The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-05-19

virtually restored wherefore the people demand
| of you speedy and thorough return 10 the safe
and orderly ways Of law and liberty. Do not
compel them to speak in tones that you cannot
refuse 10 hearl
Fron. the n. Y. Iues (lr. .Se,carFs Orga1l.)
It is very possible the publication of the evi-
| dence taken on the trial of the conspirators at
! Washington might prevent the arrest Of some
| persons implicated IN the crime Of assassination
who are aCw at large bat their arrest must be
of very great Importance indeed, if the fear Of
their escaping is suticient to Justify the profound
gecrecv with which it has been determined to
surround the proceedings. The cLiei of Booths
accompces, Ii is fair 20 conclude, are these fer
whose apprehension reward has been offered
/ Davis. Tucker, Sanders & Co, and it 8 not
pretended that anything which may transpire at
the trial at Washington, will, in the least degree
| Offset tie chance OF their escape. They and
/ their friends hare certainly been as much put
or their guard oy the Presidents proclamation
as they are like to be by anything else that can
/ occur.
1t IS not unfair to conclude, therefore, that
'the parties who may escape. should publicity
Is given % the proceedings" are <Pariies' Of
an inferior degree Of guilt, and now within the
/ limits Of the United States, and if SO, We can
hot help saying that it is for various weien,y
reasons to bc regretted that their capture should
be deemed either 50 important or difficult, as io
( be made the preLext or occasion Of introducing
/ into our criminal procedure SO extraordinary
/ an anomaly rs tl.al oy military commission
| for capital offense with closed doors, anu w5lh
an oath Of secrecy imposed on all persons TAX
/ ing part in the proceedings We thilk it would
! have been infinitely betler to have postponed
the trial tiil all publicity could 90 no harm, even
/ if that period were likely to be SIX months dis
! tant, than introduce into this couRtry So novel
la tribunal, and one so repugnant to the spirit
OF our institutions, as that which is now sitting
at Washington. Ii is one for a0hich no prsced-
ent is to be FOUND in tie history Of any free
country, and one TO lchich the aCcTst EGroDeaa
/ despotisms hare rarely rantursd, sren an Po-
land or Hungary, 10 resort. Ever the unhaP-
" victims Of the Irish rebellion were prepar-
ed for the galiows IN open court, and III the
light Of day.
( Moreover, there are strong doubts entertained
! by Unaffected persons az the North as TO the
existence ofany good foundation for he charges
made against Davis in the late proclamation.
Abroad, all the enemies of the government will
. certainly receive them with iucredulity and de-
rison; and there is no question that, under all
the circumstances, II t0OuLd be difficult 70 i'm g-
me position more humiiiating and embarrqss-
ing than that in tOaich the government wIt
stand, If IL should appear tint those charges
,0sre I,gdiy or trirojousty made Nothing will
prevent, however, the spread OF such presumP-
/ ton except the production in open court OF the
J evidence on which they were based, and its sub
mission to the scrutiny Of the prisoners coun'
sci and Of the public at large. Those who fat
ter themselves that public opinion, either at
home OF abroad will be much influenced by a
UerSlon of If l5bsch has bean edited aud eTpur-
gated bg the Judge .4dv0cgte, must be very SIM
Die people indeed. Nobody l0H psrn::t himself,
ukaieper lis ieaniRgS may bs, to attach any
gqlue 10 rereia!ions made undsT conditions an
,rh1ch eUerg rule Of evidence IS SIT at naaght,
and eUsn the experience Of eUery-eay life t. eat
ed gith contempt.
What makes the matter all the worse Is, that
OF the very day on which this tribunal begins
its proceedings, the state OF things which alone
could Justify it, If anIhirg could justify At,
had been formally declared at an end uy procla'
nation. guder the Presidents hand and seal
Foreign powers were warned thet the war was
over at the very moment that a tribunal was
assembling, for whose constitution and procedure
nothing bot overwhelming and imminent dan
ger to the national existence would he sutfi-
cient warrant. Viii they really believe that
peace has beea restored when a most atrociou:
crime has to be tried and punished by mill
tary court sitting in secret in the national cap
ital and in a country in which all secret things
and above al, secret trials, haze always beer
held in adherence