Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-15
what VIII be Done with JEFF:
uh.n vie f

kr lbavis? ~
.,N"MAcK," under date Washington City,
Nov. 10, wrote the following to the Cfnc'n-
natl Commercial:
Speculation as to what Will become OF
JEFF. Davis seems TO have receiVeo auuitiohai
impetus In the newspapers, OF late, and
oninions are again asserted, very positively,
and with an eS cathedrd air about them, on
fine subject. One man pretends to know
that the President of the late Confederacy
will be tried by a civil court and that ar
rangements for the trial are now being
made; another pretends TO know that Mr..
johnson has decided not to try him at all,
and both parties will tell you that their au-
thority Is the Executive himself, or some
one In his special confidence. If all that Is
said of the President, concerning this and
other matters, be true, 1t Is certain that ne
has awonderful way of adapting his opin-
ions and determinations to suit the views
of the party to whom he is giving audience.
haven't met Democrat In Washington,
who has had a conference with the Presi-
dent, who Is not entirely satisfied as to his
conservatism; nora Republican,, who, after
an interview, was not thoroughly convinced
of his radicalism. If what they all say. be
true, Mr.. johnson is conducting his office
upon the latitudinarian principles Of the
"peep-show proprietor" "Iou pays your
money, and you takes your choice"
But en- resume of the JEFF. Davis trial. The
nonsensical story OF his being tried before
the Supreme Court could have originated
nowhere but In the columns of the Neoo
York Herald. The Herald wanted to give
the thing little extra flourish OF dignity,
and hence named the Supreme Court, over
looking the trivial fact that that tribunal
could no more try jeff. Davis for treason
than 1t could try John Smith for stealing p
ten-cent valentine out of tile Postofiice. 1t
Is true that the case might be carried to the
Supreme Court on an appeal, but upon
question of law only, and not upon ques-
tion of fact. The evidence for and against
an accused party charged with such an
offense as treason, must be taken before
United States Circuit Court, which Is pre-
sided over by one of the Judges OF the SUI
preme Court and the Judge OF the District
Court for the District in which the trial
takes place. Thus, in Ohio, Judges Swayne
and Leavitt preside at thelsittings of the
Circuit Court; in Virginia and Maryland,
Chief Justice Chase and whoever may be
the District Judges in these States.
JEFF. Davis could be tried before MIR. Chase.
not as Chief Justice, but as one OF the
Judges of the Circuit Court, at Richmond.
ID
istence there, and there will not be, until 1t
is organized by Congress-.
Without pretending to be en- rapport with
the White House, l am very firmly con-
vinced that the statement recently tele-
graphed to the Commercial, that Davis
would not be tried, but would be set free,
on condition of his leaving the country, Is
correct. What kao,o about the matter Is,
that leading radical politician OF Pennsyi-
vania, after long conference with the
President, in which he urged the trial OF
Davis by a military commission, said, in
my hearing, that he was persuaded, from
what Mr.. johnson said to him, that Davis
would not be tried by either civil or mill
tary court, but, as stated in the CJn,merctdI,
would be liberated before long, upon con-
dition of his leaving the country. II 1oiH
not hare him tried By military commission on
any account" said Mr.. Johnson, ''Gnd Mr.,
Chase raises some points of objection TO trying
"suppose evidence were produced Of such a
character as TO ,ourdnt his trial By military
cort.n ~ think" replied Mr.. JOtnsOr,. II
knOu pretty iceH ,ohdt kind Of evidence toiH be
produced, and 1 can see Rothingia it to justify
his trial before military court"
A day or two since, one of the Washing
ton papers gave what pretended to be re-
marks made by the President, to delega-
ton of Baltimore ladies, who solicited the
pardon of Davis, to the effect that he (the
President) could not comply with their re-
quest, and that arrangements were being
made for the trial of Davis, according to
the laws of the land. The President has
since denied having uttered the latter senti-
ment. He told the ladies that he could not,
consistently with his sense of duty, pardon
jeff. Davis, and that was about all he said.
He never will pardon him, and restore him
to his civil rights in this country; but be-
tween pardoning and trying, there is anoth-
er mode of disposing of him, and that is to
let him 60 to the embrace of some of his
European admirers, unpardoned, with the
understanding that IL found again in the
territory OF the United States, he will be
arrested and tried as a traitor; in other
words entering mol. pros. in his case, which
is altogether different matter from acquit-
ing him. ff'g 81.