Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-04-20
The Case of Jeff Nayis.
The Philadelphia Ledger hes the following


The Case Of jeff Davis.
The Philadelphia Ledger hes the following
from Washington correspondent:
The Supreme Court having adjourned,
trials by court martial have been abandoned,
and there being no present probability of con-
victing Davis before civil court, the Presi-
dent, it is freely rumored, has about conclu-
ded to order his release on parole. Mr..
Stephens is reported to have expressed the
conviction that he would be Released and
as Mr.. S. has just held long interview with
the President, it is not unlikely but what he
is foreshadowing the event.
In this connection | will say that most
important argument, covering eighty printed
pages, has been received by the President
from London, in which are set forth the rea-
sons why Davis cannot be convicted in any
court of the crime of treason. The ground
gone over dates from the foundation of the
Observation-Disclosures the Rights of the
States, as then understood action of
New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massa-
chusetts, and the States in accepting the
Constitution, and the opinions of Washing
ton, Fisher, Ames, Hamilton, Webster, Ellis
worth, Rufus King, Davie: Spencer, Madi-
son, Jay, Randolph, Franklin, Tench, Cox,
Jas. Wilson and Chief Justice Mexican of
Pennsylvania. The purport of the opinions
Of these honored dead, as showing the sover-
eighty of the States, and which the barrister
who sends to the President the argument
gives in detail, may be summed up in the
remarks of Mr. Wilson in the Pennsylvania
Convention of 1887.
"Upon the existence of the State Govern
ments depends the existence Of the Federal
plan. The Supreme, absolute and uncon-
trollable power is in the people before they
make Constitution, and in them after it is
made. x x i: NV po-
sition is, that the absolute sovereignty never
goes from the people. "
The question general amnesty has been be-
fore the Cabinet once, but was opposed by all,
so says report, save Mr.. Seward. Should the
President, therefore, conclude to issue proc
lamation looking to that end, he will have to
do it pretty much ON his own responsibility
nWlU VIII uO W DUl11 III lUIOC-1mVUIt0ut UlS.
patch from Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D c.,
april 9th, 1866. !
Breret INy. Gen. j. A. B,unaan, augusta,
Ga:
The Assistant Commissioner Bureau Refu-
gees, Freedmen, &c., for the State of Geor-
gia, having inquired whether the President
proclamation removes martial law, and stated
that the department commander does not feel
authorized to arrest parties who have COM
mltted outrages on freed people or Union
refugees, the Secretary of War, with the APP
proval of the President, directs me to inform
you that the Presidents proclamation does
not remove martial law or operate in any way
upon the Freedmen's Bureau in the exercise
of its legitimate jurisdiction. It is not expe-
dent, however, toresort to military tribunals
in any case where justice can be attained
through the medium of civil authority.
Signed E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General
This is perfectly incomprehensible The
rebellion has been officially declared to be at
an end, and yet we are told that martial law
is not removed The two facts are totally
inconsistent with each other. Mr.. johnson
is a lawyer, and SO are all the members Of his
Cabinet, we believe; but we think it would
puzzle Mr.. Seward himself to show how mar
tial law can be lawfully or constitutionally
maintained over States not in instruction.
The Augusta (Ga.) Canstitmionazist puts
the argument into nutshell:
Now. under this showing, it is maintained,
and unhesitatingly reasserted, that the privi-
legc of the writ Of habeas corpus is once
more Of full force in and throughout this
STATE OF GEORGIA
The Constitution says only Sin case OF re-
bellion;;" the suspension act says 'sduring the
present rebellion;" the proclamation thereun-
der says 'Mis suspension vM continue
throughoMMe duration Of the said reJezlion.' .
And the peace proclamation knocks all three
Of this suspensions legs from under it by de-
claring the ''rebellion" IS ''at an end, and
henceforth to be so regarded. "-Dispatch.
TIE WEALTH AND POVERTY Oh OUR
SrATEsMEN.-Jefferson died comparatively
poor. Indeed, if Congress had not purchased
his library, and given for it five times its
value, he would with difficulty have kept the
wolf from his door,
Madison saved ,nnnav and Voc Ho,nnoro