Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-09-11
From the Richmond Enquirer, Sept. 5thl
Mr.. Baldwin's Evidence before the Recon
struction Committee


We have received the following correspon-
dence, with request for its publication
DEAR SIR You will please give place to
this letter. 1t is, as you will see, In reference
to the testimony before the Reconstruction
Committee, " published in your paper few
Truly, your friend,
. NATHANIEL B. MEADE.
STAUNToN, August 20, 1866.
Nat B. Meade, Esq:
My Dear Il have received your letter,
and [ thank you for calling my attention to a
construction of my testimony about the trial of
President Davis, which does injustice alike to
my opinions and my feelings. My testimony
was taken in short hand, and was not read over
to me or submitted for my revision. | am sur
prised at its general correctness; but [ find
that, in several instances my meaning has been
inaccurately stated, or wholly misapprehended
The point of inquiry was as to the probable
result of trial of Mr. Davis before court and
jury, if one should be had, and not as to the
propriety Of subjecting him to such an ordeal.
1t was my purpose to state my belief that
our unsuccessful attempt at revolution must be
regarded as rebellion, and, if fjudicously consid-
cred and applied to Individual cases, must sub
ject each offender to the penalties Of treason
Such, | presume, must be the opinion OF all
who do not believe in what is called the right
of secession" and such must, of course be the
view of the Government of the United States
Every pardon granted and every amnesty offer
ed is an assertion of this principle; and every
pardon sought or accepted admits at least doubt
of the defence to be made before court and
jury.
While my opinion as a lawyer is what have
stated, do not at all intend to admit the pro-
priety of attempting to deal by judicial trials
with transactions whose national proportions
place them beyond the proper reach of court
and jury Each individual case, if brought into
court, must, in my opinion, be held to consti-
tute treason, and be dealt with accordingly, but
all, that trial of any one, would to all intents
and purposes, be subjecting the conduct OF a
nation to the review Of twelve jurors
If this would be true of any one Confederate,
how much more must it be felt to be true OF
President Davis who, in his prison, is this day
more emphatically the representative OF our
cause than he was when Commander-in-C Chief
of the Confederate army and navy.
To subject a man occupying his position to
trial by the narrow rules which limit judicial
construction, and to the mockery Of jury trial,
would, in my opinion, be an outrage too gross
to be anticipated Of any government in Chris
tendon.
Every day that he is kept in prison is a per-
emptory adjournment of all real reconciliation
between the North and the South. Any at
tempt to subject him to further humiliation
must be regarded as personal wrong done to
every true Southern man; and if he shall be
permitted to die in captivity his name will be-
come the watchword of Southern hate 1t is
to be regretted that the Convention recently
held at Philadelphia did not recognize the ne
cessty of amnesty for the past as a basis of good
will for the future but [ trust that this omis-
sion will be set right by President johnson, and
that he will, by the prompt discharge of Mr..
Davis give practical point and vitality to his
recent declaration that unless we forget the
past we can have no future.
Yours, truly,
JOHN B. BALDWIN.