The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-25
The Trial of JefE. Davis.
IN ABLE ENGLISH VIEW OF IT.
How the World Regards it.


But the other day Jefferson Davis
,ras one of the worlds foremost men,
admired as a statesman, respected as
= earnest Christian, the Washington
i another generation Of the same
pasa "Now, none SO poor as to do
IN, reverence" - Inthis country, hap
,;lv free from excitement, we can calm
i weigh facts which others see for the
time through the distorting media of
prejudice and passion. Jefferson Da-
is simply followed the example of
George Washington. Bothwere South
erners both slaye-owners, both levied
war against an older government
Washington, subject of the British
Crown, under which he held commits
sion, committed an act of unquestiona-
bile treason. Jefferson Davis was nev-
,er the subject of Abraham Lincoln.
He was the chosen ruler of millions of
tthe American people, twice as many as
demanded their independence from
this country. Over them he ruled for
wears under all the most complete forms
,of constitutional law. That such a
man should be hunted down as felon,
SIS one Of the dark spots that viii be
lleh by this struggle on the page of
American history-of all the darkest.
THE charge which President johnson
attempted to fasten upon fallen foe,
has been secuted on every hand. The
assassin of Mr.. Lincoln was a stage
stricken fanatic, incapable of seeing
that his crime would be ruinous TO
these he sought to serve After the
surrender of Lee, even if the whole
Northern Cabinet had perished, this
could only have influenced the result
ty rendering the irresistable armies of
Grant and Sherman more revengeful,
land adding to the sufferings of the van
,quished. Booth was not a Southener,
had no connection with any State OF
the Confederacy, had endured, no out
rage, suffered no loss. Il was vel
known that his fathers intellect was
disOrdered, and that be had committed
acts Of violence The circumstances
Of the erime-the theater, the stage,
the flourish, the quotation, the mans
Life, his letters, his dyingrequest to tell
his mother that he had done what he
thought for the best all indicated the
Individuality of the act, the originator,
tie intended hero of the tragedy. 1t
is one of the crimes that throughout
oil history, and with all nations, has
invariably accompanied such, conYul-
sions. No great disturbance occurs in
European history bat some one comes
forward to play this part. There is
hardly sovereign reigning in Europe
whose life has not been attempted, and
there are those old enough to remen-
Der the conspiracy of Thistlewood,
when it was intended to destroy the
whole Government Of this country at a
blow. So far, then, from the event be-
ing rare phenomenon, it was one to
be anticipated; indeed, it seems to have
been expected by Mr.. Seward. As in
certain sanitary conditions. certain dis
eases attack the body, SO amidst wars
and tumults this form of monomania
seized on minds SO predispos9d. In
all this, however deplorable, there1is
nothing astounding; but astounding it
is that President of the United States
should bring charge Of completely in
such crime against an eminent Amer
lcan statesman and soldier. To make
such charge heellessly, without eyi-
dence of the clearest character, was to
bring an ineffaceable stain upon the
dignity of his Office, and the history of
his country. 1t bears the aspect of an
attempt to assasinate the reputation of
adefeneeless man. Among sayages it
is the practice to gloat over the tor
lures Of the defeated, to make a target
Of the quivering body, and transfx it
with arrows as q pastime. Civilized
nations usually treat the victims of war
With humanity, even with generosity.
The whole conduct Of the Government
IN this matter of conspiracy trial is
painful in the extreme e-the trial of an
offence wholly umconnected with war
py ceurt-martial; the composition Of
tlAat Court--its president, its reporter,
RF tittie-tattle received as evidence,
and, beyond;a the secresy attempted
carry us back TO the worst usages Of
the darkest times.
Jefferson Dayis is now in the hands
. his enemies, and remaining to be
med for treason If he had commit
'sa this crime hs would then stand on
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