The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-08

| President Johnson's late proclamation, Wnlcn
being quoted without comment, may be sup
posed to receive the endorsement and approx
al of the Press The article in question, az
Ter some sensible remarks IN relation to JEFF.
DAvls and his present position. proceeds as
follows: Is Ia MM (!
THE reward offered for the arrest of Davis
seems to as, withsour present means of form
ing judgement, more consistent and intelli-
glblesthpa the rewards offered for his accom-
plces. Davis is yet within the limits OF the
sUated States, and telegram from the South
Which we publish this morning renders II not
improbable that he may be overtaken and
caught, hut his fellow scoundrels are in Cana
da; aud, If guilty, they will, of course, never
come voluntarily into the United States. We
do nos perceive, therefore, how reward Of
tered for their arrest,s'in the United States"
hss any tendency to secure their persons.
They may be demanded under the extradition
article in the Ashburton treaty, and in this
away brought into custody; but we wholly Iail
TO perceive in what way. the offer of heavy re-
wards is likely to procure their arrest in the
UHted States. This particular feature of the
proclamation until it receives the expiana-
tons which are as yet Withheld) wears an
appearance OF haste, and want of elaboration
Al GU cSe ae1AoO 5ho W AusO UCCu WCn COu-
sidered. W
IL enables these traitors and cut-throats to
place the government IN an embarrassing d.
iemua. They may cause it to be proclaimed
from safe place of retreat, that they are I'M
justly accused; that, if an opportunity is al
lowed them, they can substantiate their limo
eence; and that they will voluntarily surren-
der themselves for public trial, on condition
ahatthe government will engage to insti-
TUE proceedings against them on, any other
charge, If they are acquitted of this. If the
government should refuse such promise, it
wonld loak as IL this accusation had been
made on insufficient evidence, as q satse to
7 procure their surrender under the extraditiOn
treaty, with the purpose OF trying them on
| other charges to which the treaty does not
apply. Under the suspicion of such double
dealing, the British authorities might refuse
TO surrender them: and hence the offer of the
reward tends TO defeat its own object They
can be arrested inthe United States only bv
being first kidnapped in Canada; and the
holding out temptation to violate the Can
adam laws, is nota promising means of secur-
ing their extraditon. .<,-.e,4v
The Astonishing position here taken bv the
Wortd,fs that The government Of Great Brit
ain mayarghuully assume that the United
States government would be guilty of an act
OF deliberate treachery, and may make such
assumption the ground of refusal to fulfil the
conditions Of the extradition treaty!
Z When during the various trials Of the st.
Adams raiders it was insinnased in Cana iian
journals. that the criminals should not be Civ
ca up because they would not be able1 to OBJ
tain fair trial on this side of the line,
tue people Of the United States we're Justly
indignant at the insult. But if the ground ta
ken by the World is to be allowed, do not
see by what right we can cast censure upon
Cailadipn journals or Canadian officials for
any course which it may seem good to them to
take. OF course the .miscreants who are i'm
plicated In this last atrocious crime will make
violent protestations Of innocence and indig-
nation, but il they are innocent let them sub
nit to trial. The United States does not ask
these gentry to make abargain with it which
shall bind its hands under any contingencies
which the future may develope. 1t holds
them as felons; as such, if at all, it demands
/ them for trial. as0 2sfiIoJ 70 t5D41d
II they are NOT found guilty they need have no
fear; but it does not and will not recognize the
right OF any man or nation under heaven to
decide for It in q matter which 80 closely
touches its own honor. Justice u,sder the
tdeos Of the United States, these men have
right; to claim. To assume that they cannot
be sure Of that, and that therefore they should
not be given up, to take a position involving
responsibilities 50 grave that the government
Of Great Britain VIII not be likely srashly to
undertake them. 1t has nothing to do with
the question Of the guilt or Innocence of these
men. That is to be decided by the tribunals
! oftheeountry which may demand their ex-
tradition. The idea that the British govern
ment could claim any further Jurisdiction in
Abe matter than to instruct its officials to full
oil the terms Of the treaty does not surprise
us in the columns of the World !; but, If en-
dorsed by the Press, it is 20 at yarience with
the ordinary tenor of that paper as to excite
0some establishment. On this point will you
please SATISFY the doubts of SHAW
AN ANXIOUS INQUIRER.
The article copied from the World, and
justly commented upon in the above, was not
selected because its argueinents and all Its
positions were approved, but Simply to show
that one leading Democratic paper denounced
+ Jeff Davis and his confederates in crime in
suitable language, and was not disposed to as.
sault aud malign President johnson for his
proclamation, which presents Davis before the
nations Of the earth in the character of Grim
'inai Of such damning guilt that humanity will
recol from his touch and Christian nat;ons
willzieel that their soil is contaminated by
being pressed by his blood-stained feet Ed
PRESS.
Methodist Episcopal Conference.
REPORTED FOR THE PRRss RY REV. A.