The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-17

THE TRIAL OF JEFF DAVIS
1t is reported that this trial will lead to the
halter If anybody rejoices at its approach
in the hope that it will be followed close BY
the avenger of blood, it is probable that such
one mistakes the object Of the trial, the temper
Of the President, and the wishes of the people.
What we want from this trial is an analysis
and definition of treason. We wish the
crime defined, and its penalty designated.
After this is done we think that justice will
be satisfied to allow the precedent thus fash
ioned and sharpened to hang like the sword
of Damocles, suspended threateningly over
the head of future offenders. = Chicago
Times.
The Chicago Times was universally recog-
nzed as the Northern organ of the Rebellion
during the war, and continues to be the apol-
ogist of traitors now that the war is over.
Who authorized it to announce the Presi.
dents object and temper in regard to the trial
of the Chief of the Rebellion to be other and
different from what appears on the face of the
transaction itself Is it indeed necessary
for the Times to curry favor for the President
with its readers, by asserting that he is simply
trying to hambug the public with the pre-
tence Of trial, and that JEFF. DAVIS is
neither to be convicted nor punished, if by
chance convicted. Mrs. SuRRArr was hung.
WIRz was hung, and why should not the
great Chief of the Rebellion. from which
their crimes, and myrads of others, origi-
mated, and in consequence of which hundreds
of thousands of citizeus of the United States
were consigned to bloody graves, be convict
ed and hung Shall this Government or its
President, which has punished the guilty
subalterns, quail and succumb before the
Chief of the Rebel aristocracy, and absolye
him because Of his high social position. Is
punishment for crime in this county to be
confined to the poor and friendless, and are
the aristocracy of the land to go unwhipt of
justice. Must LINCOLN, our loyal Chief, fall
a martyr to the cause of the Union, and the
Rebel Chief triumph over justice, and live to
lead traitors and Copperheads to final tri-
umph over the fathers and brothers and com
panions in arms of those who fell in de fense
of the Government and the Union, which he
sought to overthrow and destroy
President JOHNSON has declared it his poll
cy TO punish leading traitors in order to make
treason odious, and he has sought persist
emily to bring DAVIS to trial, and we see no
good reason why he should not sign the death
warrant of JEFF. DAVIS as readily as he did
those of Mrs. SURRATT and WIgz
But the Times says this trial is to obtaina
definition of treason, not to punish traitor
The Constitution of the United States gives
the only authoritative definition Of treason in
these unmistakable terms
Treason against the United States shall
"consst in levying war against them, or in
ssadhering to their enemies. giving hem aid
''and comfort
And the law provides that persons guilty
of treason, shall be punished by death.
But the Copperhead party which processes
great tenderness for the Constitution, and
parades its constant solicitude for the en-
seeks to repudiate this most important Article
Of the Constitution, and to ignore the law
provided for its enforcement They demand
that the great traitor who levied war against the
United States, and enlisted million of men
to make war upon the Government, shall not
only go unwhipt of justice, but that he and
his confederates in guilt shall at once resume,
with the aid of their Copperhead allies and
friends, control of the legislation of the Gov
ernment and the destinies of the country,
saved by the patriotism and valor of Union
men in the field and at the polls, in spite of
the arms of traitors in the South and the
Vaccinations Of their friends in the North
Our conviction is that JEFF. DAVIS ought
to be hung, or he ought to be President
Loyalty or treason should be fully vindicated
and no room be left for doubt as to which has
gained the victory. The world will under
stand the result of the late conflict when it
sees JEFF. DAVIS on the scatfold-or, in the
Presidential Chair, but anything between
those palpable demonstrations, will leave the
results indefinite, undetermined, and yet to
be fought out in the future on ne,c battle
fields, those already drenched with the blood
of patriots slain, being counted for nought in
their effect on great issues of worldwide
moment.
# the Government is too weak to punish
the Chief of the Rebellion, or il the exgen-
cies and the complications of politics are
such that the Administration dare not exc
cute the law against the leader of the late
saveholding aristocracv, then our Govern
ment is demoralized by the rebellion, and
the spirit of the Government would only find
suitable embodiment and expression in the
person of the Chief of the Rebellion. If JEFF.
DAVIS is not hung for treason. then ABRAHAM
LINCOLN should be exhumed and gibbeted;
GRANT should be dismissed with ignominy
from the service, and ROBERT E. LEE be
made Lieutenant General of the Armies oi
the United States in his place. In that event
treason should be openly rewarded and en-
couraged, and loyalty should be rendered
universally infamous.
THE hopes entertained and confidently pro.
mulgated by the Copperheads, that the Presi-
dent would veto the Habeds Corpus Bill