Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-05-19
Ghe free press.
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING MAY 70, 1865



Generally, as the sequel to onr magnificent
.litary SUCCESSES. has occurred. 4 ylgor
Gus and well conducted pursuit 10y portion
OF cen. Wilson's cavalry command in Gcor-
gls, has been rewarded by the capture OF the
Arch-rcbcl Davis. Caught -ncaking into
the woods IN woman's clothing, be has
reached an iugloriour end to hi guilty pub
lc carecr-a career which needs but one
more act, OF sentence and execution. To close
IN utter infamy. and to Ias- into History a.
Lesson and warning to traitors.
The time was. and not long since, when
the FIRST question on the lips of all. after the
receipt Of such news would be-, and nov
what shall he done with him 2'' But that
time hsr passed The universal rejoicing
which rcrvades the land to-day is not alone
or mainly because we are spared the knowl-
edge that the -uiltiost rebel has made his way
to foreign shores TO he lionizcd and ieted by
oar enemies. TO i've at casc.on his stolen gold
and perhaps It'll to plot against us nor be
cau.c his capture saves US from the difficult
tie with other power, which might follow
the demand of our government for his rcndi-
tionlt d, bocause IL USTICE $50 be satisfied,
and the gallaw- is now sure TO Rave il, due.
\ leader among the conspirators before Sc
cc->ion. a> shown by hi, acts and lcttcr- cap
tured long ago selected a once and almos,
unanimously as ID, ohicitain of the rebellion.
the head OF the provisional and aiterwar,l, of
the permanent rchcl government the FIRST last
and only president OF the Coniclcracy the
man whose ability and iron Will have done
most To hold together that Conicdcracy and
TO maintain H. existence after an reasonable
hope OF sucoe-- had fled the man who of al
Others is most responsible for all the blood
shed and suffering of the four past terrible
ycars-Lc is the ftto-t man of an for an cx-
ample of righteous punishment. Nor.
De @ remembered. Is mercy and forgiveness
duty with government and nations as with
individuals. The government must yindicatc
the dignity of outraged fqir it must pro-
tcct the nation and postcrity from the rene
tIpn Of tho treason which has struck at the
life of the nation 1t must maintain it, au-
thoritv and enforce the penalties uVon it,
statute books, and in the discharge of such
solemn duuc-. pity Tor an individual cannot
interfere tor a moment. II there had been no
assassination. Justice would have demanded
the life of Davis H. which = not likely, he
can now clear himself from direct connection
with the murder of the President, he will
have removed but a single stain from a re-
cori hlottcd boy stupcndous crimes. The
great Jury OF the People have already passed
upon his case, and President johnson ?, not .
tho man to interfere between the verdict and
IT., fun execution. Doubtless Davis must
de. Unless he tskc- his own hlc, against
which due rrcaution viii undoubtedly be
taken. he must hang by the neck IN the light
Of Heaven and Eartn and his name Will be
handed down. even among the southern
masse.-who indeed will have t'emcst reason .
To execratc hi> memory not a. martyr hut
as a l,.riur,d traitor. would hr d.er,t and
q murderer
We have entered on a career of independence.
aud It must he ie1ibly pursued through many
wears OF controversy with our late associates Of
the northern States
our present condition. achieved IN a manner
uuprecedeuted in the History Of Nations. Illus
tr.tes the American idea, that q j.
the right Of the people to alter and abolish gov
ernments whenever they become destructive 10
the ends for which they were established.
So sand J,H. DAVIS in his first inaugural. F.
at Montgomery. Feb Is, ls6l lie was
correct IN hls first proposition, only it turns
ont to hc Jef. Dar's, instead of career OF
southern independence, that hae been " ~
Acxibly pursued and. what I- more, finally
caugif. As to the second proposition, the
present condition IF things South secma to
show pretty clearly. that the people not only
had the ,ight hut the po,rer to abolish Mr.
DAVIS government. and IN due ,caspn they
will abolish h'n'.