The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-05-26
THE TRIAL OF MIR. DAVIS.


THE TRIAL OF MR.. DAVIS.
1t is confidently announced that the trial
Of Mr. DAVIS, on the charge of treason, will
take place in Richmond early in June. The
New York Times fixes the day for the be-
ginning of this great prosecution on the first
Monday of the month, and we have already
published the names of the able constitution
al lawyers retained for the defence. 1t is
very well known that we regret that gem
eral amnesty has not long since liberated Mr.
DAVIS. He has added some conspicuous EN-
bellishments to the pages of American His
tory; and when the asperities of the present
have subsidized, the future historian will not
forget to record his achievements in Mexico
But, as general amnesty has not been
proclaimed, we congratulate Mr.. DAVIS on
the hope of speedy trial, and relief from the
pain and uncertainty of his protracted cap
.tivity. We shall pause upon every detail
of his trial with breathless anxiety and the
people of the South will hang upon it with
indescribable emotions, for in the prisoner at
the bar they will behold man not more
criminal than themselves. 1t is no part of
our purpose to speculate upon the probable
result of the prosecution. The question of
what constitutes treason will be argued with
learning and ingenuity and the judicial tests
applied to it will be searching and severe.
But, whatever be the decision in the case, we
feel certain that the main object is to have
the great question involved adjudicated The
Government, apart from any consideration of
humanity, is too wise, even in the doubtful
event Of conviction, to infict upon the en-
tire people of the South the grief and hui
initiation of an ignominious punishment upon
the man who was elevated by them to the
position of their Chief Magistrate, The fruits
Of victory must be improved by wise mod
Grafton, and the late significant utterances of
those highest in authority justify the opinion
we have advanced.
Punishment, even where positive crime at
taches to the offence, is justified on the ground
Of example to deter others from similar Of
fence. Without this plea, the penalty ofthelaw
10 degraded to an act of vengeance. Nothing
can be palmer than the fact, that no further
levying of war against the United States is
ueditated 1t is we'll known that such an
insane vision, even if entertained by mad
man, would receive no countenance or snip
port in the entire South We have tried the
experiment, and Lave accepted the result in
I, IL
famous committee all goes to show this: on
this point, all the witnesses are agreed, whose
opinions can in any way be accepted as ex-
positions of Southern thought or feeling The
Government knows this. Reconciliation is
it's avowed policy. Mr. SEWARD declared in
his speech of the 22d instant, that the coun-
try needs reconciliation, and just now nothing
more" This is, undoubtedly, the medicine
for the body polite. Under this treatment
old wounds will lose much of their infam-
nation; but a different system would make
them unavoidable. Mr.. JOHNSON knows per-
fsctly well, the duty which he owes to the coun-
try, and crediting him with natural ambi-
ton to play out his great role for the good of
the present generation, and the applause Of
posterity, we are decided in our opinion as to
the course of the Government, in the very
doubtful contingency to which we have allud-
ed Lamenting, as we do, that an act of
Executive clemency could not release Mr.
DAVIS, we still congratulate him on his APP
preaching trial.
The present is an suspicious moment
Great events are now hurrying to their solu-
ton in Europe. They are pregnant with alb
sorbing questions Of general interest; but es-
pscially do they come to us, linked with grave
problems in finance.
The effect of these discussions must inc
vitality be to weaken that violent party
which openly avows its vindictive and bitter
feelings. The people, when confronted with
the great domestic questions now forcing
themselves upon public attention, will rebuke
the madness of that spirit which would OPP
pose the policy of reconciliation, for it is
rapidly becoming manifest at the North, that
tranquility in the country is necessary to
restoration of its fiscal health. Upon calm
examination of the whole question, we feel
gratifed at the approach of Mr. DAvIs's trial,
and feel no fear for the result.
NORTH CAROLINA.