The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-05-29

n LIZA 4 Ok8 Ekk EASOS DAVIS
The Dubuque Herald, which has beel
noted from the very opening of the rebel
lion for the fearlessness and energy of il
advocacy of the cause of the rebels, nov
that the war is over, is striving, to the
best OF its ability, to shield the leaders o
the rebellion from the punishment O.
their crimes. The fact is, the Copper.
heads of the North are looking to re.
union of their party with the traitors Of
the South, apd they feel that they can
lily afford to spare such splendid exempli-
fcstions Of Democracy as are furnished by
the rebel chiefs of the South And 80,
while the organ of Northern Iowa puts in
special plea Of immunity for JEFF. Davis,
the Southern organ of the party insists
that none of the rebels, either high or
low, are amenable to the laws of the
country, or punishable for treason to the
Government.
But read what the Herald says in ito
admiration of the great traitor under
whose auspices hundreds of thousands Of
our brave soldiers have been slain on the
battle field, massaored in cold blood, or
systematically starved to death in South
ern prisons. The Herald's indignation
boils against the Abolitionists, as he calls
the supporters of the Government, in ex-
act proportion as its sympathies are ex-
cited for the prospective martyr chief of
its love and admiration.
1t says:
q Il remains to be decided what dispc.
sition shall be made of Jefferson Davis
No amOant of ridicule over the absurd
details Of his capture. invented, no doubt.
to crafty diseased public appetite, can
rob the proceedings in his case Of their
solemnity, or excuse the Abolitionisto of
the North for their lood-thirstiness. For
four years he has held an elevated posi-.
ton with an ability and dignity that has
challenged admiration, and it argues a
Itleness of soul on the part of his ene-
mics to do that by ridlcule which four
years Of adverse wsr have failed to accom-
phsh. The rebellion was not a "John
Brown raid" and Mr.. Davis has never
descended to the level of fanatical agi-
tator. The words of the New York
CommercialAdvertiser should therefore be |
needed Let all things be done in or
DER There is dignity in the issue IN.
volved in this trial, whether the majesty
of the American people reaches it or
not.
That Mr.. Davis is a doomed man,
before trial, there is but little room to
doubt. The hatred the Biak Repubf-
can pr -ty has for those of the South, nur-
tured during all the years of anti-slavery
agitation, and eliminating in four
years desperate struggle by the Soulh TO
free itself from connection with its sworn
enemies, centres upon him, and its cry is
for blood. Tnat history will condemn
his execution, and place him in the long
list OF martyrs, avais nothing; that his
his death will retard rather than facilitate
the establishment Of friendly relations be
tween the two sections, is largely out.
weighed by the craving for blood. The
people have been taught to believe thai
the rebellion is embedded 10 JEFF Davis,
and their hate for the one is personal NAL
ice to the other. 1t is unnecessary to
state that public opinion is wrong Davis
never led the revolution, and had nothing
to 90 with creating it. He could not even
direct il when ones in motion He fol-
lowed where it led, and the superiority OF
his guilt over that of all other Southern
men is only the superiority Of his intel
lect, which placed him in a more promi
nent position than that occupied by 9th.
ers. But we are told that Davis will not
be executed for treason, but for com piici-
ty in the assassination. This We believe
is but pretext, and the civilized world
will so consider it. for, ss Gerritt Smith
says: "No sane man believes such .
thing" This excuse will utterly fail TO
convince the world that in his execution
we rise above the brutal desire tor yer.
geance to the dignity of nation dealing
ONT justice. Among his own people le
will be enshrined as martyr to the holy
cause of liberty, and future revolusioDis's
will point to his dsath as the martyrs
crown to his life and the brand of our
shame"
n~.n Wk,~ D.-rhEn.r