justice C. will rejoice that To this
intrepid unselish and thorough statesman, duty 50
important has been eonfded. Originally member Of
the Democratic party. from which. Ike thousands Of
Others he cut loose the moment he discovered the pro-
Slavery plans Of the leaders David K.Carfer is in the
truest OF the word qualified by impulse, prinei
pie experience and knowledge of men and tho history
OF his country to that justice Is not cheated OF its
dues, aud that the greatest conspraor Of modern |
times shah escape the fate be cooy courted aud
so rccklcssly and insolently defed