Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-01-19
5kEF. DAyIs.

/ Why he is held in confinement, and why
! he has not been tFied-The charges
are Treason, inciting assassination,
and murder of Union prisoners-He
| should be tried before civil Court in
| Virginia Chief Justice Chase declines
| for an indefinite period 10 hold any
Court there-Attorney General speed
thinks il is not practicable TO have
sti, Il trial az pfeseDt-The charges
against other prominent traitors.
WASHINGTON, Jan 10.
The President to-day transmitted to the
Senate message in reply to a resolution
calling upon him to inform that body upon
what charges jefferson Davis is confined and
why he is not brought to trial.
The President enclOses reports from the
Secretary of war and Attorney General, and
at the same time invites the attention of the
Senate TO that portion Of his annual message
which refers to Congress the question con-
nected with the holding Of Circuit Courts Of
the United States within the districts where
their authority has been intercepted
VAR DEPARTMENT, Jan. 4 1866
SIN In reply to the annexed Senate reso-
luton, passed December q, 1865, referred
to me by you for report, have the honor to
state First, That Jefferson Davis was cap
tured by United States troops in the State
Of Georgia, on or about the tenth day of
May, 1865, and by order Of this Department
has been and now is confined 10 Fortress
Monroe, to abide such action as may be Ia
ken by the proper authorities OF the United
States Government
Second. That he has not been arraigned
upon any Indictment or formal charge of
crime, but has been indicted for the crime
of high treason by the Grand jury of the
District of Columbia, which indictm ent is
now pending in the Supreme Court of the
said District. He is also charged with the
crime of melting the assassination Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and with the murder of Union
prisoners of war, by starvation and other
barbarous and cruel treatment towards
them
Third. The President deeming it expedi-
ent that Jefferson Davis should first be put
upon his trial before competent court and
jury for the crime of treason, he was advis-
ed by the law officer OF the Government that
the most proper place for such trial was in
the State of Virginia That State is within
the Judicial circuit assigned to the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, who has held
no court there since the apprehension of
Davis, and who declines for an indefinite
period to hold any court there.
The matters above stated are, so far as |
am informed, the reasons for holding Jeffer
son Davis in confinement, and why he has
not been put upon trial.
fourth. Besides Jefferson Davis the fol-
lowing persons, who acted as officers Of the
rebel Government, are imprisoned, TO wit
Clement c. Clay, at Fortress Monroe, char
ged among other things with treason, with
completely IN the murder of Mr.. Lincoln,
and with organizing bands of private rob
bers, and murderers in Canada, to burn cit
les and ravage the commerce and coasts of
loyal States ON the British frontier. d. j.
Yulee, at Fort Pulaski, charged with treason
while holding seat in the Senate of the
United States, and with melting war and
rebellion against the Government. $. X.
Mallory, at Fort Lafayette, charged with
treason, and with organizing and setting on
foot piratical expeditions against the United
States commerce and marine on the high sea-
Other officers of the so-called Confederate
Government, arrested and imprisoned, have
been released on parole TO abide the action
of the Government in reference to this pros
ecution, and that for alleged offences, on
their application for amnesty and pardon
Among these are s. 4, Trenholm, Secreta-
~ of the Trea ury; JOHN g. Campbell As
sisrant Secretary Of War; James A. Seldom,
Secretary of War; John H. Reagan POST
master General; r. NJ T. Hunter, Senator;
Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President,
and sundry other persons of less note.
f. NJ. STANTON,
Sec'y of War