Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-11-17
WASHINGTON NEWS.


ON the Subject Between the President
and Chief-Justice Chase.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Nov, g.
The recent reports about the trial of jeff
Davis, tending to create the belief that he
was not to be tried at all, have, as we have
heretofore maintained, no foundation what
! ever. The cause Of the delay was privately
understood, and its removal being probable,
| at an early day we have not deemed 1t advi-
4 sable to print the technical matters of diff
| ference which have existed between the
President and Chief.Justice Chase, but cr-
roneous statements having become public,
it is proper that the facts, as they exist,
should be known The following statement
from this evening" Repubhean we know to
proceed from the best authority and TO be
entirely correct. 1t fully explains the delay
in regard to the long expected trial:
! For months President johnson has ex-
| pressed the greatest anxiety to bring to le-
gal issue the question whether treason Is a
! crime and whether it can be punished as
SUCH He has not only consulted his con-
stitutional advisers, his cabinet and the prop
| er law officers of the government on the
| subject, but he has also invited to his coun-
sci some of the most eminent constitutional
and criminal lawyers in the land. Among
| these may be properly mentioned the name
of Chief.J ustiee Chase, who came here from
| Ohio some time in August last, at the spe-
! cialinyitation of the President, to consult
on the general subject OF trials for treason.
] Subsequently,, about the first of October
last, President johnson addressed letter to
Chief-Justice Chase, informing him that 1t
might become necessary for the government
to prosecute some high crimes and misde-
meanors committed against the United
States within the District of Virginia Chief
Justice Chase circuit, and inquiring wheth-
er the Circuit Court of the United States
for that district is so far organized and in
condition to execute It's functions, that the
Chief Justice, or either of the Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court, would
hold term Of the Circuit Court there du-
ring the Autumn or early Winter for the tri
al of causes.
About the middle Of October, Chief-Jus-
tice Chase replied to the President letter,
He positively stated that his Circuit Court
for the District of Virginia either to be
presided over by himself or one of his asso-
ciates, would not hold term during the
Autumn or early Winter He stated that
the regular term authorized by Congress
VIZ uld commence this year on the 9th Of
November, the present month, only one
week before the annual term Of the Supreme
Court, when all the Judges are required to
be present, allowing but enc week for the
Circuit Court TO sit, which IN the opinion
Of the ChefJ ustice would be too short
term for the transaction OF any very lmpor-
tant business. But the Chief-Justic adds
that, were the facts otherwise, he so much
doubts the propriety of holding Circuit
| Courts of the United States IN States which
have been declared by the executive and
legislative departments OF the National
Government to be in rebellion, and, there
fore, subjected to martial law, before the
complete restoration Of their broken fela
tons with the nation, and the superSedure
of the military by the civil administration,
that he would be unwilling to hold such
courts in such States, within his circuit,
which includes Virginia, until Congress
shall have had an opportunity to consider
and act on the whole subject The Chief
Justice expressed to the President the opin-
ion that a civil court in district under
martial law can only act By the sanction and
under the supervision of the military power
and he positively asserts that he could not
think that it becomes the Justices of the
Supreme Court to exercise Jurisdiction under
such conditions.
"
The EntetHgeacer ofthis morning says that
at a conservative meeting in New Greek,
Virginia, last week, the leading Democratic
orator uttered the following sentiment
1.-THE assassination of Abraham Lincoln was
a merciful dispensation, but it would be a
still more mercifnl dispensation if his unwor-
thy successor, Andrew johnson, should be
assassinated. He has since been made the
subject of an arrest, and is now in Cumber
land Jail.
Wirz Hung at I0'35.-His Last Speech
Appearance on the ScaffoId-What He
Thought of The American Eagle.
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 10.
LED TO THE GALLows.
At ten minutes past ten clock Wirz was
led out into the jail yard back of the Old
Capitol, aud accompanied by two Catholic
priests and Major Russell, he ascended the
steps leading to the gallows with firm step
tie had on a cloak of black chintz, and one
arm was hanging In sling.
While the specifications and findings were
being read by Major Russell, he sat under
the moose in a chair, and his two confessors
bent over him, reading the service.
lie gazed around upon the soldiers and
spectators without wayering or manifesting
any trepidation.
EFFORTS FOR PARDON.
Every effort was made to get the Presi-
dent to pardon him, but he turned deaf
ear to all entreaties
WIRZ' s STATEMENT.
Wirz has made statement to General
Baker, which will probably be published
soon.
ETERNITY,
At 1875 the drop fell, his neck was not
broken and he struggled several minutes,
when he finally died. He presented the
boldest appearance to the very last. and re-
fused to say he forgave his enemies or those
whom he considered had prosecuted him.
His LAST SPEECH
He spoke last night of the American eagle
as nothing but d-d buzzard, and he says
he Is sorry for nothing he has done.
IMPORTANT FROM NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 7.
The total vote of this city at the election
on Monday was two thirds of that roIlad