The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-01-16

President icbn-en YESTERDAY sers r lhv
Sstsie snessske h nslf. % ais feaolu
,ion ealing upon him 81 INFORM that bodt
spon ukx y fKss leattsae fatis h euu-
kned, and why he L net bfcaRht 70 trial.
The President luelv.ts rrpsFss lsusn ~
Secretary o. Wax ara tic AueFney uens
eral. and al the same Time mites fhv. q.
scn.on "a tie Senate 10 hat portion OF ha
annual mkssxge which refers loCsaEfc@
the gucssios eonnctted VITA tAs losdsaa 81
Circua Cogts q ,lr United Ssalrs wnhiH
the Districts where their aniHotiy hAf
been interrupted,
I The report uftbe Secretary ,F War scts
forth that Ma Davis has not been sfraigns
ed aPon any ialiament uf hrmal ehargs
Of crime, bus has hccn indicted iVr lhr
crime Of higH treason by the Orand Jary
Of the District o Columbia. which ihd'et.
ment Is nov pending in the supreme Coat
Of the Said District. lie I, also chargOa
with the crime Of inci,ing the asaassiuatloa.
Of Abraham Lincoln, and plih Aie ruufdsf
Of Union ptWoiers Of war by starvation
and other barbarous and crlel Treatment
toward them. 8His = b Sc ~
The President dccmng h espcIvnt
that Davis should lira be pal upah trial
before compeien, Court and n gry for,
the crime cf treason, he was advised ~
the Law officers of The Government that
the most proper place Tor such 4 t'ial wks
in the State ot Virginia. lIl,F Smle "a
within the judicial circuit sasigRsd 10 The
Chief Justice Of The Suprere Gobpi, Wig
has held no Couu thete since the apfft-
hension Of Davis, and WIN declines lhr al
indefinite period to hold any Court ihero.
Clement G. clay, ID. n lulre and >. II.
Mallory are also retained 10 prison. upon
charges OF ,reaspn and other ctiueS against
the L. 5, Gov rnmcn,, Oiher utFicers Of
the so called Confederate Government
have been ri a,cd on rarot., 10 abide the
action OF the government in their fesrecsa
tive cases.
The Attorney General explains the le,
gal points .voIved IN tie else OF Dash
and the other prisoners. They are allo
hold rs prisonefs OF war Though active
hosiilliiies have ceased, a state oi war ,sull
exists over lie territory 10 rebellion, and
until peace sholl come in fact and !, law.
they can rigltully be held IA prisoners N
war Mr.. Sprrd holds lll@ trislsfef high
treason cannon riehaully be had ,ec .re1.a,
military tribunal the civil ssuurls alone.
have jurisdiction Of that crime, The trial
must also be held in the State and district
where the crime was committed The
Attorney General regrets ihe doctrine off,
presence, as doubtful cansli.3
lutlonally, and does uni, therefore. advise
hat criminal proceedings be instituted
against Jefferson Davis 0 aoy if,sureedt
in States or districts in which they wevu
not actually present during he presvcutioas
IF hostiities.
Mr.. Spec is Of opinion hat these per.
ions who received military pa dolts, upofis
he surrend o. lIr. rebel .ArAiis.s. sint,asi
10 ultimate protection fitn itroseenlions
rom high ireasi,, but i would be a VIOLA
ion ot their paroles to prpsecule those
persons for ~ nts before Tie political now.
r of the Government has proclaimed that
he rebellion nat b "a supwes4ed.l haH7a
When the eaceJai realioas belwAea
he GovOrnmelt aud the people ia .iho
tates lately in rebellion shall have been
ally restore d when The courts nre IN
pen and q c laws can be peacefully ads
mustered an enforced ia these Siat.a..
ie Attorney General contends that tho
ersons now held in military custody "a
risoners oi wr and who may not have
cen tried and convicted Of offences s4asnaB
le laws OF war, should be Transferred ill.,
} the custody Of the civil authorities ofiha
roper districts, to bq tried for such hivn
lines and misdemcanors as may Be aiss.'
against them. samaf flTm
In conclusion Mr.. Speed lerbarkea, afs
ink 1t is the plain duty Of tho President
cause criminal prosecutions 10 be insti.s
ted before the proher tribunals and 81
] proper times against some Of those Who
ere mainly instrumental ID inadheratinda
I'd most conspicuous in conlucsing thef
te hositilties. should regard t,a.a
reful calamity If many Eho. tho sword
Is spared the law should spare also: but
would deem il a more dlfeful caia1fya
u il the Executive, in the perfoefnanesy
his constitutional duty to bring ihoasg
rsons before the bar Of jpt.c4 to ana.
y for their crimes, should violate lie
ain meaning Of the Constitution, Oh ~
nge in the least particular thu li,ftfx
irit of that instrument" an1 aaiiisea L,e