The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-06
TRIAL OF JEFF. DAVIS.
OPENING OF JUDGE UNDERwooD's COURT.
Charge TO the Grand Jury-HOw Threats
of Violence are to be Treated-Address
Of Hon. William II. Reed, of PhlIaCtel-
RhtA-He Asks for q Speedy Trial.

Charge TO the Grand Jury-HOw Threats
of Violence are to be Treated-Address
of Hon. william II. Reed, of PhlIadeI-
Phta-He Asks for n Speedy Trial.
RICHMOND, Va, June judge Underwood ar.
rived from Alexandra TINS morning. ana spent the
forenoon at General Terry's headquarters IN the
mansion formerly occupied by Jefferson Davis
Most OF the non resident members of the Grand
Jury arrived this morning and made their appear.
ance during the forenoon at the United States Court
Room Ill the Custom House. Soon alter ii O'Clock,
the hour at which IL expected the apoUrned
session of the Circuit Court would be opened Messrs
Reed, Brady, and Brown, counsel for DAVIS entered
the coUrt-l DOM and engaged in conversation with
prominent members OF the Richmond ba and others.
Messrs Van Sickle and Thomas Ii. Edsall, of New
York, ana Charles Gross, OF Philadelphia, Junior
counsel for Davis, were also present. =
Not more than Fl teen or twenty spectators, in.
cludiDg two ladies from New York, were in the
Court at any time during he day 1t having been as.
certained by actual count that the legal number OF
Grand Jurors was not present.
Judge Underwood not appear and occupy his
seat until O'Clock. AT that hour he entered the
Clier By direction Of Judge UnderwOOd the Clerk,
w h Barry, called the names of the GFaad Jury,
and fourteen only responded.
James L. Lepscomb and II L. Wigand, of Rich
mOnd, who had been summoned to make up the
requisite number, were then called to the Clerks
sl fe tho % q%ny as [oTs & dng 1ecned 70
WlPand took the oath and occupied seat with the
other juroIs Another long pause was caused by
g. Walker, OF Norfo k appeared and took the oath.
The panel being thus complete, the judge at
O'clOCk uelfGreu tue lOIOWlnR CDaTg6s--
Gentlemen of The Grand JurY:-l am happy to
meet on again and to know that you are st living,
notwithstanding the assaults that have been made
W on you. i little need be said IN addition to the
instructions gwen at Norfolk Your last session has
made you historical, and trust that the efforts
which rave been made TO intImidate you and to i'm
pede the course OF justice will not make you less
faithful and earnest IN the discharge of pubic
duties. ought to be sur prIsed that the rea-
sOnable end icentIOus press OF this state and city
should vince and rage and become furious wnen
treason and RIGHTEOUSNESS are exposed and arraigned
wa "a nr-
prised at the enorDitv and desperation exhiblted
when we remember that this city has long been the
centre and seat OF the greatest traffic in human
beinos that has ever dlsgraced the word-a traffic
which has annually employed many hundred Of
moral monsters and many millions of capital SUBJ
sidlzng the press, pulpit and politics of the state
rendering Richmond mere Infamous among men for
Its parhcipaSSn ion ID itH this G great crime tn@n all the
| Lower Guinea, Congo, Lounge, Angela and Ben
| guela combined. U..
The wonder then is that so many traces of kind
ness, humanity, and Christian civilization should
have surN wed such deDasing and brutaizing Infu-
ences, and let us thank cd and take courage that
more fortunate ihan the devoted cities OF antiquity
| we can count more than ten men who ave stood
faithful among the faith!ess. The COZ plants of
| threatened violence and intimidation which have
been forwarded to me by several of your members,
for your late heroic and patriotic actions have been
submitted to the highest legal and military authorl-
ties of the Government and can assure yol OF the
ea nest sYmpa ny and firm support OF al the officers
OF the law, not excepting the President, WIN m the
treasonaole latter ana lawn upon, but whom they
will probably soon curse heartily as they did two
| years ago. But, gentlemen, am glad to call your
attention 10 law of Congress which put your own
Vmdicaton, well az that OF the country into your
own hands In 1881, Congress enacted, as you will
find on page 4S2 Of the fourth volume OF the statutes
| at large, as folows:-
Section And be it further enacted, That II any per-
| or persons shall by threats, or loTce endeavo
tc rim any Court Of the United STATES in the dis
charge OF his GG ~ OF SnSSid eSrdIpty or by threats
impede Inc due admnlsra ion Of Justice therein every
person or persons so offending shall be liable
lion there by Indictment; and SHALL on conviction
thereof be punished by hne not exceeding, 1--WE hun
dred dollars or by Imprisonment not exceeding thre
tion of the ofiense. Approved March 2, 1885,"
You will thus have it IN your own power to eXer
else who esome restraint upon icentious tongue
and pens. and upon press which, as a blind leade
oftl blind, has been, and shl is one of the chic
causes of past present and prospective caumnY anc
misfortune, the MURDERS duels, assasslnatlons, vic
lent emo uDgoyeTned passions, ending in seicopfa
grafton and seli-lmmolaton unparalleled in any hea
then country. The poverty, suffering, agony. anC
0egraGatiOn which have given this city, of alInos
| uneQua led natural capabl ites, its bad emineDce
the legitimate parts Of the teachings ~ its public
| press; and anything you can be able TO contribute
be servceable to the cause OF the country and OF hu
manity. But, gentlemen, let us act with moderation
ana discrimination, for though prosututed press
| one of the greatest calamities, free and viruou
press OfthS greatest public blessngs-the grea
ornament and support OF public virtue.
Alter delivering the charge Judge UnderwOO
| remarked that in the absence of the foreman Mi
Harrison would act in that capacity. ID.
| The Grand Jury then reCiTed to their room.
There being no formal business before the Court
| judge Underwood said 1--WE shall be happy 4
hear tiom members OF the bar, always giving prefer
ence TO members from a distance"
William b Reed, of Philadelphia, then add:esse
the Court as follOws:- ..
MAY it please your Honor, beg to present my
self, IN conjunction with my colleagues as tn
counsel OF Jefferson Davis, prisoner Of state
Fortress Monroe, and under Indictment Tor hig
| treason in your HonOr's Court. ... ...
"N Q find In the records of your Honor's Court a
Indictment charging MIR. Davis with high ofensC
and II has seemed TO due to the course of justice
due 10 this tribunal due TO the feelings, one Sol
or another, which may be described as crystalllzn
around the unfortunate man, that we should com
at the very earliest day TO this tribunal and ask
| your Honor, or, more properly, the gentlemen VIII
Tepresentthe United STATES the mple question =
. | What proposed TO be done with tins Indictment
lis il to be riedI Is it-and this Is a question pe
| haps, that have no right to asks 1t to be wit
drawn or is 10 be pendedg Ii it Is TO be trie
} | NAV IL pl ease your Honor, speaking for nay co
leagues and Tor my sci f and for the absent client
say with emphasis and say II with earnestnes
r | that we come here prepared instantly TO try th
4 case and we shall ask no delay at your Honor
hands further than IS necessary to bring the pTsoD
10 face the Court and 10 enable MN, undeT ti
( statute and In such cases made and provided,
examine the bill of indictment against him Is It
be mIhdrawnS Ii so, justice apd humanity see
i 10 us 10 y ompf that we should know IT. Isit 70
suspended, pOstpOn' dp IL 20, may II please u
Court, with oil re pect to our Honor and the ge
| teneD v no conduci the pubic business here, Yo
), Honor must unc island us as entering our me
] cMnest rotest. We Ask speedytrla on any char