North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-24
e-?uh)tc am ~1nurnals .AdontinE Democrat-
ic Op inions Alb out the Respect Due to
Constitutions, Laws and Civil Courts.
SECRET COURTS-1HE TRIAL OF THE
ASSASS1NS.
editorial Of the New York Times, Of May H. M
Stewards Organ

IN
Stewards Organ
1t 10 very possible the publication Of the
evidence taken on the trial of the conspira
tors at Washington might prevent the ar
rest of some persons implicated in the crime
Of assassination who are now at large; but
their arrest must be of very great importance
indeed, if the fear of their escaping is suff
cient 10 justify the profound secrecy with
which 1t has been determined to surround
The proceedings. The chief of Booths &C.
completes, it is fair to conclude, are those for
whose apprehens,on..a reward has been offered
Davis, Tucker, Sanders:& Co.-and it 10 rot
pretended that anything which may transpire
at the trial at Washington, will, in the least
degree, offset the chance of their escape
They and their friends have certainly been as
much put on their gnard by the Presidents
proclamation a. they are likely 10 be by any.
thing else that can occur.
1t 10 not unfA to conclude, therefore, that
"the parties who may escape, should puDlici
~ be given to the proceedings" are 'psrties" "
Of an inferior degree of guilt, and now within
the limits Of the United States, and If sv, We
cannot help saying that it is for various
weighty reasons to he regretted that their
capture should be deemed either go import
ant or difficult, as TO be made the prerext or
occasion Of Introducing into our c4m,nai
procedure so extraordinary an anomaly as
tsial by military commission for a capital
! utfrnse with closed doors, aud with an oath
of secrecy imposed on all persons taking part
in the proceedings. We think it would have
been infinitely better to have postp"ncd tie
trial till all publicity could do no harm, even
If that perlol were likely to be six months
distant, than introduce into this country 50
novel tribunal, and one so repugnant tu
10 now sitting at Washington II is one for
rh,ch no precedent is 10 be found in The
history of any free country, and one TO lrhich
The porst European despotisms hare rarely
reniured, eren in Poland or Hungary to
+ esort. Even the nnhappy victims OF The
Irish rebellion were prepared for the galows
in opeh court, sAd in the light OF day.
Moreover, there are strong doubts enter
rained by i'll affected persons at the4 North as
to the existance of any good foundation for
the charges made against Davis IN the late
pro exclamation. Abroad, all the enemies of
the Government will certainly receive them
with incredulity and deriSion and there is
no question that under oil the ci'cumstan rs
ii poutd be difficult to imagine a position
more humiiating and embarrassing than
that in arhich the government acM stand, If
it should appear that those charges 1oere
lightly or frlrolousty made. Nothing will
prevent, the spread Of such a presumption,
except the production in open court of the
evidence on which they were based, and its
submissionito the scrutiny of the prisoners
counsel and OF the public at large. Those
who fatter themselves that public opinion,
either al home or abroad, will be much influ
enced by rersion of ii 1rhich has bee I'd
tied and erpurgated by the Judge Ill rocmte
must be very simple people indeed. Nobody
piU permit himself, q1haterer his leaning
may be, to uttdch any ralue to rerelahons
made under conditions in 1rhick ererv rnl e
Of eridrnce is set at 1dught, and eren the
experience Of euery day life treated 10ith c9n-
tempt.