The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-24
The Great Scandal Of the Age.


The Great Scandal ofthe Age.
The statement made by Messrs. Reed
Tucker. and Ould, of the counsel of ,Jeffer-
son Davis, dated the I'd, and published in
the acknowledges of the 4th inst, places
the ChiefJnstice Of the United States in q
scandalous predicament. Inmost criminal
cases, it is the prisoner that sknlks, and
justice makes haste to prosecute and sem
tence him. But in the case Of Mr. Davis,
it's the Judge that skulks, while thepris.
oIer presses his petition for trial. I !.
The statement Of Mr.. Davis's counsel is a
brief recital of the manner in which they
have been practised upon by the, court. and
led into making a fools errand To Rich.
mond. On the 9Th Of June. a formal SEES
sion Of the Circuit Court of the United
States was held at Richmond, at which
Mr.. Dayis's counsel were present and
anxious to proceed to trial. Instead of
indulging them in this reasonable wish,
the presiding Judge adjourned the court
to the I'd OF October. promising trial of
Mr.. Davis at that time. The following is
the Languages then used from the bench:
The ChiefJustiee, who is expected to
preside at this trial, has named tie first Tues
day Of October as the time that will be most
conrenaent to him. When this Court adj
lJourns u VII! adjourn, not until the next
term, which Is In November, but until the
FIRST Tuesday in Oetobernext. The motion
OF the 81 D.istrict-Attorney is therefore grant
Ell. ms Court will adjonrn, not until
November, bllt until the first Tuesday in
OCTOBER, chscA time IS ffeferred5ythesC' Chief
Justice ana Acknowledgement. The case scilI
then, v not before disposed Of, betaken up.
Most certainly, Judge Underwood did
not venture to make this promise, in the
name ma OF the Chief-Jnstice, without the
chief-Ju stice's authority. ChiefJustice
Chase, tnen, speaking from the bench,
throush Gne mouth OF tho District Judge,
aaJourheu Tue courtunfll the I'd OF October,
promising mat the trial should then pro-
eeeu' anu 1hat ne would be present to con-
9nct IL. now VIII ne excuse himself for
disappointing the expectations OF counsel,
a.'u heepihg prisoner, VINO has been
eisnteeh ihol.ths IN close custody, still I'M
huIsu m PRISON lmploring n yam to be
eonirohteN Win MS aceIsels! Why is
JusIice enus reused ana deiayed by Its,
sworn any paa,atl minister nm The following
iauS'age - eoped from the constitution
q ~, ing e pn y, states:
- ess acr''aanat prosecutions, THE Ac-
USED snail ENJOY THE RIGHT TO
srLhpf 4 an rasic lkiaL og an Impartial
icy m9 o'efe ana ats..tce scaeretn tee
crane sAas ", haee oesh c9 se ~
o1ase Gilase, VINO IL sworn 10 support
the Cohstltutloh, anu pald TO administer
3asIfse, ,ls Iesponsieales Tor the VIOLATION Of
luis nm l'elative alreet1oh Wnich the Constl,
lu,,oii gives W 1eem. inefe can pe no tflal
withoua tccurS' ana new Gan there pc
courts II .ne JUDGES decline to hold them !
- !, IS Ihe ualy OIL the Chlei-J ustlce TO know
INC w'lor ne ne 5ls 1ts most au1horltatlve
OK " neh ne caused sea. the court 20
oe I'LL ifpin Y iAe ~ Nc.oper prom
lsilg e. ns lnsh pfesehg ana presiae' ne
as .naow " netl'ssA sueis an az q
lou,hn'Tno was fegalar' anu MneInel coulu
10 legally heps ~ ~ Iol nli,l 7, ~ lnior =
WY r. ov ~ Wy ~ nas peeu s.o l,
~ ee tL! eas .rsason , sii1, 7.
b h. 1 te ast
t;eo Gbasa,s nrod Nus
nch iscred;tphle shriSnino ron +h m
ence If the nr;soner Rnrr had ID b hoe ar ~
rested in what Il now tho state of M;ss;s.
s;nni in January 1907. was smh;ected IN
an eexauaination at Nashington The canital
of tba Tcrritorv and deta;ned in cnsfoav
to he sent to the faderal can;tal Ia es.
caned from ,cnstody Init was aftarwards
rearrested and.was Immediately bronehf to
Richmond, where he arrived On theseye
ming Of the 26th Of March. Nav observe
the dates. On tbe 10th he was hroncht hc.
fore Chief. Jnsfice Marshall 4examinea and
committed He was then admitted to hail
to await the action of the Grand iury at the
next term Of the Circuit Court. on the 22d
Of Nav. On the oath Of June. the Grand
inry gof which the celehrated Jnhn Pan
dolnh was foreman hrongbt in h;li If in.
dictnient for treason. to Which Burr .plead-
ed not guilty, and the trial was nostIponed
casa a Tins ~, tno p,op" s a;ag ~ wy
Chase,s ;llustripns nredeeassor to d;sobarre
his constitutional ohligation tn oiya tSe
,person) CHARGED with reason "a aneeav and -,
public rid.
In case like this Of Mr.. Davis, delay in
the trial is denial Of justice. 1t would
seem as if the chiefJustice, aware Of the
feeble and waning health Of the prisoner,