The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-01
TRIAL of left. Darts.

mere has Deen lCellng Tor some time.
founded upon intimations more or less all
thentic from Washington, that jeff. Da-
Wis is to be tried in September. But Sep
TENDER is almost here, and yet We have
nothing definite about the matter The
counsel OF the prisoner states that he
knows nothing more about the impending
trial than other people, and that an appli-
cation in his behalf for information to the
to the proper quarters at Washington yet
remains unanswered. That which appar-
emily comes nearest to furnishing any light
upon the subject is a Washington dispatch
published a few days ago, bearing marks
of semi official authority, which affirmed
that, against the opinion of a part Of the
cabinet, President Johnson is fixed in his
determination that there should he for the
rebel chief Ian Immediate and fair trial.
by a jury OF the country, for high trea-
son"
We trust that tLls correctly embolies
the substantial position of the President -
Ii it does, it may well happen that minor
but still important matters may delay for
q time the fixing OF the date and other
circumstances of the trial, and their an
nouncemcnt either TO the prisoner or the
public. OF these things the administra-
ton is the best, as it Is the only proper.
Judge, and the people have every conf
iencc in its wise determination thereupon
But there Is everywhere a sincere desire
that this great legal problem, bcqueathcd
to us by the rebellion. may receive its So
luton and disposal at the earliest opportu-
nifty consistent with justice 10 all, 1t Is
not, rs has been intilnated in some quar-
tiers that. in arresting JET. Davis, the
government has drawn an elephant, and
that lis friends are anxious TO relieve it OF
IL great embarrassment rs speedily as pos
sible. This Is over-complimentary TO
Davis. He is nobody in this ca>e-that
is to say, all the difficulty which may be
felt 10y the government springs from its
rovelty and the great principles involved,
!
character of the criminal. He may add
to the interest of the trial, but not at all to
the care and anxiety of the government,
which have for their sole object the assign
mcnt of the case TO the right tribunal in
the right shape.
Instead of being an elephantine ohjec;
Of any kind, Jeli. Davis is just now the
grain of dust in the vast machinery of the
body politic-;s little something that i,
telt to crate in the smooth working of IT.
construction. q something that men fee
ought 10 bc out of the machinery, and
will be before long, Of course, the soon
er it is removed by fair and constitutional
means the better. And that-to recur tt
literal language-will be accomplished b,
the fair trial OF jeff. Davis for high Treason
before the highest tribunal OF the land
Nothing less than such disposition of tn
case seems due to the magnitude of III,
principles involved and their importanc,
us a precedent hereafter. And we under
take to say that such disposition, carried
out to its legitimate end, without any in
reference OF executive pardon, will prov,
satisfactory TO the public, independent o
its particular result. If, on such a trial
Davis shall be acquitted, he may 60 FREE
like the pardoned rebels, though the guilt
lest of all. But if, after being fully ant
fairly tried, defended by his chosen coun
sci and given every advantage which ou1
laws allow to the accused, he shall be adj
Judged guilty, shall be sentenced and shall
be hanged, the people will acquiesce a
readily and completely as they did in the
fate of Payne or Mrs. Surratt. 1t is tn,
legal settlement of the matter that is want
ed.-BOston Journal