Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-22
THE INDICTMENT OF JEFFERSON
DAVIS

DERwooD presiding, for treason. 1t is also
known, that upon the delivery Of the charge
Of the Court TO the Grand Jury, the foreman
OF that inquisition rose in his place and
stated that he felt wholly incompetent to act
under the instructions given, and asked to
be excused.
The Richmond EJdminer-a paper to the
political opinions of which we attach but lit
tie weight but the veraci;y of whose editor
we have no reason to question in relation TO
matters Of fact-states that the indictment
Of Mr. DAVIS was the result Of precon-
certed arrangement on the part of Judge
UNDERWOOD, not creditable either to the
fairness OF dignity Of the Bench. The En-
om'ner charges as a fact, that Judge UNDER
'voOD furnished to the Marshal the names
Of the persons from Richmond who were to
be summoned on the jury, and that they
were selected by him from such men as were
already committed, by their antecedents and
previous public declarations, in favor of the
hanging Of Mr.. DAVIS The Examiner
further charges that three Of the jury from
| Norfolk were deserters from the Confederate
ranks, and that a fourth was convicted of
perjury by Gen. BUTLER while in command
of that district. OF the character of the
other members of the jury who came from
Alexandria and Fairfax, nothing is said
except that the former never enioyed any
| special or marked confidence in the commu-
nifty in which they lived. 1t is charged, not
only by the Examiner, but by other papers
beyond the Potomac, that they were OBJ
scure and irresponsible persons, who have
never exhibited much honest patriotism or
high moral worth. Being wholly unac-
quainted with the persons composing this
jury, we are unprepared to speak of their
character or worth. We simply record the
allegations made in the premises. If the
charges be true, they constitute chapter in
our Judicial history which will, in time,
bring upon our escutcheen, as nation,
more inefiaceable stain that either abolition
or rebellion has done.
That JEFFERSON DAVIS should be in
dicted for treason was not only to be expect
ed but was an absolute necessity. He CON
scented to become the representative person.
age in great and bloody movement which
threatened the perpetual separation of the
integral parts of great GOvernment-which
movement was defeated, and in the deaoue-
"e'd he was captured. lie was placed in
| prison as a criminal and could not be en-
| larged therefrom short of an investigation of
the criminality of his acts. The Constitution
and laws provided the steps to be taken !;
and if the war is to result in the perpetual
| ton Of a constitutional and lawful govern
ment there was no other alternative, except
| Executive pardon, but the indictment and
trial of Mr.. DAVIS The same Constitution
and law provide for speedy and impartial
trial" before Court presumed to be upright
and incorruptibe. In the mere indictment
| Of the President of the Confederate States"
there is, therefore, nothing that is exception
able; but when it is directly charged that
in the manner and procurement of that in
dict uent the judicial tribunal charged with
that labor left its sphere and entered into
low and base intrigues, descended to the
mean, unauthorized and degrading work of
hunting up corrupt, preiudiced and debased
instruments to carry ont personal vengeance
or to minister to and crafty a depraved
! public passion, it creates a distrust-must
| produce a feeling of alarm in the hearts of
every lover Of the country, North and
South, and gives, if carried out, the mortal
blow to JUSTICE, which is alike the founda-
ton of human and divine institutions.
While the allegati ons against Judge IN
DERwooD may not, and do not in our view,
affect the form and intendment of the in
dictment-they do, if true, open up to the
American people and to the civilized world
a spectacle Of official degradation which must
alarm the former and excite the disgust and
rebuke Of the latter. For a United States
Court TO approach the altar of Justice in the
garb of a trickster or subomer is to abdicate
Aiit iililNllih anu 10 htNlIt llt emu
of law. With equal propriety the bloody
handed slayer Of human sacrifices to the
wooden deity of the savage could assume to
lead the regenerate child Of God to the de
votional affairs of Jesus,
Mr. DAVIS Graves a trial. His people.
who feel the responsibility of his guilt, de-
mand that it shall be impartial" They
want the paid tools Of no party, the corrupt
selections Of no Judge TO sit in the trial.
This is necessary TO good government. The
Judiciary Rs the custodian Of right If it
fails, all is lost; and questions Of party and
of policy share a common fate The entire
body of the American people are looking to
this trial, and no one is more vitality interes-
ted in the result than another If we are to
be one country and one people, no section
or individual has an interest above another
in the decision. And afterall, the jury that
hears the evidence and are to Judge the law
and the facts, are TO be looked to for wisdom
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