The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-22
Letter from Washington.
Special Cor. of the Picayune. !

WASHINGTON, August S, 1866.
Rumor is busy again with Jefferson
Davis, his trial, and his fate. Just be-
fore Congress adjourned two reports on
the subject were made, one by Mr..
Boutwell,, Of Massachusetts,, and one by
Mr.. A. j. Rogers, Of New Jersey, both
of the Judiciary Committee. Mr.. Bout
wells report was the most disgraeeful
paper ever presented to Congress; dis
graceful to its author and disgraceful to
the country. Itasserted that Mr.. Davis
is guilty Of treason-the charge on
which he is yet to be tried-but it did
not set forth it's evidence. It asserted
that Mr.. Davis was a guilty accomplice
in the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln and
it pretended that there was some evil
dence in support Of this monstrous
charge. It filled half dozen columns
with summary of this evidence;''
and the wonder is that the House Of
Representatives submitted tn the insult
Of having such a trash and rubbish pre-
scented to it.
| The report of Mr.. Rogers analyzea
this pretended "evidence," and shows
it to be the most shameful and contemp-
Etible fabrication; shows that it consists
of the stories Of the yilest and most de-
graded Of Gods creatures, and Of men
who not only perjured themselves, but
afterwards deliberately swore that they
had done SO.
The report of Mr.. Rogers was made
during the last hours of the session, and
under circumstances that reflect credit
upon him. The committee excluded
him from all participation in their in
vestigations and deliberations, an6 even
refused to permit him to have access to
the written testimony Mr.. Rogers
complained of this action to the House,
and the Speaker sustained the commit
tee in their course! Such were the cir
cumstances under which Mr.. Rogers
prepared and submitted his report; and
yet it is admitted to be one of the most
able reports that has been presented to
the present Congress. It takes up the
pretended" evidence" against jefferson
DAVIS, Analyses it, and shows it's abso-
lutte worthlessness. And SO far as the
charge of treason is concerned, it shows
that Mr.. Davis can desire nothing so
much as to be placed on trial before any
legal tribunal.
No candid mind can rise from the pc
rusal of the two reports without being
convinced that the charge of cOmplicity
in the assassination will have to be
abandoned, Us there is positively not q
shred Of evidence to support it. Vari-
GUS rumors on the subject have, there
fore, been circulated within o day or
two. They are scarcely worth repeat
ing, but one of them is that MIR. Davis
will be speedily released onparole, and
will not be brought to trial at ALL You
will remember that long ago express
ed the opinion that this would be the
result of the case, and that never be-
ieved that he would be broughttO trial.
There is one feature in this case that
ought never to be lost sight Of. Davis
is held at Fortress Monroe, at this mo-
ment, as he has been held for the last
sixteen months, as a prisoner of war!
A prisoner Of war, and held SO by the
sole order Of one man, Edwin NJ. Stan
ton. A prisoner Of war, when the coun-
try is in state of profound peace
This strange anomaly, SO discreditable
to the country and to the Government,
has led to the most touching and elo-
quent appeals to the President, urging
him to interpose his authority, and
either release Mr.. Davis or else place
him in civil custody. It is strange that
| Mr.. johnson remains so long unmoyed
1 nv these anneals.