The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-27

ments wers heavy Gold was dull and closed at l45x a
145k
The fall in gold had very depressing influence Ia
commercial circles yesterday and but little business
| oonsummsted. This was especially the with
imported merchandise, which very quiet. Do
| mestic goods were irregular. Cotton more active
and higher the strength OF the foreign Petro
lsum dull, unsettled and lower. Groceries were
steady On 'Change -four was duh and lower Wheat
was frmer but very quiet. Corn higher and more
active Pork was Gmer at the opening. but closed
| heavy and lower Lard dull and shade lower
4 whiskey was inactive and also lower
The Approaching Trial or JcR. Davis for
/ Treason.
One of our Washington correspondents
announces this morning that the authorities
have made all the necessary arrangements for
the trial of Jefferson Davis before the Supreme
Court The necessary counsel for the prosecu-
ton have been retained, and the arrange
ments are perfected, in order that the trial may
speedily follow that Of Wirz.
1t is apparent that the President, with that
firmness which has ever characterized him, is
determined, while dealing leniently with the
masses of the rebels, to SO enforce the laws
against the leading spirits of the rebellion as
to make good his declaration that he would
snake treason odious." While ne is daily
| pardoning the deceived and misled masses he
is selecting from among the leaders such
| as represent the most criminal phases Of
the rebellion, and, while putting them on
trial for their lives is employing the
occasions to expose to the scorn Of the world
the horrible atrocities which have resulted
from their crimes. The trial of the conspira-
tors served to show the vindictive nature Of
The traitors. In that Of Wirz the world has
been shown what inhumanities these leaders,
of whom Wirz, though only tool, was yet
representative, were capable, and the purpose
Of the government in convicting Wirz has been
less to punish the man than to prove the rebel
government capable Of committing cruc,ties
more horrible than those Of the Black Hole
of Calcutta. In trying Jefferson Davis for
treason the government will aim, not 80 much
| TO convict and hang the traitor, az to define
! the natur, OF The crime, fix it's punishment and
reveal what atrocities it has fathered and pro
| dnced
| In such trial, before thu highest tribunal in
arbitrament the various questions which haze
| agita.ed the country, in Congressional halls
and on battle fields, for the past forty years.
| The AnSIo-Rcbcl Pirate In,broglio-.-he
Scmi.OMcial ExplaDntion.
II is announced in the foreign news by the
Africa that the London Times has On "cxpla-
nation" in relation to the just published cor
respondcncc between Earl Russell and Mr.
Adams, and. further, that this explanation il
sscmi-offcial.' The explanation IL that 'thc
position taken by The British government would
| preclude the losses from the pracies by the
rebel cruisers being referred 10 the pronossd
| commissioners" This is an explanation very
much like the plea IN The tub case. Defendant,
being sued for tub loaned TO him. sad re-
turned in damaged condition, replied. first, that
| he returned the Tub in q sound state; second,
| that il was broken when he got Il. and third,
| That "he never had tho tub anyhow" The "cy-
| PLANTATION of the London Tines is equally rea-
sonable I, informs IA that England's position
renders il impossible for u cer:sin comm ssion,
proposed by her, to take mp the only question
that we could possibly carry before the said
commission, and the only snhiect of the cores
pondence that led to the proposal of the COM
mission.
This scmi-oliicinl explanation of the London
Tines Is ci'hc. q coaord, or j. is put ont 70
quiet the British public. I. mag have been
thourhi in England that the position Of her
Maiesty's government was o little Inconsistent;
that il denied in one breath he existence Of
claim tbet in another il proposed q commits
sion should consider; and Chs explanation
Il sent ont 10 60, over Inc difficulty, and 20
assure the public that Russell has not com
m;tted any such blunder. A title reflection
will satisfy any one that this mus. b. the case
Tie whole m,tr in discussion between Rms
sell and AdrIus WA This one Of Britt Con-
fadcraic cruiser. Through toe whole lcngia
of the able documents given by us yesterday
they never ouch any other topic. " was The
question OF thu piracies on orr commerce, to
the exclusion OF all others. that was before
them, and a, he end Of his own argument
Earl Russell declares that her Mojesiy's gov
eminent Is ready 10 consent 70 the appoint
mcnt OF Il commission To which shall DC
referred The ciuims Of the two Powers. And
now ~ are informed that the position Of Eng
land will render II impossible FOR The commits
sion to take up he only claim we care rush
for This diplomacy would he sufficiently
British, hui W. 10 not believe TIA. any such
declaration really came from her Majes'y's
government.
The published correspondence between the
two ministers exeites the deepest interest in
the two countries, in both Of which the docu-
mcnts have apparently been read with avidi'y
and the question weighed. and peace or war
may rest upon this discussion. Perhaps the
mass Of The British pablic may find themselves