Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-20

According to old fashioned rules. the disci-
pline Of culprit proceeds in this order: ] In
formation of his crime; 2 Issue OF process for
his arrest: 3 Capture: Indictment; 5 Ar
ragnment and trial; 6 Execution of The SEN
tence. Many persons seem intent on beginning
a. the wrong end; but the government has thus
tar followed established precedeuts, and we pre-
sumo will do so to the end.
Ii President Johnson has not been misled in
regard to Davis completely in the assassination
OF President Lincoln, we trust that he is to be
first tried distinctly and avowedly on that ch irge
Not having seen the evidence Sin the bureau OF
military justice" We have formed no judgment
IS 10 its strength; but we are advised that lead
ing New York democrat. who knows the arch
traitor intimately, is convinced of his guilt Aud
u Davisis an assassin we are anxious he should
be arraigned. tried. convicted and punished as
Just that and nothing else.
We see nothing essentially incredible in the
presumption after what is known of the u,assa-
ere OF our blacks and the starvation of our white
soldiers under his authority without elicting one
word of official rebuke from the functionsries
responsible before God and man for these inhu
man outrages We shall certainly regret 10 hear
that the president was induced to chsrge the flu
gitive confedera es with such a crime on made
quate grounds: but We would NOS have him tried
tor il unless the evidence is plainly sufficient to
convict him. Yet, If he should be tried for mur
der and not convicted. he would still be subject
to Indictment and trial for treason.
And if he is to be so tried. We trust that tria
will be not merely public, deliberate. and invest
ed with all the forms and soemnities of legally
administered Justice but that il will be presided
over by the chief Justice of the United States
W e trust that two more of the ablest lawyer.
IN the United States will prosecute, and like
number defend the case, and that every question
properly involved in the issue will be raised anC
decided. We want a distinct. positive adjudics
ton of the assumed right of a state states to
withdraw from the union at pleasure, as also on
their alleged power to absove their citizens from
their allegiance to the federal constitution. We
want q clear adjudication Of the import, extent
and Limitations of that allegiance, so that the ca
Diet. the military naval officer. the civil func
tionary, may know precisely what is the Judicial
construction of his oath-whst "the law of the
land" understands and requires him to mean by
his oath Properly tried-as il of course will be-
by such a tribunal-this case will do much to set
tie authortatively and conclusvely questions
which have too long remained open, and give to
our institutions that conference and solidty which
their founders clearly contemplated, but which
unsound aud csviling commentaries have tended
to weaken and undermine.
Among the great state trials which illustrate
the Jurisprudence Of christendom, that of Jeffer-
son Davis and others for treason. in defantly re-
sistng the authority of the United States and
wagihg a bloody war for it's subversion throughout
thirteen states, is destined 10 hold prominent
place. Let the American people bear it in mind
that they. too. on trial in this case. and bv
their calmness, order, and respect for their own
authorities and tribunals. make plain the differ
ence between freedom and anarchy, giving one
more evidence that the strongest possible goven
-
lection and unshsckled choice of an entire peo-
pie.