, 1866-06-12

was that his client should be put to the trouble
OF defending himself against so absurd, 80 pal
try and so ridiculous a charge rs TINT of
treason! Speaking as he did in behalf of q
persecnted, yet innocent and much abused
man, he demanded that Mr.. Dasis he brourht
face to face with his accusers, aud stated that
he was ready to meet any charge Which might
be brought against him, either there or else.
where, "here or In nnT other tribunal La the
land"
The mode, the manner, the confdcn,
assurance With which Mr. Reed first address.
ed the court, the counsel and prosecuting OIL.
Ger OF the Government, in alternate accents
Of pomp and defiance, In tones OF affection,
and thea with feelings Of suppressed emo.
tion, was piece Of the finest tragic act.
Ing ever witnessed in an American court.
and We hope that all those who feel any In.
terest in the science Of treason, will
read this preliminary exposition with
care md attention. It Is true that
the prelimlnaries Of this trial
did not have thrown arourd It the gorgeous
trarpfuss and display which in another agc
would have converted the trial Of great
State prisoner into pagesnt like that which
aTed The spectators at the arraignment OF
Warren Hastings, when the King, the Cabinet
and the upper and lower houses OF Parliament
marched In solemn procession to the great
hall OF Nutiam Rufus, md Burke and Shesi-
dan opened the charges against the prisoner at
the bal, In a style never before equalled in the
annals Of nations; but there YVES enough
about The pretensions Of the counsel and the
manner In which they appeared In court, to
confound simple minded citizens who have
hitherto looked upon treason rs a crime, aud
cause them to doubt whether tue Government
is really going to make .'trcason odious'' or
easy In this country.
Treason It seems, Is Jet in want Of a specific
meaning. II is not understood either BY
Courts, Cabinets, or Presidents, and the age
is waiting 1or definition to this now al
most obsolete term. War, We have
had. but 1t does not seem to hare set
tied anything. Blood has been split,
bnt It seems 10 hare flowed in rain. The
Government was assailed by traitors on the
aoors Of Congress, and 1t took an appeal
from Congress to the battlefield. The arbl-
trament Of the sword has been in turn laid
aside, nnd now an appeal is taken from the
cannon's mouth to the Circuit Court OF the
tra1ed by the light of ,urisDrudcnre. Tbcre
has been altogether too much rontinc abont
this business already, and VIC think. with tbc
counsel Of JEFF. Davis, that 1t is ".iue to The
cause Of justice" and t.due to The .feeltaas of
one sort or another which may be described as
c1ystdli:ing around the unfortunate man, y that
this great question OF "What disposition Is
10 be made with the bill of Indictment
against JET, Davis. now nendinr for high
treason 81 ebou]t be answered. II vorid
seem that sufficient time had ELAPSED for the
Government TO answer this onesfion AMI ~
therefore rec With thr conn %, sor ~ ..,,n-
fortunate NAM that "the fee,;nc, NJ ona
sort or auothcr,, have a1rcadv sscrvsta1I,zs5,,
around JcG.'s mortal neck and hoSr
The instructive Judgment Of the civilized
world Is TINT punishment ahall be visited up
on the head Of him who was the prime NOR
Ing cansc In the inhuman slaughter of SOC. .ooo
Of our fellow citizens, and In entafltuc upon
ua md our childrcn'a children a debt fb,t