Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

1t is said that, the trial of the great CON
spirator has been finally settled upon, and
that he is to be arraigned before a civil
Court. In our way of thinking, this is
equal to an acquital For, at no point where
he can be tried, can a jury be impanneled
where one or more copperheads, or traitors
and they are one and the same thing sim
mered down-will not be on the panel, and
with one of these on it, a conviction for
High Treason against JEFFERSON DAVIS, will
be impossible. So far therefore. as the
ends of justice are concerned, the govern
ment may as well set him at liberty with
out the exposure, and mockery Of trial.
If the government granted a civil trial
to DAVIS in Difference to cOpperhead opin-
ions, or to stop their abuse, it has not act
ed wisely. The copperheads deserved no
such consideration nor will any concession
to their views arrest their censures. From
the beginning, they have justified the reb-
els in every act and measure projected to
sever the Union and as positively con-
demned every thing the government did to
arrest their treason. Nothing but her own
strong arm hindered the entire horde of
Northern copperheads from making common
cause with the rebellion. All know this.
Why then, consult them more than HUNTER,
WISE, TooMBs, or any other open rebel as
l. IL, E Al
In addition to this, the whole Union SEN
timent of the country insists upon DAVIS
punishment. All the men who were true
in their loyalty to the government, especi-
ally the soldiers, believe she will suffer in
her moral and political standing, if she al
lows the rebel leader to escape. On this
ground the enormous bounty offered for the
arrest of DAvIs-and it was through this
that he was secured-was justified And
what will the Union people say, if the gov
ernment, after offering an hundred thousand
! dollars reward for the arrest of DAVIS,
grants him manner of trial which is sure
to result in his acquital ? Especially too,
when there is no necessity for it. 1t will
look to many like mockery. To some it
will have the appear ance of connivance at
his escape.
Why change the mode of the trial of the
conspirators? Mrs SURRArr and her coterie,
the humble victims of fell delusion, have
no chance offered them of packing Jury
that will acquit them. Stern, inexorable
justice demands that they shall hang, and
all the people say amen. Even WIRz, the
brutalized, infernalized WIRz, whose escape
Judging from the testimony--seems hard
ly possible before any tribunal is arraign-
ed before military court Why is this ?
People will ASK, why are these poor wretches,
the victims and tools of the great leaders
Of the conspiracy, tried in this certain way
Of just punishment, while he who concocted,
who led, who sustained, who drove the
whole South into the rebellion, and as COM
pared with him in criminality, the SURRArrs,
PAYNEs and HARoLDs, were as pigmies to
| giants, is to have a chance to escape the
punishment he has earned thousand times.
by packed jury? Will the people not in
fer that this advantage to the great crimi-
nal is conceded to him, because he is great
and powerful? That the lowly must suffer
for crime but the great, no matter how
villainous, must escape and if the people
come to such conclusions, will it be we'll
for those who subject themselves to the
charge of thus, indirectly to be sure, but
none the less successfully, striving to out
wit justice in this partial way? Individu-
ais may show neutrality-suspicious. may
favor any of their own stripe and govern
ment even, will be excused for looking
kindly on those who befriend it; but Justice
demands fairness, equality, and neither in
dividuals, politicians. or governments, can,
with impunity, shape and warp the balance
of justice, SO that the poor, and lowly shall
be punished, and the rich and great go
free.
In determining on the trial of DAVIS, the
government waited until the heat of passion