The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-02
The judiciary Committee of the House on
Jeff. Davis and other Rebel Leaders

The ComiatIee on the Judiciary made a report
yesterday, in which they say it is notorious that
Jefferson Davis was guilty of the crime of trea-
son, according to the Constitution and laws of
the United States, and the committee are of the
opinion that there are obstacles to speedy
and impartial trial, which cannot be removed
by Legislation. They say the evidence in pos
session OF the Committee connecting Jefferson
Davis with the assassination OF President Linz
coin, justihes them in saying that there is prob
able cause 10 believe hat he was prvy to the
measures which led to the commission of the
deed, but the Investigations which have been
ma de Ill the War Department and by the COM
mittee have not resulted in placing the Govern
ment III possession of all the facts in the case.
1t Is probable. howeveI that the further prose-
cution OF the investigation by the committee and
by officers OF the Government will result finally
in a full development of the whole transaction
The capture of the rebel archives had put the
Government i'll possession OF a mass of letters
papers and documents Otvarious kiuds only q
portion of which has yet been examined
The committee submit mass of testimony
showing that the rebel authorities under the
direction of Davis, declined to give negro SOL
diers and their officers the treatment due TO pris-
oners of war. 1t is shown that General Kirby
Smith objected to the capture ofnegroes in arms,
aud letter from General Dick Taylor is quoted,
in which ne says: 81 have been unoficialIy in
formed that some OF our troops have captured
negroes in arms. l hope this may not be 30,
and that your subordinates in command OF cap
turing parties may have recognized the proprie-
W OF giving no quarter TO armed negroes and
their omcefs A message of JEFF. Davis is also
quoted, in which he proposes that Unon officers
IA command OF negro troops shall, when captured,
be dealt with as criminals engaged in melting
servle lnsurreetlons. With regard to the NAL
treatmen Oh Union prisoners generally, it is
| shown that jeff Davis declared the Union troops
lncendiaTies and robb ers who had forfeited their
claims to be treated az prisoners of war. great
mass OF testimony is added, to show That the prls-
oners were treated IN accordance with the views OF
| DAVIS, as aoOve set forth The documents cited
| are all OF rebel origin, and show that the prso-
ners at the South were in a irightful condition.
| The facts were frequently hroughtsto the notice
| of the confederate authorities at Richmond but
without avail. A letter from Sabiua Disnukes.
dated oa'esourg, Soath Carolina, October 18th,
| 1864 to JeH. Davis, says with regard to the
sutferinga OF the prisoners at Florence: 'tIf such
things are allowed to continue, they will most
surely uraW 0oWn some awful Judgment upon
cur country. Ii 10 a most horrible national Sin
that cannot go unpunlshed. Ii we cannot give
them 1000 and shelter, for G0ds sake send them
hack to Yankee land, and don't starve the mis-.
cradle creatures TO DEATH ACCOMMODATING the
letter was an article from the Sumpter VQtch
man, giving the details OF a visit made bv tht
writer to Inc prison at Florence. The account
IS most horrible one The prisoners are de,
scrlbed as filthy, diseased famished men Will
no nope OF relief except by death. An were il
rags and barefoot, and crawling with vermir
| WINE the reporter was there rain storm tool
place anu he describes the avidity with which
the prisoners welcomed it, opening their mouths
to catch the drops, while one would wash off a
mother with his hands, aud then receive iron
him the same like office.
A great mass of similar testimony is submitted
all gong 10 snow That Davis was tul!y aware o
the condition OF the prisoners Conisderab l,
space is devoed TO the Vaccinations OF Clemen
Z. Clay, Beverly Tucker, George n Saunders
J Jacob Thompson and others, in Canada durin,
the war, and Ii Is rebel secret service none,
was paid 10 one Hyams, who rendered service
IN conveying boxes OF small pox clothing to b.
sold at Washington. In connection with tbes,
matters large number OF documents are sub
united. In all of these schemes il is shown tina
Davis was concerned, and the committee argu
that the iaet Is a oar to the plea that he and hi
associates were incapable of the crime of assas
slnatlon. In tul Their confirmation OF this view
copies are given of letters from foreigne
named Dekalb. who proposed to blow up tn
Capitol ut Washington when Abe and his myr
midons and the Northern Congress member
were assembled there.' One of these letters i
r endorsed by Walker, rebel Secretary of War
Another letter from one Parramore statingI h
5 had found means of dis posing of The leadin
| characters at the North i'll an underhand man
ner, bears The endorsement of jeff Davis h i'm
3 self. Another letter from Ii. &. Durham di
rectly proposing the assassination of Seward
Lincoln, Greedy, Prentice, etc., written to Da
q Wis, and referred by him to the rebel Secretar,
of War, is produced. The committee urge tina
these letters prove conclusvey that Davis am
r his cabinet knew that plots of assassination wer
on foot. Copious extracts from the testinon
!, given at the trial of Payne Mrs. Surratt an
4 their accomplices are submitted, all tending t.
= confirm the opinion. 1t is also stated that aft
davits have been taken by the Judge Advocate
General from several persons who swore tina
: they were present at an interview between SUI
raft, Davis aud Benjamin, further establishing
L the guilt OF Davis, but on being brought befor
= the committee these parties retracted but with
Y out giving any satisfactory reason for 90 doing
!. The report closes with resolutions declarin
, that there lie nothing to prevent the trial of Da
vis for treason, and that it is the duty of tn
e Executive to investigate the facts cOnnecte
with the assassination.