New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-25
TORTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS"

TORTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS"
Under this head, The World cites the testimony oil
Dr. Cooper surgeon at Fortress Monroe, that Mr.
Davis has been greatly broken of his rest during
much of his confinement in that fortress, by
the tramp of the creaknc boots the sentine post
round the rsonroom and he reey of the guard at the e
praton of every which almost invariably weakens
him Prisoner Davis states that he has scarcely enjoyed over
hours Of sleep unboken at one time since us ~
Means been taken by placing mating on e nopts o
the sentinel walk to alleviate this source oil
but with only partial success
There is no hint in Dr. Coopers report that there
has been any intention to disturb, harass or annoy
the prisoner-much less, torture him; indeed, he
plainly ntimates that no annoyance would have been
experienced but for tho arrangement, prostration,
and excessive rritability of the prisoners nervous
system, by reason whereof slight noises cause
him much pain" Nor is il limited that this peculiar
susceptibility, and the consequent "wakefulness,"
have hitherto been reported or otherwise represented
to the proper authorities to expose them to just
censure for not ordering the nuisance abated. Yet
The World raves through column, which begins thus;
1T longer matter Of newspaper IaToI that q.
alton Fortress Monroe hos been such as 70 efeas
down constitution and to put him. after u months oil
protraoted suffering in imminent peril Of death
|. And here is the most astounding close of this
strange outbreak:
fthe members OF the Congressional majority at Wash
ngoa not weaker and more wicked men than TIE
their political opponents would willingly believe them 70
be- they viii compel prompt exposure OF the authors OF ths
s9Sm Inn Pr Po has e pDs his a bare the
facts will do hs duty doubt not IN arresng at once
and snmmary this continuous outrage upon he ha'onH
character But we live in epoch Of Congressional inquire,
national scandals and national rumoTs OF All KINDS hu
70 dread responsibility il shirk evade any
duty more important national honor than any which
has as yet assumed
Now, The World is perfectly aware of the notori-
ous fact that Congress has had no shadow OF agency
in Mr. Davss arrest or incarceration. No reward for
his capture was ever offered or prompted by that
body, or By either branch Of it. Mr.. Davis was
arrested anSis still imprisoned on charge OF com
plcy in the assassination Of President Lincoln pub
lcly and soemny preferred by President Johnson, in
the following official document:
PROCLAMATION.
frea II appears from evidence In the Bureau Of Military
Justice that the atrocnus murder Of the late President
Abrabam Iiucon and the attempted assassination OF
Hon W H. Seward Secretary Of state were nciod, con.
/ RlcLmond va and Jacob Thompson Clement G CLAY
Beverly Tucker George y Sanders w G. Cleary and other
ns,ic NAV be- done l. Andrew johnson PTesdent OF
United do Offer and promise for the arrest OF sld per
either Of them within the limits ~ The United States
hundred thousand dollars Tor the arrest ofJesrson ia
Thompson late Mississippi twenty-five thousand dollars
FOR the arrest Of George n Sanders. ventyh thousand
dollars for the arrest Of Beverly Tucker and ten thousand
dollars for the arrest Of william Cleafy late clerk Of Glenn
The enera Of the United STATES is direct
ed description Of such persons with notice 81 the
In testnony whereof / have hereunto set ny hand and
caused the seal Of United States to be Affixed
Done At The city q Washington. the second day Of
f. s. Nav in the wear Of Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sxiyGre and Of the independence OF the
ASDRFw Johnson.
By the President.
w HUNTER Acting Secretary Of state
We have already declared our bcefhat thischarge
Is unfounded; but we have never seen the evidence
whereon it is ayowedy based, and belief does not
weigh against the solemn charge Of the President Of
the United States, officially promulgated more thana
year ago. and to this hour neither reiraced quail
flied. Mr. Davis is not and could not Ne held as a
prisoner of war; since the restoration of peace has
been officially proclaimed; he is prisoner Of State
under the charge above cited and ought ere this to
have been auaigned or the accusation withdrawn.
With what reason then, is Congress called on to
interpose and virtually incupate President johnson
as a orturer The matter is clearly executive in It's
character-C Congress has had nothing to do with IT.,
and cannot intermeddle without virtually arragning
the President as a maleactor. This trust IL will
never do. II it do anything in the premises ii should
begin by a respectful inquiry to the material facts;
and then, should the President respond" will at
tend to my own business-mind yours though the
answer would be rude it could not be fairly deemed
impertinent.
The UoriGs intent is clearly to assa the President
under prctense Of invoking action from Congress.
But the public will condemn neither till advised Of the
INF.