Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-13

N Is certain that up to 1860 Americans almost
universally held themselves bound to obey
their State in preie' ence 10 any othe:
mower The States we're considered sovereign,
and though they might have NO right
to seoede, still, If they did secsde, their
citizens could not be charged as individuals
with any crime in obeyng the State authorities.
Moreover, since the States mad unquestionably
the power of life and death, no one could right
fully be called upon to resist their orders. But,
waving all these considerations, waving all le-
cal doubts and looking simply to the moral as.
Seot Of affairs, Mr.. Davis was called to the head
of affairs by the voice OF six millions OF people,
and Of eleven oIgsuized organized governments.
He ruled them for four yeals according TO regu'
lar laws and by their own consent and conf.
dence. He waged war In their name; he sent
forth ships, he equipped armies, he commissioned
generals. His coma issions were acknowledged
his flag was recognized in every port In the
world: his generals negotiated with those Of the
United States on terms Of equality; his soldiers
were treated as prisoners OF war. Ambassadors
nominated by him weTe received by PfesideLt Lin.
coin. he was treated for four years as the chief
of be.ligerent state-the mere fact OF ex-
change being recognition OF bellig-
Grant riChts-and il Is too late now TO az
firm that be was all that Time a rebel
aad a traitor. Another reason would increase
the horror With which Euglishmen would regard
his murder lie never shed blood except on the
field OF battle. 1he Federal government repeat.
eddy murdered Confederate prisoners IN c)ld
hood; the Confederates were anxious to retail
ate the President alone prevented 1t. Az Tor
the charges of starvation of prisoners and SO
forth,they 'eall siAp'y and VIGOROUSLY unru?-
the ISLANDERS prOpagated by the same men who
sent forged state papers 10 the British Foreign
Otce fer the same purpo Of damaging the Con-
federate Government No prisoner IN the South
was ever worse off than a Confederate sold ereyen
az a time when Coniederates IA the Moth W eselt
b freeze on the Lakes or were immu e n o.
me classmates, or were shOt in cold hood by
Burnside or Payne, Nc Neil or Milroy. And
nothing would iiK so deep and inde!ible stain
on the national character OF the North as the
murder, on technical charge OF treason, OF the
man 10 whom No thern soldl-rs owed their es'
cape from reta!iatory executions.
From The London Herald, May 81.
The newspapers OF the largest circulation and
greatest influence announce the capture of Mr..
Davis in language OF fend!sh eXultation. They
rloAt over tue prospect OF his Judicial muir er ;
and knowing, as We must presume, the character
OF the public they address, pIomise 1t glorious
satisfaction in tie indignitlvs and pains 70 which
the rebel President viii be subjected. Still We
would hope, tor tue sIke Of our common human.
inv for our common KINDRED, that the American
D ople may show itself in this critical hour more
tu,t. mole generous and moe sagac Gus than the
An ignorant African tribe, II has chosen ;or its
ruler aud the INSCRIPTIONS writes who try TO
earn It's favor by hattering its lowest passions
and insist that the man whose rare abinties and
high character have conferred lus:Te upon the
United States should lie treated with fairness and
Justice, if not with magnaulmity.
To express any ply or anxiety Tor Mr.. DAVIS
himself would be 10 insult him. Whatever fate
his enemies may prepare for MN, he wall meet it,,
doubtlsss, with tie courage which has sustained
him during the lTylng, but glorious, years OF his
Presidency. he has done his duty. de has de-
Tended the cause OF freedom and of rig hit with
almost superhuman energy; and having seen
the modest OF his cOuntrymen lay down their
lives Tor that cause, sacrifice the useiyes in the
none AID the trust that tLeir country would be
guccessful in her fight, now that the struggle IL
seemingly over, aud the South has sunk INTO
des,ai,. he mast rather desire 70 seal his tesl-
nony with hll blood. To such man there must
be something inspTiting and con1oling in the
progpect of such tea.h. his bloUd, he VIII feel
assured. will not flow in vain. Broken as ma y
now be the strength, crushed as may now lie the
shirt of the south, the spirit is not dead the
strength will be recovered, and the cruel martyr
dom of its great chief kinding II TO revenge,
will keep alive the love OF liberty until the hour
comes in which to renew tue fight which for a
race Of freemen can cnly hnally end with VIC
tory. n. ,,.o-
= ected as tn, Chief Magistrate Of six millions
If reople. Mr.. Davis achieved for himself and
for Them during the period in which he held his
bich oflice a fame ia presence of which that Of
he Norrbern rival must pale. In the space OF a
faw short years he helped 10 found Republic
which possesssd in itse all the elements of com.
NOR la strength and political greatness and
which but for the uudying luminosity of foes
whose prowess proved rvsistib e, would prOba.
INV i'm ime have become one Of the most power.
fni commonwe alIb5 in ths world. With the
Greatness euhemeril though 1t was, Of the South.
ern Con ederacy, the name Of its only President
will ever be associated, and 10 impartial minds it
will always occur that the absence Of that most
materlI clement OF all human undertakings,
sue ,ess will alone prevent Jefferson Davis taking
bis place in after times by the ride Of George
WASN'T Cton. few months sin e, many indeed
we think we may say the majority, would have
regarded as greater object OF pride lbe position
occupied by Nj. Davis in Richmond than that
filed by Mr. Lincoln in Washing on.
We would also venture 70 hope that, content
with extinguisbing what they termed the rebel.
lion in the Southern states, and with having
M de their Chief Magris.ratB q prisoner, the gov
eminent at Washington will not sully great
victory by an act which, on this SIDE of the At
lan.ic q, least, would be regarded as one OF pal
try revenge. II the Aver can nation declare
Jefferson Davis worthy Of death they viii by i'm.
Justly have been hanged By US ii be had fallen in
TO our hands,
From the London Telegraph, Mayer.
To fa:e Of President Davis, whatsver It may be,
Is a matter that exclusively concerns the reop,e
Of tbs United States. For the sake Of their own
good name, we their kinsmen. earnestly trust that
thew will not stain their victory with blood; but,
as q nation. We have no more right TO protest on
his behalf than we should have had 10 interfere
had the emperor Of Austria, IN 1919 caught Kos
slith In Hungary ami hanged him, OF had the
King of Italy, aiIer Asprcm )nte, brought Ga,i.
baldi TO tle block. All who ire unsuccessful in
A civil war become ipso fcto r4be.s, and woe
u tine yanguished' is an old stern law that is
Tot yet quite obsolete.
From the Manchester Guardian, May 81.
Presilea. Dav ) is in the hands of his oDem o..
I. ia undoubtedly ia the power Of the FEDERAL
Government TO puui,h him to the la I extremity
TOO the political offence Of leyying war against
tbem. Now, then is the time for warning. hat
the influence of strong party in the North will
be earnestly exerted TO prevent so shameful a
crime from the st Iining the success OF The repub
lie there is every reason 10 believe. IL is sincere
iy to lie hoped, however. that they may prevail
to prevent the horrors of tde iibbet being ad Ell
TO those which have been wrOugh. By the sword;
and no efforts which it may be thought the c.vi
lied Powers Of the world can usefully employ to-
wards the accomplish nelt of this end ought 10
be withheld.
Translated from the Paris Patrie, May 81.
The capture OF jefferson Davis is the epiogue
TO the gre Il national dana that has lasted four
years in America. Although this last triumph of
the North must be deplored, 10 view Of the priu-
ciple of popular liberty, still il should te regard
ed as prOYlential event for the future Of the
Soottern States. In fact, the demagOgic party
has got self into position aDtlgonistic t. eve.
~ sentiment Of hu nanily, jus ics and generosi.
ty, and the death of Mr.. Davis by violence would
cover the victims with shame and ruin item
morally.
Translated from La France.
An important event, and one which may be
considered ss the last act Of the terrible drama
of the American war, IS recorded in our last de-
spatches from New York. Jefferson Davis, the
chief of the Confederate Govern rent, he's been ar.
rested, aud is now in the power of the Federal
Government at Washington.
For our part we hope that the Federal Govern
ment will treat Mr.. Jeleison Davis with the dig