The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-30
JEFF Davis to BE- q MARTYR.

- VI D..
A class Of papers-ge generally Of doubtful
loyaity-are laudly calling for clemencv for
JEFF. Davis, coupling with their demand the
plea that II executed he will be considered a
2 martyr, and that his death win keep alive q
spirit OF disaffection in the South, &c.
'sA We We'll remember that when President
Lincoln was appealed to to save from hanging
tne African slave-trader, Capt Gordon. In
new York, II was urged that his execution
would awaken sympathy In bis behalf. and
Ap make OF him martyr, and instead OF check
ing Inc slave trade that IL would give new
impetus to that infamous traffic, by prompting
thousand new forms by which to eyade tho
laws. The sequel demonstrated, however
that the execution Of that one man put an ef.
. fectual quietus upon the foreign slave trade bv
A american citizens, and entirely stopped the
ntIlng outof slaversin New York. g
NO State Government has ever RETAINED
nom furnishing the ring-leadsrs In rebellion
on sne ground that they would become mar
~ Trs' OF that their friends and dupes would be
innamed. John Browns life was pleaded for
by Fernando Wood on the same osten.;bIs
ground that JeR. Davis Is now asked to be
y spared, though the New York Mayor signided
AIS Willingness to have the cord braided for
browns neck put upon that Of Mr.. Seward,
PUT Gov Wise not only turned deaf ear 10
me pleadiugs of Fernando, bat worry e.nphst-
icaIy deciaredit was high tirneto hang Brown
nitwas afact that any considerable number
Of people stood ready TO justify his offenses
Ia our judgment the solemn execution of
Jefferson Davis, after patient fair trial and To-
gaa conviction, win do more than any other
1c' 70 check future attempts to follow in his
"''Aso footsteps. The entire rebel confeder- /
es Aay thus be punished in the person Of its
no@u' 'he only man whose ignoininious dea,h
couiu % regarded as an emphatic copda,ra
so- :. ..0 ep'l ne rebel scheme and OF ali who
nave deem engaged IN it. His execution ,,,as.
anoro excuse for Conditional nardo, = 49,
onenders-a pardon, for instance co,,,,,a, 10
expatriation--but the death 81 - 49, w
fender could be regarded as an aoa,,,ss 49,. y
his. '.'sA' ioi
A general amnesty would serve to le,son
the Nervousness of the sin OF rebellion VIM
II an example be made OF Davis--the repres.n
tative head OF the rebelllon-thc law would ba |
"naicateo, the broad seal of national con |
demnation would be affixed to treason, and
! sne people generally would be satisfied to stop
Inc flow OF blood; but spare Davis and strike |
~ offenders Of flower grade, and who can de-
nne The point at which the hand of clemencv
should interpose, or draw the line bevond
which blood should cease to fiows III
Enyvr,.,.,-.. =, n ~ - ---- rWo !.
An .D.sssnoH REvrEw.-We are indebted to the
s.r ths publishers Of the foreign Quaterlies
Tns oonta ps. number Of the Edinburgh Review.
l;sh T;.ssa. are l. Taine's History of Eng
a..l.' selA'ars' ?. Heraldic Manuals. q The
Aus'ralian Colonies; =. Madame Roland.
Lecky 2 influence Of Rationalism. 4 IT, Y,a nn {
ana Mosque of St. Sophia; I. Msmo ars on IN
mont De Bostaquet; g. Tuscen son,a.' 81 pu-
wuizo.s Meditations of Christiauitv. ~
Law Of Patents ~. The ,