Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-12-13
Release Him.

is to be done with jeff Davis" and though
j; is easy enough to indicate by words what
ought to be his fate, yet we think the sub
jet is one not altogether free from perplex-
ity. Had the Administration been really
possessed of desire to make treason obi
ouS,r and had it acted promptly in this
matter, and summoned a court martial of
patriotic army officers to try the arch-con-
spirator, there is no doubt that he would
have been brought to the gallows as he so
richly deserved. But every day of pro-
crastination has thrown additional difficult
ties inthe way, until now, his trial, if con-
dacted under the forms of the civil law,
would be wicked and foolish farce, il
which rebel jury would play the part of
eondemning the United States for preserv-
ing its own existence. An attempt to bring
the guilty traitor to trial can only result
in a verdict of acquital, and virtual de-
claration by one of our own courts, organ
lied under our own law, that the rebellion
was violent yet lawful remedy against
actual and apPrehended evils.
We are not Of those who can be accused
of urging timid coG~ sels-were it at all
probable that Davis would ever be made to
feel, though in part only, the woes that he
was instrumental in bringing upon others,
we would say, let justice. be done to this
man. But let Us look at the matter in the
light ofexisting circumstances. y prison
er in name only-in fact guest ofthe gov
eminent surrounded b. comforts in strange
contrast with the thousands of shelterless,
naked and starving victims of his cruelty
ct Andersonville and elsewhere. furnished
with ObsequiOus walters and sympathiZing
surgeons at governmental cost, visited by
those equally as guilty as himself, his
slightest discOmforts dwelt upon and mag
nifed by adulating correspondents, there
Is nothing in his condition to remind him
of the ruin he has wrought. We think all
will sgree that Davis is earning the hOnOrs
OF martrydOm far too easily. and all must
feel desire to have the question disposed
of in some manner.
To present another view of the case, we
ask what end can possibly be subserved
By the execution of Davis: After all, he
WAS hut representative of the Southern
people, and his guilt is no greater than that
of any other leading and original secession
ist. The ideas for whose-salle he commit
ted SO much crime and inaugurated so
much woe, were not his own, and he was
no more jealous in their propagation than
some who are now knocking at the door Of
Congress. More than this. those ideas and
their advocates have been wOrsted upon a
hundred battle fields, they have been the
means of bringing to the lips of a proud
Tace the bitterest cup that man can drink
defeat and poverty. Though they may
sill afford food for the sentimentalist, they
have been pronounced upon by the enlight-
ened judgement Of Christendom. and every
rebel soldier knows and feels that the cause
10 which he gave so much energy and in
which he displayed 50 much daring, was
in conflict with the progressive spirit OF the
age and unworthy the sacrifices he made
in its behalf The blood of an old man
whose life has been failure. who has cher
ished the most splendid dreams only to be
awakened to the most huniliating realities,
cannot add one jot or title to the magni-
tude of the national victory over treason
and slavery. Another widow, even if she
be the wife of rebel chief, can only swell
the tide of sorrow which has not vet reccd-
ed from our land. Execute Dayis-his
virtues. his craftsmanship, his sacrifices in
behalf of the Southern people'wo'd become
the theme of many an eloquent Southern
pen His memory would be enshrined in
the hearts of a generation who would COM
nit ii with a legacy of hatred toward the
Union to posterity. Release Davis-the
remembrance Of his virtues, if any he pos
sesses, will be buried with his cOntempOra-
ries, he will sink at once to his proper lev
ell when Invested of the tragic interest that
now involves his future, and future genera
tons will regard him as Arnold is regarded
by us
We do rot wish to be understood as ia
yorine a universal amnesty that will restore
to leading rebels their property and poliii
cal rights. but as their blood cannot as
suage the sorrows of our land. we can well
afford to spare their lives. Let them live.
impoverished and shOrn o. their power for
harm, and while they brood over the ruin
they meditated they will be reminded by
the little hiIlocks that mark the resting
places of both friend and foe, by the weeds
of the widow and the rcproaches of the or
phan, by the manned bodies OF their fol-
lowers and the vacant places at the Preside,
by deserted habitations and the burned and
blackened remains of many once happy
home, by cities destroyed and fields laid
waste, of the awfulncss of their crimes and
the mercy of tree people which spares
them, the vilest traitors ever born.
Colorado Jewett, always ingenious, mem
orializes Congress to declare Hannibal
Hamlin President of the United States
He argues that the second election of Mr.
Lincoln was not constitutional, as eleven
of the States did not appoint electors, and
that Mr.. Hamlin holds over, as Mr.. Lincoln
would have done, in the absence of legal
successor. We infer from this argumert
that Mr.. Jewett withdraws his support
from Andrew johnson.
---rr 49,.
MatamOras.
The heretofore discredited report that
General SEDGwIcK had occupied the Next
can city of Matamoras, is confirmed The
conduct of this officer is incomprehensible
as he not only violated the territorial in