The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-13
Jefferson Davis.
From The Tribune

From the Tribune.
The House ot Representatives on Monday, on
motion of Mr.. Boutwell, of Mass, by vote of
Jos to19
Resolued, As the opinion of the House of
Representatives, that said Davis should be held
in custody as prisoner, and subjected 10 trial,
according to the laws of the land.
There would seem 10 be no room for doubt as
TO the correctness of one proposition here given,
since all parties are agreed upon it. The House
says Davis should be tried; his counsel say
exactly the same, and have been trying, ever
since they we're allowed to communicate with
him, to get his case before Judge and jury.
Then why is he not tried? Who stands in the
way?
judge Underwood held on Monday, on an ap.
plCatlon for bail, that he was prisoner of war,
therefore not bailabe. The fact being assumed,
the reason is conclusive. But how long may
prisoner of war be held after the war is officially
declared at an endY Suppose one were held
To-day as prisoner of war, taken by General
Jackson at New Orleans in 1916, would that
suffice to bar his liberation?
But how and when did Davis become prl-
5oner OF war? He was not arrested as public
enemy, but as telon, officially charged, in the
fac, OF the civilized world, with the foulest,
most execrable guilt-that of having suborned
assassins to murder President Lincoln-a crime
the basest and most cowardly known to man.
kind. 1t was for this that 500, 900 was offered
and paid for his arrest. And the proclamation
offering this reward, says his completely with
Wilkes Booth & Co. is established "by evidence
NoD in the Bureau of Military Justice.n SO there
was no need of time TO hunt it up.
Others charged with that horrible deed have
been arraigned, tried, some of them long ago
acquitted and set at liberty; Others executed
and buried; others are now serving out their
terms as convict prisoners. Why is this one
alone still awaiting trial mot even indicted? Is
the charge OF assassination Abandoned? Then
it should be retracted as publicly as il was made.
Is 1t persisted in Then why is he not tried
on it ? Can you imagine any creditable reason
for leaving this matter as 1t is
1t has been asserted that Davis is responsible
for the death by exposure and famine OF our
captured soldiers, and his official position gives
plauslbility to the charge Yet while Henry
Wirz-a miserable wretch---a mere tool OF tools
was long ago arraigned, tried convicted, sen
fenced, and hanged for this crime-no charge
has been officially preferred against DAVIS SO
we presume none is to be.
For eight or ten months he was not allowed
TO see his wife or any member of his family, nor
10 communicate with counsel save by open let
ters sent through the War Department. At
length the embargo is removed, and he is stimuli
tanpously indicted for treason. "Now," say his
counsel, 1--WE shall get his case into court;" and
they attend at the very first sitting to call 1t on
The Judge has no scrupie about trying it-he Is
loyal, upright, and fearless-but the Govern
ment comes limpiug in the second day and is
not ready No preparation has Leen made on
9hat side, and the case has to go over
Now II there be any reason Tor not trying the
Casc III fuRlnlh IL IL LrldOl6 III leuu6s-
see There is ample evidence that JEFF. Davis
was at Murfeesboro in 1862, welding and inl-
pelling the Rebel army OF Tennessee. Judge
Trgg, Of that district, is thoroughly loyal; he
holds Court at Knoxville, among a people as
overwhelmingly loyal as Vermont. Why has
not an Indictment been found and tried in his
CourtE Who can say?
IL has very bad look when a man officially
charged with the Vilest crime known to men is
not even lndlcted therefor, but kept in close iail
over wear without kno wing on what charge;
and when at length an indictment is fonn6
against him tor something total v different he
can't get tried on that but is still held in close
Jail, without being allowed a chance toIface %iS
accusers. We should not like this sort of treaf'
ment; and we mean TO insist on fair nlav for
friends and enemies alike. F' ~
Mind, here is no question of mercy or lenitv
since none has been yet solicited. prisoner az
Cused OF heDious crimes asks to be tired. and
his trial is shuffied of, while he is kept In ciost
Jail good way on his second year. MeanUnS
the belief gains ground that the whole busine,.
Is sham-that there Is no Intention OF trynI
him-that he is only held till favorable tim
shall have come for letting him go-and whel
his counsel offer bail they are told that he is mo
criminal, but prisoner OF war Aud in th
South It ls currently proclaimed that the GOV
eminent dare not try him for treason lest it b
proved on trial that ne was right and the UnioI
lists wrong IN our late struggle